When you hear the word restaurant, what kind of atmosphere do you imagine?
A high-end restaurant frequented by celebrities and food enthusiasts?
Or perhaps a family restaurant that you can casually visit with your family?
Personally, I prefer the nostalgic "town restaurant" that reminds me of the good old Showa era.
In the Mizushima area of southern Kurashiki City, there is a long-established restaurant that has been loved by local residents for over 40 years.
That is Lyon.
With a building that evokes the charm of a Showa-era restaurant, you can enjoy the proud Western cuisine prepared by veteran chef Shimizu.
Among the highlights are the homemade sauces, including demi-glace sauce.
Dishes that utilize the chef Shimizu's proud sauces, who has been in the Western cuisine business for 50 years, are all exquisite!
I would like to introduce the long-established restaurant Lyon, which is perfect for enjoying delicious food with family, friends, and close companions.
Lyon is a long-established restaurant that has been in Mizushima for over 40 years
Lyon is a restaurant located in the Mizushima area of Kurashiki City.
Opened in 1980, it is a long-established restaurant that has been in operation for 40 years. (As of July 2020)
The exterior also has the dignity of a long-established restaurant, presenting an atmosphere reminiscent of the nostalgic Showa-era restaurant.
The green roof is also impressive.
The interior has a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of a Showa-era restaurant.
There are many table seats, creating a space where you can relax comfortably.
There are also counter seats in front of the kitchen.
The interior features a retro organ, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere.
The old clock is said to have been from the home of the owner-chef Shimizu Shiro.
The pink public telephone that was once used in the store is now displayed as part of the interior.
There were also wines displayed in the interior.
The interior of Lyon has the atmosphere of a Western restaurant that retains the nostalgic feel of the Showa era.
Western cuisine and dishes mainly featuring French cuisine
As of July 2020 (Reiwa 2). Prices include tax.
Lyon is a Western cuisine restaurant.
French cuisine (strong>French) is the main focus, and dishes incorporate elements of various Western cuisines.
Additionally, familiar Japanese Western dishes such as cutlets, cream croquettes, and curry rice are also offered.
▼ There are three types of lunch menus available only during lunchtime.
▼ There are also popular menu sets available.
▼ There are many appetizers and seafood dishes as well.
▼ There are also beef dishes, young chicken dishes, and pilaf.
▼ There are also course meals available.
▼ There are also dinner courses available.
By the way, although it is called dinner, it can also be ordered at lunchtime.
▼ There is a wide variety of drinks, mainly focusing on wine.
▼ In addition to the menu, there are also menus on the walls inside the restaurant.
The wall menu is said to change its contents from time to time.
Introducing Lyon's dishes
Here are the dishes that were actually ordered at Lyon.
As of July 2020 (Reiwa 2). Prices include tax.
The "Steak Set" is defined by its demi-glace sauce
When it comes to meat dishes, steak is surely a classic.
The Steak Set (1,800 yen including tax) comes with steak, soup, salad, and either rice or bread, and coffee is served after the meal.
Coffee after the meal can be changed to sorbet.
▼Soup
At the time of the interview, it was corn soup.
▼Salad
The salad generally consists of three types that change daily.
▼Main Steak
On the plate of the main steak, in addition to the meat, there were boiled vegetables including daikon, carrots, and green beans, along with French fries.
▼The meat is generously topped with a rich brown demi-glace sauce.
The key point is the homemade demi-glace sauce!
When I pierced the meat with a fork and cut it with a knife, it sliced easily.
Then, when I ate the meat I had pierced with a fork, the umami of the beef seeped out from the red meat.
Furthermore, the flavor of the demi-glace sauce intertwines with it.
Speaking of demi-glace sauce, I have an image of a sweet, thick texture, but Lyon's demi-glace sauce left a slightly different impression.
Lyon's demi-glace sauce is rich and deep, with a mellow flavor.
While it has sweetness, it also has bitterness and acidity, creating an indescribable richness.
It is delicious enough to enjoy even just the sauce alone.
The secret to the deliciousness of Lyon's demi-glace sauce will be introduced in the later interview.
When I choose between rice or bread at a restaurant, I overwhelmingly tend to order rice, but during the interview, I decided to try the bread.
There are two types of bread.
I changed the coffee after the meal to sorbet.
Next to the sorbet, there is a mini chocolate cake and strawberries with whipped cream.
It is cool and has a slightly melting texture on the tongue.
Inside, there are fruits, adding a tangy flavor as an accent.
“Beef Cutlet Set” features a crispy coating and a rich demi-glace sauce
The “Beef Cutlet Set” (1,800 yen including tax) also comes with soup, salad, and rice or bread, and coffee is served after the meal.
On the main plate of beef cutlet, there are two large pieces of beef cutlet served.
It feels like a good deal.
A generous amount of demi-glace sauce is poured over the coating.
It's the same homemade demi-glace sauce as the steak!
The coating of the cutlet is very crispy and fragrant.
There, the deep flavor of the demi-glace sauce intertwines.
You can also fully enjoy the flavor of the beef, and there is a delightful experience of a three-layered taste from the demi-glace sauce, the coating, and the meat.
For the Beef Cutlet Set, I ordered rice.
“Service Lunch” offers a daily changing dish
The “Service Lunch” (1,300 yen including tax) is also popular.
The service lunch is a great value menu that can only be ordered at lunch!
The main dish changes daily and comes with soup, rice or bread, and coffee after the meal.
The main dish of the service lunch during the interview was a three-layered dish of piccata, cutlet, and vegetables.
▼ Here, zucchini is placed on top.
▼This is fried eggplant.
▼There are fried pumpkin (nankin) pieces on top.
▼The presentation is beautiful, like a work of art, both in appearance and color.
The "Dessert Plate" is attractive because you can enjoy three popular homemade desserts at once
The Dessert Plate (tax included 300 yen) is a great deal that includes three popular desserts.
The Dessert Plate includes the following three items.
- Sherbet
- Chocolate cake
- Showa pudding
All the desserts are homemade at Lyon.
Sherbet was the same as the sherbet introduced with the steak set.
Chocolate cake is sweet yet has a moderate bitterness, leaving a refreshing aftertaste.
It had a moist and smooth texture.
Showa pudding has an intriguing name.
It is different from the melt-in-your-mouth smooth puddings that are often seen nowadays; it has a nostalgic handmade feel.
It has a firm and bouncy texture.
And the rich, moderate sweetness is delicious.
As the name suggests, I thought it had a nostalgic taste reminiscent of the Showa era. Also, the caramel sauce has a moderate sweetness and bitterness that pairs well with the sweetness of the pudding.
The Dessert Plate had contents that were surprising for just 300 yen.
Beautiful presentation, nostalgic atmosphere, and exquisite cuisine.
We interviewed the owner chef of Lyon, Shimizu Shiro, who has been operating in Mizushima for many years as a long-established restaurant.
Data of Lyon
| Name | Lyon |
|---|---|
| Address | 6-13 Kanda 2-chome, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-445-1513 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Tuesday Friday afternoon |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Available By phone |
| Seating | 22 seats total ・Counter: 4 seats ・4-person table: 2 tables ・2-person table: 5 tables |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Japanese-style toilet |
| Childcare | ・Stroller access available ・Children's utensils available ・No children's chairs |
| Barrier-free | ・Wheelchair access available (there is a step at the entrance) ・Toilet is not wheelchair accessible |
The concept is "Showa French"!