The Sofitel Lyon Bellecour is an establishment well-known to the locals and has been a fixture of the city’s landscape since the early 70s. I have walked past it thousands of times myself during my studies when I used to go to the Art History faculty of Lyon II, on the banks of the Rhône. And yet, after all these years in Lyon, I had never stepped foot inside! Which is quite incredible, I must say.
I was curious to discover the inner workings of this famous Lyonnais hotel, especially since I’ve been exploring Paris and its most prestigious establishments for years, so why ignore those of my hometown? It was for a high-flying lunch at the gourmet restaurant Les Trois Dômes (1 Michelin star) that I finally took the leap and walked through the glass door of the Sofitel Bellecour.
It was an exceptional moment, truly. First, just by the extraordinary view of Lyon that opens up to us once seated on the top floor of the hotel, which is reserved specifically for the gourmet restaurant and the bar. And then, obviously, by the spectacle on the plate, both visual and flavorful. The chef Christian Lherm, who already has significant experience under his belt, arrived at the Sofitel in 2012 and offers highly refined cuisine with a selection of exceptional products.
To taste:
- The amuse-bouches, two of them for this lunch.
- For the starter, the oyster and scallop tartare with a touch of Petrossian caviar. Certainly one of the chef’s must-haves, a must-try, it is simply divine (€48).
- Another very interesting starter, the simply runny egg, with breaded frog legs, sautéed chanterelle mushrooms with parsley, and a watercress sauce. The inside of the egg is actually filled with frog legs, so at the first cut, the runny yolk turns out to be green with parsley, it’s quite impressive (€41).
- As a main course, I tested the Canadian lobster from head to tail on a chestnut mousseline with a claw consommé and Dim Sum, as well as a creamy soup in a crust. It was obviously delicious, but I found that the chestnut mousseline (very strong in taste) took over the lobster a bit too much (€76).
- For his part, the fine gourmet that is my father (who accompanied me on this festive day) took a chance, on the advice of the head waiter, with the Salers beef fillet, warm foie gras, and its beef cheek charlotte (€84). Well, it was just delicious! I don’t think I’m betraying him by saying he really enjoyed it, and we had a particular soft spot for the beef cheek, which was so melt-in-your-mouth and flavorful…
- A small pre-dessert with a banana sorbet, if I remember correctly…
- To finish on a light note (yes, my stomach couldn’t take any more), I opted for the citrus jelly swim with a soft lime cube and a green tea mousse (€18).
- On the paternal side, we chose the hazelnut passion square, served soft, crunchy, and frozen (€17).
- We didn’t taste it, but I can’t help but show you a little photo of the magnificent cheese platter (€18) matured by Renée Richard (commonly called Mère Richard back home).
The question of wines is an important one, especially in this type of establishment. As is my habit, I let the sommelier guide me, and there is, incidentally, a particular emphasis on food and wine pairing on the menu, which obviously pleased me a lot. We also appreciated that the quality of the bread served during the meal was not neglected, and it is the Pozzoli house (Best Craftsman of France in 2004) that takes care of that.
Note: a small symbol in the shape of crossed wheat ears indicates gluten-free dishes for allergic individuals.
Of course, we are in the very high-end range, and the prices obviously reflect that. But the prices I indicated next to the dishes are the à la carte prices; as is often the case in this type of restaurant, it is more advantageous to choose a set menu.
The 3 Dômes collection menu (lunch and dinner): 2 dishes, cheese, and dessert €81 / 3 dishes, cheese, and dessert €96
The good tip: the seasonal lunch menu with starter, main, cheese, and dessert at €47 / business lunch formulas from Tuesday to Friday with starter and main at €38 or main and dessert at €36
Gourmet restaurant Les Trois Dômes
20, quai Gailleton 69002 Lyon
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM to 9:15 PM
Find all my articles about the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region below:
⇒ All my articles on the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region
⇒ All my articles on Lyon
MY ARTICLES ON LYON
⇒ Les Nuits Sonores
⇒ Food Tour and great spots in Lyon
⇒ My tips for Lyon
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's permission required before any use
