Reims, Nancy & Metz Restaurant Recommendations
 

I'll be in these French cities the middle of March. I like everything from the little hole-in-the-wall local place to an occasional splurge restaurant. Doubtful though I'd go so high as a Michelin starred establishment.

Any dining recommendations?

indy, we stayed here in Reims http://www.assiettechampenoise.com/

It's on the outskirts of Reims, about a mile or so, and had a wonderful dinner in their restaurant. The most memorable part of the dinner was dessert. I had the cheese plate. He wheeled over a cart of about 50 cheeses and kept slicing until I said "uncle."

We took the Piper-Heidsieck champagne tour - I highly recommend it. They also had a very nice gift shop. ((b))

Agree with Budman on the champagne tour. You ride around the cellars in a self propelled vehicle with taped comentary.

ttt. ((b))

Indy - a few dining thoughts.

In Reims, the centrally located Café du Palais on rue place Myron-Herrick is great for atmosphere and convivial dining. The food is not exceptional but it's fine. In March, I'd opt for the gorgeous Art Deco room with the stained-glass ceiling signed by Jacques Simon. If you've a chance, talk with the charming proprietor M. Jean-Louis Vogt, and he'll tell you some of cafe history.

If you want brassiere fare in Reims, the Brasserie du Boulingren at 48 rue de Mars near the Boulingren market is a very good choice.

For a Reims meal of wonderful quality in a warm, relaxing environment, try the one-star Michelin restaurant Le Foch, at 37 blvd Foch not far from the train station. I know you said you'd not go as high as a Michelin establishment, but make this an exception. The price-quality ratio is fantastic. We had the four-course Menu @ 31 euros - a bargain for its flavors and quality. We've splurged for and loved Les Crayeres, but Le Foch is a very special place for much less. Check the menus and the website before you say no: http://www.lefoch.com

In Nancy, the Brasserie Excelsior at 50 rue Henri-Poincare is in an historic Art Nouveau building that is worth the visit for its decor alone. However, they also serve a tasty "choucroute de poissons" with salmon, monfish, scallops and mussels.

We'll be in Nancy and also in Metz briefly the third weekend of March, and I've picked out a few other places to try, but can't yet give you a first-hand report.

Enjoy the trip!

MaisonMetz, have a great time. I've told David (indy) about the Excelsior at Lefevre-Lemoime where they sell the famous Bergamottes de Nancy. The large red tin box is the same one that Amelie
finds hidden in the wall. Hoping insy will pick another one up for me.
Sto in Commercy at F. Grojean to buy the oval wooden box of Madeleines.
My empty box is my sewing kit now and still reminds me of Proust.

Thanks Budman and RonZ for the champagne recommendations. I originally thought I was only going to pop into Reims for a day to see the cathedral, take a champagne tour, spend the night and move on. Fortunately keren and reading a few other posts here made me realize what folly that would be. Now I'm spending two full days and wondering if I'll have time to fit in all that I want to see.

Budman Lallement looks wonderful. As I won't have a car I'll have to see if I feel like walking that far for dinner though for a cheese cart I might be tempted to take a cab. :-) I've only eaten twice in France where the cheese "chariot" was wheeled to my table, Troyes and Bonneval. If I had known it was going to happen I would have foregone the previous courses and just had cheeses. And wine of course. :-)

I get the impression this used to be much more common several years ago even in lower-end restaurants. Now the cheese course is 3 or 4 pre-selected varieties with a small dressed bibb lettuce salad with walnuts.

Cigale I can't wait to try the Bergamottes de Nancy. I loved the cannelles you recommended from the Bordeaux region. ((G))

MaisonMetz thanks for all the restaurant recs. I'm making notes. Le Foch looks wonderful. I may have to splurge. I'll be in Metz the 17th & 18 of March, in Nancy the 3 days prior. I'm looking forward to it.

If you wouldn't mind I'd love to see your picks for Nancy. It sounds like you know your way around a French restaurant. My e-mail address is valid if you don't want to post them here since you haven't eaten at them yet.

Thanks again everyone!

I spent some wonderful days at this hotel and had the most wonderful dinners in my life at their restaurant:

http://www.jpmoser.com/boyer_les_crayeres.html

My friends recommend this restaurant in Nancy:

http://www.lamignardise.com

I ate at the Grande Hotel de la Reine in Nancy and it was good also but this was a few years ago:

http://www.viva-lancia.com/hotels/reine.htm