Local dining: When eating in a bouchon (Lyonnais bistro) don’t be surprised if the waiter asks you to keep the same knife and fork for the duration of your meal – lick it clean discretely with the final bite of your entrée (starter) and place it back down on the table either side of your plate waiting to be cleared. Equally standard is for the final addition (bill) to be totted up with a pen on the paper red-and-white-checked tablecloth. House wine is always served in un pot (a thick-bottomed glass bottle distinctive to Lyon).

You’re in Lyon so you should go to a bouchon, and this charming and satisfying women-owned and -run restaurant offers a textbook but “light” version of the city’s traditional dishes. Compared to other bouchons, proportions are scaled back and the dishes, while by no means spa food (lentil salad is spiked with sausage; cabbage salad is spiked with smoked fish), are still satisfying. It’s the perfect place to get a taste of the local cuisine while still allowing room for more contemporary culinary exploration.

Isabelle, Laura and Agathe took over this ancient bouchon six years ago, and it has been fully booked ever since. There is an electric atmosphere every evening as diners settle in for a meal of epic proportions. "We don't do two servings," explains Isabelle, "as it takes all evening to get through all the courses, and the idea here is not to be rushed - neither the chef nor the customers." For that reason, they don't offer a "dish of the day" or lighter set menu at lunch.

The female owners of this contemporary play on the classic bouchon first met while waitressing at Le Café des Fédérations. They seek to deliver an authentic experience – albeit with lighter food options than most Lyonnais menus. Vanel loves this restaurant, which she describes as “slightly more rewarding intellectually” than some other more classic bouchons, “with interesting twists on a solid foundation of tradition”.

Traditional bistros, known as bouchons, are a culinary staple in Lyon. Their existence stems from the city’s rich history as a centre for silk-making and trading, when workers needed somewhere cheap to eat. There are dozens around Lyon, and one of the best is Le Bouchon des Filles, in the Croix-Rousse district.

This upmarket bouchon, around the corner from the Musée des Tissus, is well known among local foodies, who recommend its superb andouillette (chitterlings…

Formées au Café des Fédérations, Isabelle et Laura sont à la tête de ce Bouchon des Filles, une adresse qui joue avec les codes traditionnels du bouchon tout en apportant une touche moderne aux recettes. Ici, on oublie les plats trop lourds et grassouilloux et on se régale de quenelles de rouget maison, de croustilles de boudin aux pommes et de “Bobun” de bœuf. Avec ses saladiers qui débordent de nourriture en entrée, son menu unique et ses prix tout doux, le Bouchon des Filles est un incontournable de la gourmandise !

Our final Lyonnaise dinner that evening was at Bouchon des Filles, which in keeping with tradition is a female-only operation. It’s a small place but makes a big impact. The set menu had excellent options including veggie ones and there were little extras between courses as well as a cheese course and delicious desserts.

With its homey dark red and gilded wallpaper, you'll feel like you stepped into someone's grandmother's home, and she's been expecting you. The menu includes a parade of chef's choice appetizers and continues with traditional Lyonnaise dishes.Pro tip: Make a reservation and order the sausage Lyonnaise and lentils.

This adorable bar is perfect for those who want to enjoy a glass of wine in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France and with good reason. The city is home to some of the best chefs in the world, and its restaurants offer various cuisines to choose from.

Envie d’un vrai bouchon lyonnais mais un peu plus light et légèrement revisité ?. Vous allez probablement apprécier Le Bouchon des Filles, qui se démarque avec un concept un brin différent. Il est situé lui aussi dans le premier arrondissement de Lyon, plus exactement rue du Sergent Blandan.

Isabelle and Laura (Les Filles, “the girls”) follow the tradition of Lyon’s famous female chefs (les meres lyonnaises) and offer traditional Bouchon fare, lightened up with an emphasis on authenticity but with fewer calories—tremendously good and tremendously good value.

Several of us on the RS forum have independently recommended Le Bouchon des Filles for their fixed price full dinner, which includes all the Lyonnaise classics done well, including the distinctive thick-bottomed wine bottles.

The women that opened this place used to work in Daniel and Denise and started out for themselves. They try to serve the typical bouchon food in a new way. The dishes are not as heavy as in some traditional places.

Every single local we met recommended Le Bouchon des Filles. We couldn’t handle one more quenelle but this restaurant is meant to be a more modern, lighter take on the traditional cuisine.

We've tried out more and recommend Chabert & Fils (like a museum!), Bistrot Abel, Bouchon des Filles and Daniel et Denise with chef Joseph Voila, Meilleur Ouvrier de France.

Dinner at Le Bouchon des Filles in Lyon - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France