Le Perko Café — Restaurant in Lyon

Another month, another new “café”.

The Good— Nice open space with plenty of natural light. Unique mix of decorating styles, particularly the use of antique sewing machines as table bases and a table featuring four swings as chairs at the main entrance. The tea selection is excellent and served as close to proper as you can get. There are two levels and a nice size terrace, steps away from Place Louis Pradel and Hôtel d’Ville.

Not So Good — Coffee. Not sure what is going on here. They have two coffee machines. A proper coffee/espresso machine and one of the commercial, student cafeteria varieties. Not sure why. I arrived expecting a nice calibrated extracted espresso, but this was not the case. The website was very misleading, displaying individuals free pouring coffee and using a proper espresso machine. Accessibility. If you have any mobility impairments this location may prove challenging for you. While there is a ramp for entrance, it is rather steep for those exiting. Additionally, the toilet is upstairs and the upper floor has a low sitting ceiling, which can be challenging for those that are tall as well.

Verdict — Conflicted. I really like the aesthetic of the shop and the feel. The pastry selection and food is a definite bonus. However, the coffee is where they fall way short. I am not sure what their primary focus is, but from the menu and website, it seems that they are pushing the coffee by touting all the different “types” they have. Which brings me to another qualm, it probably is more a question of semantics, but they only serve one type of coffee, and it’s espresso, served in various different manners. I perceived it as them having different types of coffee beans, and served it and various styles, to include filtered options such as Chemex, Aeropress, V60 and the like.

I had two different coffees during my visit, a perkaramel, and a café allonge. The caramel, was overly decadent and sweet, similar to that of a latte you may find at Starbucks. The café allonge was awful. I am not sure how this could be possible other than the type of machine they were using. It reminded me of the vending machine coffee at the University that comes in a plastic cup. I complete absence of flavor (other than that of burnt bitterness), body, and texture. Would be better served if they would simply replace that machine with a...

Par une journée au ciel mitigé, harassés par le train, les travaux de la Part Dieu et la perspective d'un dur après-midi de labeur, mes deux compagnons de route et moi-même sommes tombés sur un oasis, un havre de paix et de ravissement dont j'ai fait la promesse de conter les vertus.

Sur une place aux murs ocres baignés de soleil, on nous désigne une table d'un large sourire, "oui bien sûr, on sert encore !"

Une petite bise circule entre les chaises, les assiettes autour de nous dégagent une odeur réconfortante.

Hatem se fait entremetteur des sens, guide de notre salut, de ses yeux rieurs cerclés d'une paire de lunettes qui lui allait grave bien, il sonde notre âme et répond a nos besoins. Un plat du jour inventif, des galettes où il demande à rajouter des champignons car Arthur aime les champignons... Son rire et sa gentillesse rythment un repas déjà au summum de l'agrément.

Quand survient alors le cheesecake. Une toiture compacte et acidulée de fruits rouges sur un lit aérien et un socle croustillant, le tout forme un équilibre complexe, si fameux qu'il nous arrache des réactions grossières.

Matéo rajoute à ça un café frappé aux éclats de caramel parce qu'on a qu'une vie, et que c'est Hatem qui l'a conseillé. Et qu'on sait désormais qu'on peut s'en remettre à lui pour toute décision importante.

C'est à regret qu'on se lève pour retourner au turbin, en passant régler une note qui, comme la cuisine, n'était pas anormalement salée, juste ce qu'il faut. On s'en retourne, comblés et repus.

(Bravo le Perko, on est tombés chez vous par hasard, on a trop kiffé notre déjeuner, et on a promis au serveur qu'on vous...

Just the perfect coffee/tea shop (you can't have pour over there, so don't expect that), whether it be Winter (Cozy comfortable DIY inside) or Summer (opened windows upstairs, awesome spacious terrace outside (you don't feel too close to each other).

The place where the terrace of the Perko Cafe is located isn't necessarily sunny, but the quietness of the place, and how spacious it can be balance out the first (I was actually seeking out a sunny Cafe when I stumbled upon this hidden gem).

Try it out, their People are awesome on...