Strasbourg

[Laidback]

Ms. L. and I are spending three of our October days in Strasbourg via the TGV and would like some recommendations for restaurants in the general quality/price caliber of Chez Dumonet, Violon d'Ingres, Regalade St. Honoré with perhaps an Alsatian bent. We are not looking for Crocodiles and will not have a car as in the past so will skip Auberge de l'Ile where we had such a good experience a few years back.

[aconnolly]

There are a lot of GREAT dining options in Strasbourg. In particular, I recommend The Piano Grill (service is a little slow) and La Cambuse (seafood w/a Vietnamese twist) for dinner. For lunch, grab a sandwich or tartine at Secrets de Table (rue du 22 novembre or on top floor of Galeries Lafayette). Bon voyage et bon appétit!

[jehflyer]

Maison des Tanneurs
I have always enjoyed their food-nice setting, some tourists (French de l'interieur), not cutting edge but solid good Alsatian cooking.
Also, I believe that the new tramway reaches Obernai where there are a number of fine restaurants-starred and otherwise.

[POY]

Take a taxi out to Buerehiesel; a good meal in a nice setting.

[John Talbott]

2nd that; fine food, nice setting.

[hychka]

Lots of luck without a car. Maybe someone can prove me wrong, but I think you won't find what you are looking for in the city. We were able to get good stuff for a picnic on the train home and that was about it.

[Laidback]

Hmmm, that doesn't quite match my experience a few years back. Granted there were tons of choucroute type places, but I seem to remember a couple of pleasant experiences other than the Michelin Macarons...anyone familiar with Gavroche or similar little restaurants...is Strasbourg an unknown among Chowhounders? Surely P'tipois or Souphie must have some knowledge of the dining to be had there.

[f2dat06]

Not that Strasbourg is unknown just that all the really good places are in the surrounding villages not directly in Strasbourg and this poster has no car.

In Strasbourg avoid Maison Kammerzell.

[Delucacheesemonger]

Wow, do l second that.

[Laidback]

Been there, done that...once was more than enough.

[PhilD]

Sorry to say that we went for a weekend and struggled to find anything that interesting (restaurants and sights) when compared to the surrounding area, we were glad to get in the car and out of town. I am certain there must be some hidden gems, good luck in finding them.

[Sue Style]

And I'm even sorrier, PhilD, that you had such a bum experience - Strasbourg's got tons to offer, both sights (cathedral, medieval cellars of the Hopital Civil, old city centre, Modern Art Museum, Tomi Ungerer Museum, Musée Alsacien etc. etc.).

Laidback: for food, try Chut, 4 rue du Bain aux Plantes, cunningly concealed in Petite France (not even a sign outside) but worth tracking down; Umami, 8 rue Dentelles, one menu only, always booked solid; and l'Atelier du Gout, rue des Tonneliers. Haven't been to the Burehiesel since Westermann Senior left for pastures Parisian - it's in the hands of Westermann Junior, supposed to be good, in quite a different register from its Michelin stellar days and a nice, ex-centric situation in the Parc de l'Orangerie.

And you definitely don't need a car, in fact it would be a pain in the butt as driving on the central island - where it's mostly at - is a lost cause - anyway, the tram's brilliant. Enjoy your 3-day sojourn (and p.s it's Auberge de l'Ill, 'cos it's beside the river of that ilk :-)

Sue

www.suestyle.com and www.winetravelguides.com

[John Talbott]

" (and p.s it's Auberge de l'Ill, 'cos it's beside the river of that ilk :-)" and is scary at night with fog over the road.

[Laidback]

Ahhh, thanks Sue, just what we were looking for, info from a local expert. We toured Alsace in a rented car before and have dined with the Haeberleins and Westermanns, both wonderful, but this time we are planning on foregoing a car and digging deeper into the riches of Strasbourg that our 2 days before only whetted our appetite. Excuse me for placing the Haeberleins on an ile instead of the ill. Enjoyed your web site, and feel free to contribute more expertise.