Lyon｜🇫🇷 La Mere Brazier: The King of Michelin Value

Arriving in Lyon, the "French Shunde" and capital of French cuisine, we’d booked a table at La Mere Brazier a week in advance. Just search for the restaurant name, head to their official website (which has an English version—you can also use your browser’s translation tool), then confirm the number of guests, date, and time.😊 A note: Reservations require a credit card to hold a €400 deposit, and you can’t be more than 15 minutes late ⏰ We’d booked for 7 PM and arrived early, only to find the door still locked—typical of European restaurants, they open exactly on time. So we popped to the Carrefour up the hill for snacks, then strolled in right at 7. Inside, staff greeted us warmly, took our coats, and led us to our table. Soon, as is tradition, amuse-bouches arrived: cherry chicken liver pâté shaped like toast, and incredibly tasty mini baguettes—crusty, buttery, and impossible to resist 🥖 Next came a glass of pre-dinner champagne for each of us; non-drinkers can easily ask for alternatives, and the waitresses were lovely about it 🍾 There were four of us, so we ordered four tasting menus—though honestly, two would’ve been enough (it’s that generous!). Check out image 18 for a rough translation of the dishes (phone auto-translate isn’t perfect, but it works as a guide). By the time dessert arrived at 10:30 PM, we felt like we’d eaten through a whole century—so full, but so happy.😊 The dishes aren’t flashy, but they’re packed with classic French flavor—many are the kind you’d find in neighborhood bistros, but elevated to the highest standard. La Mere Brazier’s first head chef was the world’s first female two-Michelin-starred chef, and the restaurant still stays true to traditional French cuisine, letting quality ingredients shine.😊 After the meal, the staff even sent us off with nougat and mini cakes to take home—such a sweet touch 🍬 Too often, Michelin meals leave you thinking, “Is that it?” But here, you feel the authentic Michelin difference—not in gilded plates or gold leaf, but in the service: every gesture, every detail, screams professionalism. From expert wine pairings to perfectly timed courses, to thoughtful dish explanations, they set the bar high. I wish some so-called “Michelin” spots would send their staff here for training! No hidden fees—just the tasting menu price, around €250 per person (which is reasonable for Michelin). And if you share two menus between four? Even better value.💕 All in all, highly recommended—four hours of pure culinary joy. #LyonLocalFood#FrenchCuisine #RestaurantRecommendations #MichelinRestaurant #FineDining #LyonEats