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Aux Lyonnais Review

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Aux Lyonnais

$$-$$$, Bistro, Opéra/Grands Boulevards

User Rating: ** 2.4

Fodor's Review:

Bistro

Aux Lyonnais. With a passion for the old-fashioned bistro, Alain Ducasse has resurrected this 1890s gem by appointing a terrific young chef to oversee the short, frequently changing, and reliably delicious menu of Lyonnais specialties. Dandelion salad with crisp potatoes, bacon, and silky poached egg; watercress soup poured over parsleyed frogs' legs; and a sophisticated rendition of coq au vin show he is no bistro dilettante. The decor hews to tradition, too, with a zinc bar, an antique coffee machine, and original turn-of-the-20th-century woodwork. There is a no-choice lunch menu for EUR 28, but the temptation is strong to splurge on the more luxurious à la carte dishes.

User Reviews & Ratings:

Didn't worth that money (or a spoiled evening)

Posted by danuta from France on 2/1/08

The rstaurant itself is supposed to be old and exeptionelle. And it's not at all! Most of the tables are situated in a very unconvenient way( just come over, you'll see!).We paid 85 euro for two: we both stayed hungry. My hasband took a menu for 28 euro, the starter was not bad, but his main course (quenelle...) was just horrible: it was absolutely nothing to eat! It was an omelette and two tiny wormes called languistinos (beleive me i've eat real languistinos; those were just born babies).By the way this platter by itself cost about 23 euro! I ordered the duck, which was not so bad, only it was no any side dish and it was not cooked well. For the dessert my huband got a plate of sweet rise!:)) We took 35cl. of red one for 26 euro (it was no other choice). It was good. And a bottle of water. 85 euro for below ordinary meal...I recommend everybody Le Grand Colbert: the best brasserie in the center of Paris, and may be the whole Paris: same prise (or a bit less): exellent food, beautifull atmosphere!

FOOD: 3.0

ATMOSPHERE: 3.0

SERVICE: 4.0

VALUE: 2.0

RATING: 3.0

Not deserving of its high rating in Fodors Guide

Posted by Biztrav from New York, USA on 7/4/07

Service and atmosphere were the highlights, being well done and warm respectively. The food was poorly prepared, with undercooked poultry, stringy asparagus, off-putting presentations, and uniformly mediocre accompanying vegetable mixtures. Given the mix of relatively high prices and low quality, the value was nil. A rare culinary disaster in a city of culinary delights.

FOOD: 1.0

ATMOSPHERE: 3.0

SERVICE: 3.0

VALUE: 1.0

RATING: 1.8

Awful Experience -- Utterly Unacceptable

Posted by PNMLAW from Philadelphia, PA on 4/7/07

My family and I arrived at Aux Lyonnais on March 27, 2007 after several metro transfers and a stiff walk in the rain. Cold and wet, we were denied entry by the rude service, who denied that we had a reservation. However, we had a reservation we could see it in the book (our name and party number) that we had confirmed from the United States in writing by fax. The staff denied the restaurant had a fax machine, even though it could be seen from the door. We had also called from our hotel and confirmed the reservation. The rude staff thinking that I could not understand their French stated they could not stand translating the menu for another British citizen (were American). When I challenged him on this issue, he began to pretend he could not understand our French, and denied us a seat in the nearly empty restaurant. We were then told to leave by the snickering staff, who clearly saw it as a game. We are used to charming bad service in France, and have traveled all over the world we are experienced travelers. Our experience at Aux Lyonnais was unimaginable, and the worst Ive had anywhere. I would never eat at this restaurant.

FOOD: 1.0

ATMOSPHERE: 1.0

SERVICE: 1.0

VALUE: 1.0

RATING: 1.0

A Great Place for Our First Night in Paris

Posted by drbb from Baton Rouge on 10/31/06

Came here for our first dinner on a second trip to Paris and the food was oustanding. Started with their signature amuse bouche, a lovely spread of fromage blanc spiced with herbs and garlic. Served with little toasts. Started with a kir cremant apertif, then ordered a pot of 1er cru Gevrey-Chambertin. My 28 euro menu (what a deal!) started with a tasty plate of Lyonnais charcuterie. Followed by the wonderfully light quenelles of crayfish. My husband loved his mushroom soup and his entree of roasted young pigeon on a bed of sweet sauteed onion and shallots. I had fromage blanc with sugar for dessert, my husband a delicious pain perdu with a compote of pear, apricot, and apple. We ask about a dessert wine and receive a red Chateauneuf-du-Pape which is perfect. The decor is perfect parisian bistro and the staff is very attentive. We would definitely come here again.

FOOD: 5.0

ATMOSPHERE: 4.0

SERVICE: 4.0

VALUE: 5.0

RATING: 4.6

"DON T SEAT BY THE DOOR!"

Posted by David from Dublin on 2/14/06

I think we were sitting on the worst table I ever came across. We were beside the entrence door, where the curtain never stopped blowing in on our table. The starters were nice but main course was row (veal). The manager, never appologised for any of the above. I will never recommand this restaurant to any one.

FOOD: 2.0

ATMOSPHERE: 1.0

SERVICE: 1.0

VALUE: 3.0

RATING: 1.8