Restaurant in Obernai, France
Two Michelin stars. Book months ahead.
La Fourchette des Ducs holds two Michelin stars and 86 La Liste points in a small Alsatian town — making it one of the strongest cases for a serious tasting menu dinner outside a major French city. Chef Nicolas Stamm's kitchen delivers at a price point well below comparable two-star addresses in Paris. Book 6–8 weeks ahead minimum; tables are Near Impossible to secure at short notice.
Yes — and if you are within a two-hour drive of Obernai, it should be near the leading of your list for a serious dinner. La Fourchette des Ducs holds two Michelin stars and 86 points in La Liste 2025, placing it in a tier of French regional cooking that rivals much better-known addresses in Paris and Lyon. For anyone who has already eaten here once, the question is not whether to return but when — and how far in advance you need to plan to get a table.
Chef Nicolas Stamm has held two Michelin stars consecutively through 2024 and 2025, and the venue carries an Opinionated About Dining Classical in Europe ranking (#359 in 2024, Recommended in 2023) , a peer-reviewed signal that the cooking resonates with serious repeat diners, not just first-time critics. La Liste's 2025 score of 86 points places it in the Remarkable category, a designation that reflects consistent performance over time rather than a single exceptional year.
What that track record means practically: you are booking a kitchen that has refined its approach over multiple award cycles. Two-star cooking in a small Alsatian town of under 12,000 people is not common. The closest regional comparison at the same award level is Auberge de l'Ill in Illhaeusern, which carries three stars but operates in a very different register , grand, historic, formal. La Fourchette des Ducs is the more accessible entry point into Alsace's highest tier of French modern cuisine, without the institutional weight of a dynasty restaurant.
The cuisine is classified as French Modern, and at the €€€€ price tier in a two-star context, the expectation is a tasting menu format. At this level , comparable in pricing and intent to addresses like Flocons de Sel in Megève or Bras in Laguiole , the menu is the experience. You are not picking from a carte; you are committing to a progression that the kitchen has structured deliberately.
Because specific menu items are not confirmed in Pearl's verified data, the practical guidance here is format-based: come with appetite and time. Tasting menus at two-star level in France typically run eight to twelve courses with optional wine pairings, and pacing is slower than you might expect. Budget at least three hours for dinner service. The Sunday lunch window (12:00–13:30) is narrower , that is a 90-minute window, which suggests either a shorter format or tighter pacing on the day the kitchen is most likely to be operating with a reduced team.
For a returning visitor, the question is less about what to order and more about what has changed since your last visit. Two-star kitchens at this stage of their development tend to rotate menus seasonally, with Alsace's larder shifting significantly between the mushroom-and-game months of autumn and the lighter, herb-driven months of late spring. If you visited in summer, a November or March return will deliver a meaningfully different menu architecture even if the underlying technique and style are consistent.
Getting a table here is classified as Near Impossible in Pearl's booking difficulty index. That is not an exaggeration for a two-Michelin-star restaurant operating Tuesday through Sunday evenings in a town of this size , the total capacity is almost certainly under 40 covers per service. Plan a minimum of six to eight weeks ahead for a weekend dinner. The Sunday lunch slot (12:00–13:30) is your leading chance at a shorter lead time, but it fills quickly because it is the only midday service of the week.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Tuesday through Saturday dinner service runs 19:00–21:00, which means last entry is 21:00 , do not plan to arrive late. If you are travelling from Strasbourg (approximately 30 minutes by road), that timing is comfortable. If you are driving from further afield and plan to stay in Obernai, check our full Obernai hotels guide for options near the restaurant.
If you are benchmarking this against other two-star addresses in provincial France , Flocons de Sel in Megève, Bras in Laguiole, or Troisgros in Ouches , La Fourchette des Ducs sits comfortably in that company. It does not have the international profile of Mirazur in Menton or the institutional prestige of Auberge de l'Ill, but it is also not priced or paced like a pilgrimage destination. It is a working two-star in a mid-sized Alsatian town, which is exactly what makes it the right booking for a serious dinner that does not require a transatlantic flight or a three-star budget.
Against Paris alternatives at comparable price points , Le Cinq at the Four Seasons George V or Guy Savoy , La Fourchette des Ducs will cost significantly less for a comparable technical level, and the Alsatian setting adds regional context that Paris restaurants cannot replicate. If you are already planning a trip to Alsace, the case for making Obernai a dinner stop is direct.
At a two-star restaurant in the €€€€ tier, you commit to the tasting menu , that is the format, not a choice between dishes. The kitchen structures the progression, and the value case for the price only holds if you go the full route. Ask the sommelier about Alsatian wine pairings specifically; the region produces Riesling and Pinot Gris at a quality level that matches this kitchen's ambition.
Pearl does not have verified data on bar seating at this address. Given the format , a two-star tasting menu restaurant in a small Alsatian town , bar dining is unlikely to be a standard option. Contact the restaurant directly before planning around it.
No dress code is confirmed in Pearl's data, but the combination of two Michelin stars, €€€€ pricing, and a formal tasting menu format in a French provincial setting points clearly toward smart to formal attire. A jacket for men is the safe call. Obernai is not a city where guests dress down for two-star dinners.
Thierry Schwartz - Le Restaurant is the other €€€€ option in town , Creative cuisine, a different style, and roughly comparable in price. Le Parc (€€€, Modern Cuisine) is the right move if you want a serious dinner without the full two-star commitment. For a relaxed Alsatian meal, À l'Agneau d'Or at €€ is a practical choice that does not require weeks of advance planning. See the full Obernai restaurants guide for more options.
Yes, with one condition: you have to be in the market for a tasting menu dinner. Two Michelin stars held consecutively, an OAD Classical ranking, and a 4.7 Google rating across 234 reviews together indicate consistent delivery at the €€€€ price point. Compared to two-star addresses in Paris, you are likely paying less for a comparable technical level in a more intimate setting. If you want à la carte flexibility, this is not your venue.
Dinner, if the full tasting menu experience is the goal. The Sunday lunch window (12:00–13:30) is 90 minutes, which is tight for a two-star menu progression and suggests either a shorter format or a pace that does not do the kitchen full justice. Lunch may also be slightly easier to book, which makes it the right call if availability is the deciding factor. For a first or returning visit where the full experience matters, book dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
It is one of the stronger cases for a special occasion dinner in Alsace. Two Michelin stars, a chef-driven tasting menu, and a formal but not stiff provincial setting make it appropriate for anniversaries, significant birthdays, or any occasion that warrants the €€€€ price tier. Book as far ahead as possible , Near Impossible booking difficulty means last-minute special occasion bookings are unlikely to succeed.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| La Fourchette des Ducs | €€€€ | — |
| Thierry Schwartz - Le Restaurant | €€€€ | — |
| À l'Agneau d'Or | €€ | — |
| Le Parc | €€€ | — |
| Signature - Yona | — |
What to weigh when choosing between La Fourchette des Ducs and alternatives.
At the €€€€ tier with two Michelin stars, you commit to the tasting menu — that is the format here, not a selection from a printed menu. Chef Nicolas Stamm structures the progression, so the decision is when to go, not what to order. If you have dietary restrictions, contact the restaurant well in advance.
Pearl has no verified data on bar or counter seating at 6 Rue de la Gare. Given the two-star tasting menu format in a small Alsatian town, casual drop-in bar dining is unlikely. Assume you need a reservation and plan accordingly.
No dress code is confirmed in Pearl's data, but two Michelin stars, €€€€ pricing, and a formal tasting menu format in provincial France point clearly toward smart dress. Jacket for men is a reasonable baseline; anything noticeably casual risks feeling out of place.
Thierry Schwartz - Le Restaurant is the closest like-for-like in town — €€€€, creative cuisine, comparable price point. Le Parc is a step down in price and formality and works if the full two-star format feels like too much commitment. À l'Agneau d'Or and Signature - Yona are lower-price options for when the occasion doesn't call for a tasting menu.
Yes, if a tasting menu dinner is what you are after. Two Michelin stars held through both 2024 and 2025, an OAD Classical Europe ranking, and a La Liste score of 85–86 points give it a clear credential base for the €€€€ spend. If you want à la carte flexibility or a shorter meal, the format will frustrate you regardless of quality.
Dinner. The Sunday lunch window runs 12:00–13:30, which is 90 minutes — too short for a two-star tasting menu to breathe properly. Tuesday through Saturday evenings (19:00–21:00) give the experience the time it needs. If Sunday lunch is your only option, verify the format in advance before booking.
It is one of the stronger cases for a special occasion dinner in Alsace. Two consecutive Michelin star cycles, a chef-driven menu from Nicolas Stamm, and a formal but not rigid French provincial setting make the occasion feel earned rather than just expensive. Book well ahead — Pearl classifies availability here as near impossible.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
