Restaurant Le Musée — Restaurant in Lyon

The food is fantastic. So happy to try an authentic bouchon with the checked table clothes & elbow to elbow seating. Can be a bit tight for some but apparently this is what makes it a true Bouchon. A Bouchon is a type of restaurant in Lyon, France, that serves traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, like "salade lyonnaise,” duck pâté, sausages, coq-au-vin or roast pork.

Did you know that to be a true Bouchon you have to be nationally certified by the Association for the Preservation of Lyonnais Bouchons?

Réservations are a must. You cannot hurry the staff as the resto is full so be prepared for a relaxed meal.

On the table you have water and Gratons (basically chicharon bituka or crunchy innards) to eat while waiting for the staff for take your order.

No menu. The lovely staff comes to the table to explain the 5 starter and 5 plats (main dishes)

DRINKS

The wines are superb. Ask for recommendations. When in doubt get the rose because it goes with the salad and meaty mains.

ENTREE or APPETIZER

My husband and I shared the mushroom salad. It was a good call coz we wouldn’t have been able to finish our mains - hubs and I always split both - coz the servings are large.

PLATS or MAIN DISHES

I was slightly disappointed with the quenelle of pike with lobster sauce because I wasn’t expecting a fish bread pudding but I blame myself for my ignorance on what a quenelle was when I ordered. The lobster sauce was TDF.

The pork cheeks were so tender and delicious. Superb! The highlight of our meal.

DESSERT

Though the mousse looks AMAZING, we wanted the best of both worlds. And the tarte a praline was surprisingly yummy! Tarte À la Praline & chocolate mouse

The only weird thing about the restaurant is that you enter from the center where you have the trash bins and toilet. Only one toilet outside with the sink inside the restaurant.

Would I recommend it? Yes! A must...

This place does not need another 5 star review but I can’t help it. Went there for lunch, alone. They asked if I wanted to sit with a stranger and I said I had no problem if my table mate was ok with it. They were and we hit it off. I am aware that people may not be interested in my serendipitous and very random conversations with a stranger at a dinner table, bit I think the atmosphere was conducive to us enjoying having unexpected company. So much so, that a couple of students at the table next to me soon joined in and then an American guy from one table over did too! Basically we took over the corner of this very small restaurant and funnily enough very little alcohol was involved 🙂. Now the food… I was delighted I got the brioche for starters and the pig cheeks for main (all recommended by the waiter), for dessert I got crème brûlée. All delicious and the best meal in Lyon for the past three days. I went for lunch and got lucky. My advice is to go early or book. I have a feeling they fill up every day...

Finally we made it to Le Musee when they were open. They were closed when we came last summer and I was so sad. It’s a tiny place that fits in a lot of people. Tables are family style and the food is Bouchon style. The restaurant is very friendly and it’s so so so good. The jolly owner comes to your table to talk about the food and help you decide what you might want. Tonight we started with a mushroom in crème sauce salad and a terrine with filet mignon center. So yummy. Next we had pork cheeks and chicken with crayfish sauce. For sides we had potato gratin that was creamy but light. It was so delicious. Then we had dessert and the baked apple with caramel almost made me forget what I had for dinner. After dinner the owner took everyone in the restaurant on a tour of the building down an Italian passageway to an Italian courtyard with lots of history but at night it looked so gothic with all of the arches and shadows. A fun treat after a wonderful dinner. A must visit if you...