Au Bouchon Lyonnais

Au Bouchon Lyonnais is a dependable traditional French restaurant in Blois' historic old town, Loir-et-Cher, France, bringing the conventions of the Lyonnais bouchon tradition to the Loire Valley. The bouchon — a type of traditional Lyon restaurant characterised by hearty, unpretentious cooking, checked tablecloths, and an emphasis on charcuterie and Beaujolais — fits naturally into a Loire setting where similar values around simplicity, provenance, and honesty in the kitchen have always been prized.

The menu follows the Lyonnais template with conviction. Salade Lyonnaise — frisée lettuce, lardons, soft-boiled egg, and croutons with a warm bacon vinaigrette — is the opening act. Andouillette grillée, the chitterling sausage grilled and served with grain mustard, is the signature main course. Tarte aux pommes, a simply executed pastry that lets good seasonal apples speak for themselves, ends the meal without ceremony. Daily specials rotate with the market and may include quenelles lyonnaises, gratin dauphinois, or a cochonnaille platter in season.

The dining room is warm and informal — small tables, a proprietorial hospitality, and a clientele that ranges from families exploring the Château de Blois to local workers on a midday break. The formule lunch at €17–€22 is one of the best-value options in central Blois, providing a proper two-course meal with bread, a glass of wine, and coffee at a price that makes it competitive with the town's cafés.

The wine list includes Loire Valley selections — Chinon, Gamay Touraine, and Cheverny — alongside a Beaujolais section that honours the restaurant's Lyonnais roots. Dinner à la carte runs €28–€40. Saturday evenings benefit from a reservation.