Any recommendations from this group for a restaurant that could accommodate a few families for a midday meal? We don’t have to necessarily all sit at one table but it would be nice. Trying to celebrate my daughter’s birthday when we arrive there and just make that meal a little special for her (teen birthday happening during our summer travel). Group size approx 20.
Thanks again in advance of your help.
We had lunch at a traditional Lyonnaise “bouchon” 4 years ago. I don’t recall the name, as there’s a string of them along Rue Merciere, and we picked one as we walked down the street. The 2 of us were almost the last people to leave, but there was a big group at a single, big table, what were clearly at least 12 friends in the biggest of 3 rooms, having a grand time, and they were probably there long after we’d left. Whether they’d picked the place and made reservations I don’t know, and if you’re there at a busy time or need assurance that your group will definitely get in to a place, our strategy might not work for you, but we really enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere. Up in the Croix Rousse neighborhood, we have some favorite places for dinner (not lunch), but they’re also small, and a group of 20 would likely not fit.
It’s sad that Chef Paul Bocuse is no longer living, but his restaurant empire survives ... is one of the Bocuse places of interest, and within everyone’s budget?
Rick Steves’ book mentions the Restaurant Panoramique de la Fourviere, near the cathedral that locals told us looks to them like an upside-down elephant, and he recommends reserving well ahead of time for a table with a view - lunch plat du jour really a surprisingly low price. We didn’t eat there, but could be a good option for all of you.
Traditional Lyon restaurants are extremely fond of organ meats and other things I don't eat. Unless all members of your group are solidly in the adventurous-eater camp, I urge you to check menus before making a decision.
You don’t have to get kidneys, if that’s not what you’re looking for, since other actual meat, soups, salads, vegetables, dessert, etc. the are there, and good. Birthday meal will be special without being icky - but do know what you’re ordering, in Lyon and elsewhere in France. Bon apetit!
Thinking of where my office has had group dinners as well as some birthday and going away dinners I've attended, I would suggest you look into the following:
For beef eaters, the Argentinian restaurant Buenos Aires has generally better marbled and less gristly beef than typical French restaurants.
For Moroccan food, Ksar could be a fun experience.
For a classic Lyon experience, the rather large Brasserie Georges might be worth considering.
The Paul Bocuse casual brasseries l'Est, le Sud, and le Nord should be able to accommodate a larger group as well, but be prepared for uneven results. L'Ouest is another one but I've not visited it. L'Est is located in a pretty Belle Epoque former train station (Brotteaux) and features a travel theme, complete with toy train running along the wall.
Across the boulevard from the Brotteaux station is Brasserie des Brotteaux, a classy small restaurant with plenty of seating inside or outside (in the summer). It's a pretty reliable spot for lunch or dinner and has gorgeous tile work. The host told me once that a wealthy Chinese businessman offered to buy the restaurant so he could disassemble the tiles and ship them back home to a new restaurant there. Probably a story he's told hundreds of times over the years, with the ethnicity of the purported buyer changing as times change, but when you see the place, it's plausible.
