One of the reasons for choosing to go to Lyon is that it is considered a foodie destination. The city itself is very charming and we found it very friendly with plenty to explore.
THE FOOD:
L’Auberge Du Pont De Collonges
This is Paul Bocuse’s 3 Michelin Star Restaurant. I was not about to go to France without getting to experience at least one 3 Michelin Star Restaurant. This was a true dining experience. The restaurant is a bit outside of the city so a taxi was required to get there but the drive took us past many large “estates” as our taxi driver called them. L’Auberge focuses on a more classical cuisine. It really is all about the service and presentation. The highlights of the meal were the cheese and dessert courses; both featuring unlimited servings. You should have seen my expression when our waiter brought out three full carts of cheese and said I could choose as many as I wanted…if only I had not filled up on delicious foie gras and lamb. The three cheese carts were followed by three carts of dessert, and a tray for the table of petite fours and chocolates. It was quite the dining affair and definitely memorable.
Cafe Comptoir Abel
Abel was our bouchon experience for the trip. It has a very charming/casual atmosphere with a very mixed crowd of patrons. We really enjoyed our experience and had great service despite our lack of French. A foie gras and charcuterie plate started our experience. I tried the quenelle (a specialty of Lyonnaise cuisine) which was served in a cream sauce and did not taste at all fishy. P had a very comforting and homey chicken, mushroom and cream sauce dish. This was also our introduction to Beaujolais, which I loved. Abel delivered me the bouchon experience I was wanting.
Le Musee was my other bouchon pick but was closed for holiday during our stay.
Comme chez Mathilde
Mathilde provided us with a delightful lunch while exploring the “old town” area of Lyon. Although Trip Advisor says breakfast and brunch in the description, they were open for lunch with a wide selection of lighter lunch options (charcuterie plates, soups, terrines). We tried white ham, which was very unique and tasty. This places feels very authentic especially considering it is somewhat in the middle of a more touristy area. The set up is a bit quirky and we had to slice our own baguette, but I feel like it was all part of the fun of experiencing something new. A great lunch pick.
La Table de Suzanne
This was more of your traditional french restaurant offering the 3 course menu. The food was excellent with innovative twists. It was a very lucky find as we were wandering around after we found our other option to be closed. I would recommend reservations as the place filled up very quickly (and all the other tables seemed to have made reservations). The service was great, especially considering how busy they were and only two wait staff for the whole restaurant. The highlight of the meal was the chocolate cake – it was complex with just the right amount of chocolateness and sweetness. It was definitely one of the top desserts of the trip.
Our other pick for the night was L’Instant Fromage (closed for holiday), but had great reviews and was recommended by locals.
Le Carre Des Saveurs: a nice bistro with a great outdoor space. The food was good but not standout. We chose this place for a much needed lunch upon our arrival. The service was very friendly, which was very welcomed in our jet lagged state.
