Au Cheval Blanc Hôtel et Restaurant

The main dining room was empty, yet we were put at a brightly lit table facing the kitchen, close to the bathroom. When staff realized we were American and didn’t speak French, they scoffed at us. They kept speaking only French to mess with us, even though they later clearly spoke English. They rolled their eyes at our clarifying questions and giggled behind the bar. After that treatment, we wouldn’t accept an aperitif, and they charged an extortionate $28 for the drinks. If you expect basic human decency, don’t set foot in this restaurant.

We left Ribeauvillé with lovely memories of a delicious meal and beautiful surroundings. The staff were very friendly, and eating outside gave us a lovely backdrop. We chose the lunch set menu with starters and main courses for €45. The six snails in garlic butter were delicious, and I mopped up every bit of sauce with bread. The steamed white turbot with risotto and truffle oil was also really good. The fish was incredibly tender, with no fishy smell, though the risotto sauce was a bit salty for me. The homemade duck liver and beef filet were both satisfying. Just check the menu details, as some set-menu dishes cost an extra €6 or €8. We loved the Louis Sipp Riesling so much that we visited the Louis Sipp winery afterward and bought several bottles. We also searched several shops for Gustave Lorentz Riesling, but couldn’t find it.

The restaurant offers typical local dishes and a good wine list. The hotel rooms are nice, with a minibar, and there’s a spa area with a sauna and whirlpool. The historic buildings mean it can be a bit noisy, but it was still okay.

The appetizer arrived quickly and was very good, and despite the delicious food, we won’t be back. We were happy to get a last-minute reservation for our larger group, and the location was very nice, but the menu had a poor selection, with only one vegetarian option. Service fell well short: the waiters weren’t especially friendly and kept bumping into us outside. One waiter spilled water on someone in our party and barely apologized. Another person got a half-full beer, with the explanation that the barrel was empty. We had to share one copy of the wine list, and the entrees took forever.