Le Zouave

John's right (as usual ): "Comment..." is much funnier. It's everything one should know to become a perfect food writer (how to spend less, talk to a sommelier or a chef, read a review, choose a sushi bar, etc.). I'm sure John's notes will be perfect.

This really sounds like Naniwa-Ya on rue Saint-Anne. The description just fits. A friend of mine even went there with a Japanese friend who wiped a tear at the corner of his eye, saying: "Oh, it's just like Tokyo! Ptipois ir right... That might also be Naniwa-ya -- although my other guess, Kunitoraya, sounds correct too. Naniwa-ya is a small place, packed with japanese. I usally eat at the counter, some gyoza ravioli and cold udon noodles. (And the small octupus balls are great too: what do they call that? Takoyaki?) Big problem, though: it's almost impossible to understand what's written on the menus. You do have a french menu, but the specials are not translated: bring a japanese friend!

Bux, you're right. Christophe Saitagne isn't at the Lyonnais anymore: he now works at the Plaza with Piege.

That one sounds like Kunitoraya: nice noodles indeed, and very cheap. Not far away from that one, you can also have some fine yakitori at Yasube.

I agree with everything, except, maybe, la Dinee. It used to be OK, but that was 4 or 5 years ago. The chef has moved to South Africa (?) since.

I was there last week, and saw the 60€ tasting menu plus the carte, of course. But I don't know where Michelin found a 100-155€ à la carte meal: the place is expensive, for sure, but not that expensive. And btw, eating at the bar is much nicer: you can even book a table, not like at l'Atelier de Robuchon! Amazing, isn't it?

Oxalis: 40 to 50€, more or less. The chef is a young lady who used to be a journalist. Her cooking is very modern, spicy, "personnal" if you see what I mean -- let's say it may look like fusion food, but that's not exactly what it is. the restaurant is really small, quite romantic, casual but cosy. la maison borie: 50 to 60€. Probably one of the best wine lists in the city, with everything you can imagine in the Rhone valley. The place is amazing, a bit outside the center of Lyon, and chef Manuel Viron is one of the most creative around there. The decor is reallly, I must repeat myself, great, between modern and art déco. En mets fais ce qu'il te plait: a small place where a japanese chef cooks some classic french stuff, but with a twist of course. Quite special, maybe: a place for true foodies, who already ate in every restaurant in the city. Nice wine list also, and not too expensive: maybe 40€. Otherwise, if you're looking for some classic french fare, check Mathieu Vianney. And I almost forgot (shame on me!): Nicolas Le Bec, a one star chef in a brand new place (great design), on 14 rue Grolée -- 17/20 in the Gault Millau, need I say more?

As far as i'm concerned, John, a wine bar is a place where you drink more than you eat! Seriously, I guess a wine bar is a place where you can just have a couple of drinks without having to order some food. La Muse Vin, in the 11th, for instance, is a pure wine bar. And to be even more specefic, I'd say the Taverne Henri IV is a nice bistrot with an interesting wine list, the Temps au temps a small and lovely place with some fine wines written on the ardoises. But I'd never say that place is a wine bar -- or maybe did I miss soomething last time I was there? Now, for all the other places you've mentioned. Willi's: sort of a wine bar, since you can have a drink around 6PM at the bar, and even later. I love the place, but I wouldn't call it a wine bar -- I mean, a bar à vins, the way the French mean. les Papilles? Yes, why not, although I havn't seen many people having a glass of white at the (tiny, tiny, tiny) bar. I'd say it's a great bistro with great bottles to share. Le Vin dans les Voiles: OK, if the boss says he's a wine bar, why not? I don't agree at all, for the place lacks the atmosphere every wine bar should have. (and btw, he does serve more than "a few dishes only", if that's what he told you...) What's a wine bar? Do you guys remember the "Moulin à vins", in the 18th? To me, that was the wine bar in Paris. The other places I like a lot are the Juveniles, le Baratin, the Verre Volé, of course, la petite syrah in the 18th (just for the wines, not for the food), Fish, Jacques Melac and probably some more... Well, I guess you already know all these places, don'y you?

Freckles- Maybe you could try l'Hermès, located at 23 rue Mélingue, not far amay from Belleville. it's a cosy neighbourhood restaurant, not bad at all, not expensive at all, with some fine wines. the staff is friendly, and I'm sure it'd be great for a casual dinner with some friends. Otherwise, if your're looking for somthinh ethnic, you've got the Lao Siam at 49 rue de Belleville (I love the place, even if it's always overcrowded) or the Pacifique, at 35 rue de belleville (a classic chinese place, with some nice soups and dim sums). Last time I was at l'Hermes, I had a nice cassoulet -- that was last winter, it was cold outside and really hot inside (my mouth, of course).

Well why don't you try a restaurant owned by a woman? Chez Catherine, in the 8th, for instance (great food, huge wine list, chic atmosphere), or les Enfants rouges (a casual wine bar and bistrot), in the 3rd?

The Temps au Temps is actually a restaurant -- although they do have a nice (but short, for the moment) wine list. I've already been there once: food is quite OK, the place is really small, and the atmopshere is sort of "bourgeois boheme" like they say in Paris.

Bleudauvergne, what do you think about places like Oxalis or la maison Borie? Or the En mets fais ce qu'il te plait (still owned by a japanese chef?). I especially like the wine list at the maison Borie. And by the way, I guess the place is large enough to have a 100% non-smoking dining room. PS: I do know that these three restaurants are not what one would expect in Lyon -- not the "bouchon" style for sure.

Freckles, I've been there two or three times, and never really loved it -- it's always a bit complicated, twisted... Their wine list is OK, but would you go to the 19th just for that? When Frechon was there (last century...), it sure was a place worth travelling... Anyway, what are your friends like? What kind of place and atmosphere are you looking for?

I don't really think she "bought" her two stars — although I've heard some rumors we'll discuss somewhere else... But I do think that the Michelin, back in the days, "needed" a woman with two stars in Paris. The buzz actually started with her first star... and basically, because Helene D. is a woman. That means a lot of coverage in stylish magazines like Elle, who won't comment on food. As long a someone (who?) said she was the new creative south-west chef, everyone "had" to agree and did agree. I went there maybe four or five times; last time, it was at the rez-de-chaussee, with the "tapas" menu — tapas, but non tapas prices: damn expensive, by the way! I always had 50/50 experiences: one nice entree, one bad main course, and so on. MAybe we should go back?

It'a a guide written by a guy named Claude Lebey. Not bad at all, by the way.

That thread sounds fun! Does that mean, John, you don't exactly understand, or agree, Darroze's two stars?

Like I said before, I havn't had the lunch menu at l'Astrance since two years, maybe. But from what I've heard, you'll always get entree, plat and dessert, plus some other little dishes: maybe another amuse bouche, half a plat, two desserts, who knows? Even if you don't pay as much as the other clients (most choose the 8 or 9 course menu), the staff will always be happy to offer something more. And yes, a reservation for wednesday shouldn't be too difficult.

As far as I'm concerned, it'd be l'Astrance and nothing else! In ten years, when Pascal Barbot will have two or three stars (and when his lunch menu won't probably be a bargain anymore ;-), if you see what I mean), you'll tell your friends you were there back in the days... Le Violon d'Ingres is a bit more classic — though I do like the chef. BTW, speaking about lunch bargains: if I were you, I'd check the Ambassadeurs' prix-fixe (the Crillon's restaurant). It'll be far more expensive than l'Astrance (maybe 70€), but it's worth a try. Bon apetit, anyway!

Did I miss something? I think I read somewhere their lunch menu was now around 45€? It's still a huge quality-price rate...

Ten wine bars? Let's make that eleven! I'd also try Les Enfants Rouges, rue de Beauce in the 3rd: nice classic bistro food, and a huge wine list (with some great stuff in the Rhone valley, Beaujolais, the Loire Valley). And by the way, La Muse Vin, in the 11th, is fun too. Casual, young, natural wines — and food's not bad at all. Have fun!

And what about the fantastic lunch menu at l'Astrance (35 or 36€, I guess)? I've never had it since the place opened (back in those days, it was something like 175 francs), because I always choose the "surprise" tasting menu : 120 to 150€, depending on the wines you choose.

I'd also suggest Chablis. I remember a nice hotel and restaurant, with a charming "old school Burgundy" atmosphere. You can have a look here: http://vieux-moulin-chablis.com/hten/

The Cook book may indeed have some american or south african wines, but that's about it: as far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't compare its food to Spoon's. Really not...

Yes Fresh, I went to Djoon, just once: food wasn't interesting at all (except a lovely home made terrine), they had one or two nice bottles, but the place was just empty! (Maybe six or eight people, not more...) But still, I do like the architecture and design. And btw, I did notice you knew all these places! That means you also know a restaurant like the Kong or the Cristal room are nicer, right?

le soleil gourmand: absolutely. Not bad at all, and a warm welcome. Btw, someone told me the vegetarian "po mana" was about to close, or had just closed...