Update: June 2011
A second visit to Do Mo on a warm summer’s evening proved just as good as the first outing. This time there were three of us, and we were able to sample a few more dishes. Everything was beautifully presented on either slate or china tiles, with great attention to detail, and the quality of the food was excellent (a really superb salmon/sushi dish was enjoyed by Mr EDL). The best thing though – a proper understanding of the previously hard-to-understand menu!
It is in fact, quite simple. There are three menus – French inspired, French-Japanese, and Japanese inspired, but each course uses the same ingredients, just prepared in a different way, which makes it easier to navigate. You may swap and choose your courses from different menus, or stick to one. And, there is the “dictionary” of Japanese terms to help you along the way. However, we had a great server who spoke perfect English, and she was more than happy to give advice and guidance.
We sat outdoors on the large terrace and noticed that within 30 minutes it was completely full – it did seem to attract several fairly large groups this Friday evening, which came to enjoy an aperitif before moving on to one of the nearby clubs and bars.
A very pleasant setting with very good food, and still highly recommended.
2eme (Confluence)
This Japanese-French fusion restaurant on the banks of the Saône, close to Purple and Rue Le Bec in the Confluence area of Lyon, was the venue for a recent superb Sunday lunch. Do Mo occupies a vast refurbished warehouse that has been imaginatively decorated. Various seating configurations from booths and regular tables to high table and stools make it seem less cavernous and somehow cosy. The smooth, long white bar with backlit coloured panels provides a stunning focal point, and together with interesting light fixtures, water features and subtle but cool music, the ambience is pretty perfect.
Dishes
This is the tricky bit. Do Mo’s menu is a little hard to navigate, being in French but also using authentic Japanese culinary terms, many of which were unfamiliar to me. A little ‘dictionary card’ is presented with the menu but this doesn’t really help, and makes dish selection rather time consuming and confusing. It’s a cute gimmick, but I’m sure that it’s preventing diners from trying alternatives, and instead sticking to food items that are more easily recognizable!
Having said that, once we had ordered, we weren’t disappointed. I took the Sunday menu, which at €23 for 3 courses (at lunch), was very good value, while the regular menu is €35. (Although it’s also possible to order à la carte, which was where we got confused.) Everything that came to our table was beautifully presented. I started with delicious rillettes of haddock served on a bed of thinly sliced cucumber, while Mr EDL had sushi-roll style crab and polenta, served on nori sheets with a side dish of soy sauce. The flavours were really delicate and blended unexpectedly well. To follow, I had sliced mignon de porc, served with a rocket salad and a large side dish of sautéed potatoes while Mr EDL chose fillet of cod topped with a hazelnut crumble with an accompaniment of sweet, whipped parsnip puree - which I found to be sublime.
For dessert we each had moelleux au chocolat with tiny flecks of sea salt, and ice cream. Regular readers will know that I’m partial to this dessert, and I’m happy to report that it was a standout. We saw mini beignets and large chocolate spheres also being sent out - things to try for next time. Maybe...
Summary
I have a feeling this restaurant is an entirely different animal in the evening, and we intend to return soon to find out. Sunday lunch was a fairly sedate affair with the usual mix of families and couples, but I suspect the bar and its cocktails may share the spotlight at night, providing a completely different (but welcome) experience.
Like other restaurants in the area, there’s plenty of parking available in the front, but it’s a 30-minute amble along the water’s edge from the centre of Lyon, and on this sunny Sunday, that’s exactly what we did.
Note: there seem to be several entrances that were not in use that were causing some confusion (I counted 4 in total). Use either the riverside one, or the main entrance from the car park.
Special children’s menu available. Large terrace in summer overlooking the Saône. Booking probably advisable weekend evenings – it was full Sunday lunchtime and we estimate approximately 100+ covers, all efficiently served by friendly smiling staff.
Open 7 days a week 12-14:00 & 19h-23:00. Tél: 04 37 23 09 23
45 Quai Rambaud, 69002 Lyon, France
Average price of 3 course lunch for two, including 4 glasses of wine & 2 coffees: €85
http://do-mo.fr/
