L'Établi — Restaurant in Lyon

So, we're in Lyon, the “food capital,” and every meal we have is actually a choice to not have another. My partner and I had three nights in the city, and after a lot of research, we decided to dinner at L’Etabli on one of those few nights. We went there pretty excited. We made a reservation and picked the seven-course tasting menu. When we arrived, the waitress asked if we wanted to hang up our coats and then led us to the table. And that’s where things started to get a bit weird.

Everything happened really fast. The service was strangely formal and protocol-heavy. Soon, they brought out a box with a bunch of knives, and we had to pick which one we wanted to use for the meal. I thought that was interesting, along with the cool, zine-style menu that came in an envelope. But we had no idea we wouldn’t actually be using that knife for the dinner! We picked a wine with the sommelier’s help, which was honestly the highlight of the night.

Out of nowhere, for a 96-euro tasting menu, they brought a duo of snacks: one with a radish in some edible soil and a frozen hossomaki (???) with some weird fish paste that we couldn’t figure out, maybe cooked tuna? We really didn’t get it. The menu just kept going, with no clear flow. Next came another snack and an amuse-bouche that seemed to have an Asian vibe, with lots of chives and soy. The first official course was like an Italian tomato water, pesto, ricotta, and a kind of roast beef, but then, shockingly, there was a terrible whisky gel. I mean, honestly, one of the worst things I’ve ever tasted. Sorry to say, but that whisky gel was horrible.

There was also a mushroom dish earlier, but it just brushed past us. The sourdough bread was beautiful but not tangy, not fresh or warm, and it came with some kind of black curry butter (??).

The calamari in fish broth with a brunoise of peppers was actually pretty good, definitely the highlight of the night, along with the wine. I complimented it, and the waitress said the best was yet to come. Sadly, that meant chicken. In three textures: sausage, breast, and chicken ball, all served side by side in a weird sauce that was kind of sweet and herbal at the same time. And then it was over.

What followed was a terrible parade of desserts, totally random. I don’t even remember the first one, but the second was tomatoes, a sweet version of the tomato app, but with hard corn grains stuck in a crumbly mix that hurt your teeth 😫😭. The third was chocolate with tarragon and fennel, which seemed to fight each other, like the fennel was trying to ruin the chocolate more than anything. And finally, a box with three pairs of little sweets: passion fruit, lemon jelly, and a tiny chocolate tart with whipped cream.

So, 95-euro per person restaurant, with an accessible wine list, but totally clueless about food. It’s really surprising how little they seem to understand about ingredients and pairings. I feel bad writing this, but I honestly wondered if they are just joking with the diners or if they truly just have no idea where to...

I dined at this restaurant and was left quite dissatisfied. Here's a brief overview of my experience:

The amuse-bouche was a mixed bag: the radish was nice, but the green cheese croquette lacked flavor, and the pork satay was excessively salty. The beet with anchovy, however, was tasty.

We opted for the 7-course menu priced at €92 instead of ordering à la carte, which has the same 7 dishes available, but with some prices above €50 per dish. This set a high expectation for the meal.

The first course with girolle mushrooms was good and creative. The zucchini with lobster also raised our hopes as it was quite enjoyable.

However, the beef with whisky and tomato was nice but not too special. I found it hard to justify its €52 à la carte price, although the portion will probably be larger.

The main course, a rib of beef, was really disappointing. More than half of the piece my girlfriend received was just pure fat, and my own piece was undercooked. When we received a replacement, it was excessively seasoned with salt and pepper.

Having three desserts in a 7-course menu seemed excessive. They have a beautiful cheese cart, but there's no option to choose cheese instead of dessert in the menu. The desserts themselves were good, but three desserts is a bit much to my liking.

Service was mediocre. While the sommelier was excellent, we had to pour our own wine, which felt out of place given the high price. There was little sense of hospitality. One of the servants seemed in a bad mood, while the other seemed very new, but she tried her best and that's not a problem. The atmosphere was lacking too, with overly bright lighting that could benefit from being dimmed for a better ambiance.

The pace of the meal was far too fast, with less than a minute (sometimes less than 30 seconds?) between finishing one course and receiving the next. Even after requesting a slower pace, it remained unchanged and seemed like they were all in a hurry.

On a positive note, the wine selection was very good, with many quality options by the glass too, although expensive with only one option under €10. In the end one of the servants gave us some more tips for Lyon and tried to please us, which we appreciated.

The overall price to quality ratio really disappointed me as for this price I expect a lot, therefore only 2 stars. I dont get the high ratings on here, but maybe they just...

this cozy restaurant captured our hearts with its warmth and charm, offering a dining experience that rivaled the grandeur of a starred establishment at a fraction of the cost. From the moment we entered, we were embraced by an intimate ambiance that set the stage for a truly memorable meal.

The menu at this hidden gem is a delightful fusion of flavors and textures, blending innovation with comfort in every dish. Each plate was a masterful creation, expertly crafted to tantalize the palate and evoke a sense of culinary bliss. Particularly noteworthy was the black curry butter—a revelation of taste that added a velvety richness and a unique twist to the dining experience.

What truly sets this cozy restaurant apart is its genuine hospitality and dedication to excellence. The attentive staff went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our meal was perfect, creating a welcoming environment that made us feel like cherished guests.

In conclusion, this charming restaurant is a true culinary treasure that deserves to be celebrated. With its exceptional food, inviting atmosphere, and outstanding value, it has earned a special place in our hearts as a dining destination that rivals even the most prestigious starred...