With the cost of living being what it is today, if you're wondering whether a set menu in a Michelin-starred restaurant is off the table, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that there are some excellent deals to be had.
It is perhaps worth reiterating that we consider the restaurants recommended by the MICHELIN Guide to be worth every penny. A chef will never make it into the selection without first ensuring that the freshness and quality of their ingredients is up to our inspectors' lofty standards.
Storchen, Bad Krozingen, Baden-Württemberg
Three-course set menu, served Tuesdays and Thursday-Saturday – €52.This picture-perfect traditional Baden inn dating back to 1764 is alive and well, and currently run by two generations of the same family. In winter, sit back in the rustic-style interior, complete with original tiled stove; in summer, make the most of the lovely terrace overlooking the pond. Father-and-son team Fritz and Jochen Helfesrieder swear by seasonal produce, some of which comes from the restaurant's own garden – although the menu also includes some top-notch fish from France.
© Sven Ketz/Storchen
Facil, Berlin
Three-course set menu, served Monday-Friday – €78.A real oasis of calm in the middle of Berlin! The fifth-floor terrace of The Mandala hotel is home to this inviting and intimate restaurant laid out in an attractive space with a retractable glass roof. Michael Kempf and Joachim Gerner concoct classic cuisine, drawing on Asian and Mediterranean influences: Roderick Sloan hand-fished Norwegian scallop, sea fennel and lovage is a good example.
© Hiroshi Toyoda/FACIL
Freustil, Ostseebad Binz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Six-course set menu, served Wednesday-Sunday – €88.It was a happy day for this Baltic Sea resort when Ralf Haug, who was born in the Black Forest, set up shop here. His cuisine, described as "down-to-earth", combines classic elements and regional ingredients. The star of the show is his 12-course set menu – also available in a shorter format and in a vegetarian version on request. Considering the first-rate quality of the ingredients, the value for money definitely deserves a mention.
© Mattias Haupt/freustil
Hämmerle's Restaurant, Blieskastel, Saarland
Four-course set menu, available Tuesday-Friday – €89.At this pleasant, long-standing family-run establishment, chef Cliff Hämmerle lets vegetables and regional produce take centre stage, putting the vegetarian menu on a par with its fish/meat counterpart… not least when accompanied by a fine regional wine! Inspector's tip: at lunchtime, a four-course set menu is served at the Restaurant Chef's Table-Barrique.
© Michelin
Das garbo im Löwen, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Baden-Württemberg
Three-course set menu, served Wednesday-Friday – €59.In this restaurant in the centre of the village, rural charm meets elegance, in an ambience that combines the warm hues of wood, a tiled stove and pretty fabrics. Chef Marcel Kazda's ambitious cuisine is based on a classical approach blended with seasonal influences. The carefully considered dishes take the form of two set menus comprising three to six courses, one of which – the "Low Carb" menu – is a contemporary alternative that steers clear of wheat, soy and refined sugar. Several regional dishes are also available à la carte. Veteran sommelier Philipp Spielmann takes care of food and wine pairings.
© Paul Gärtner/Das garbo im Löwen
Jean, Eltville am Rhein, Hessen
Four-course set menu, served on Sundays – €79.In addition to its hotel and café, the Frankenbach family also runs Jean in this former wine bar. After earning his stripes at renowned establishments such as Ikarus in Salzburg, Johannes Frankenbach, who represents the third generation of the family, has been at the helm here since 2012. The name "Jean" (a French equivalent of his own name), as well as the German and French-inspired cuisine, are a nod to his love of France. Wine connoisseurs – including fans of Bordeaux and Burgundy – will also find plenty to enjoy here.
© Birgit Kallerhoff/Jean
Gasthof zum Bad, Langenau, Baden-Württemberg
Four-course set menu available Thursday-Sunday – €65.Junior chef Hans Häge, who took over the family business in 2007, creates classic, seasonal cuisine with a modern twist. There are various set menus, including the especially popular three- or four-course lunch deal. The à la carte menu also features classics such as Maultaschensuppe (German ravioli in broth) or Zwiebelrostbraten (steak and onions in gravy). Löffelbrunnen lake provides the backdrop – its source lies right beneath the building. The name "Gasthof zum Bad" is a reference to the baths that were once housed here.
© Hans Häge/Gasthof zum Bad
Dobler's, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg
Three-course set menu, served Tuesday-Saturday – €58.For over 30 years, Gabriele and Norbert Dobler have been delighting their loyal customers with excellent dishes prepared in a classic but never old-fashioned way. With first-rate ingredients and impressive technical skills, Norbert Dobler's cuisine needs no introduction. Gabriele Dobler, meanwhile, ably heads up the service team. This is certainly one of the reasons why so many regulars have remained true to these friendly hosts for so many years. You can choose from the à la carte menu or go for the seasonal set menu. There is also a three-course lunch deal that offers excellent value for money.
© Felix Zeiffer/Doblers
Gasthaus Jakob, Perasdorf, Bayern
Three-course set menu, served on Sundays – €69.You'll need to check the route to this small country inn in the Bavarian Forest, but once you arrive, you can sit back and enjoy the impeccable service. Chef-patron Michael Klaus Ammon, who hails from Upper Franconia, adheres to classic culinary tradition, but also has fun incorporating modern ideas. This results in expressive dishes such as grilled lobster soup with roasted lobster, or a pleasantly light yoghurt crème brûlée. The team includes his partner Mona Haka and brother Andreas, who oversee the front-of-house team together. Good wine recommendations.
© Kirchgassner/Gasthaus Jakob
Huberwirt, Pleiskirchen, Bayern
Three-course set menu available Fridays and Saturdays – €48.This inn has been run by the same family since 1612 and is now in the safe hands of Alexander Huber. Using top-notch ingredients, the chef skilfully incorporates Bavarian rusticity into his cuisine, creating dishes that are full of character and a touch of finesse. You can choose between regional classics and more modern dishes – although at lunchtime, there is a somewhat pared-down menu. Request a table inside, or out on the wonderful, partly covered terrace. The front-of-house team is cordial, attentive and pleasingly down to earth.
© Lukas Kirchgasser /Huberwirt
Philipp, Sommerhausen, Bayern
Three-course set menu served at weekends – €75.Set in a Renaissance palace built 400 years ago in a picturesque winegrowing village, this stylish and cosy restaurant is steeped in history. Guests enjoy chef Michael Philipp's cuisine, which also draws on Mediterranean and Asian influences. When it comes to wine, hostess and sommelier Heike Philipp has some excellent recommendations.
© Philipp
Hirsch, Sonnenbühl, Baden-Württemberg
Three-course set menu available Friday-Sunday – €68.This is nothing less than a fine dining institution in the Swabian Jura (a mountain range to the east of the Black Forest, in southwest Germany). The chef-patron makes a point of using only select ingredients, preferably sourced from the surrounding area, eg local lamb, trout from Seckach and saffron from Alb. His cooking is of the highest standard and eschews unnecessary frills. There is a choice of different set menus, including a vegetarian one, plus their "Hirsch Klassiker" (classic dishes) available à la carte.
© Achim Käflein/Hirsch
Restaurant Kunz, Sankt Wendel, Saarland
Four-course set menu, served on Sundays – €69.Through the glass-fronted extension of this establishment, you get a great view of the imposing church (Pfarrkirche St Remigius, known as Bliestaldom). The Kunz family form a close-knit team here in the Bliesen district, where the proprietor and his chef Patrick Jenal offer two reasonably priced set menus and an à la carte selection. Dishes on the menu range from classic French to specialities such as whole duck grilled on a rotating spit, served as two dishes. Alexander Kunz is also renowned for his event catering and the Alexander Kunz Theatre dinner show in Saarbrücken.
© Holger Kiefer/Kunz
Haus Stemberg, Velbert, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Four-course set menu served at weekends – €99.This restaurant has been run by the Stemberg family since 1864, and head chef Sascha represents the fifth generation to take the helm. The unique concept is all about variety: choose between a four- to six-course set menu or dishes à la carte. The chef's specialties include Königsberg Klopse (meatballs) with crispy sweetbreads, caper cream, Amalfi lemon, green vegetables and potato purée. The impressive wine list boasts a few rare finds.
© Sascha Perrone/Haus Stemberg
Johanns, Waldkirchen, Bayern
Four-course set menu served Monday-Saturday – €59.If you are looking to combine fine dining with designer shopping, the famous Garhammer shopping mall will tick all your boxes. Here in the second-floor restaurant, Passau-born chef-patron Michael Simon Reis injects a little innovation into culinary tradition to create expressive cuisine, all the while placing great emphasis on local produce. Really good value for money. A word to the wise: the terrace commands a stunning view of the region.
© Johanns/Johanns
Alte Überfahrt, Werder, Brandenburg
Four-course set menu available at weekends – €105.This restaurant enjoys a delightful setting on the waterside promenade of a small island. It serves creative plant-based cuisine, which you may choose to accompany with local fish and meat (or not). All produce comes directly from the garden of Petzow Castle, on the shores of Schwielowsee. Inspector's tip: order the vegetarian menu when making your reservation.
© Florian/Alte Überfahrt
Illustration Image © Sven Ketz/Storchen
