La Maison Forte

In the heart of the Centre Pompidou-Metz is one of the few fine dining restaurants to be located in a French museum. The sleek, bright space is housed in a glass and metal setting with glimpses of the canopy of this stunning building; wood and cardboard furniture designed by Shigeru Ban adds to the serenity of the place. Roxane and Charles Coulombeau homed in on the smallest of details in a quest for excellence when it comes to the table design. A big fan of Japan, where he used to work, the chef cleverly combines seasonal ingredients from Lorraine with his passion for the Land of the Rising S

A charming little Italian restaurant run by a chef who hails from Lorraine but has Sicilian roots, and his Milanese partner. By no means fixated on the classic repertoire, the restaurant serves a tasting menu entitled "Scoperta della Pasta", which showcases their house-made pasta. Much care goes into dishes that incorporate top-notch, at times premium ingredients, many imported from Italy. With its pared-back decor, just a handful of tables, dark parquet flooring, white walls and colourful Abstract paintings, the interior is both contemporary and intimate. Excellent selection of local wines.

Near Nancy and the Rhine-Rhone Canal, we warrant you will be won over by the vintage charm of this 1960’s house and its discreet rural edge. A family business for three generations, formerly an open-air tavern, today’s diners make a beeline for its shaded terrace. Seasonal, up-to-the-minute fare: pig’s trotters, sardines, confit onions; apricot crumble and vanilla cream – signed by the owner-chef, all of which washed down by a fine choice of vintages.

In the heart of the Lunéville countryside, this romantic, classical château is nestled in wooded grounds. You pass through a dignified series of rooms that have lost none of their period cachet: wainscoting, parquet floors and open fireplaces, into the dining room overlooking the grounds. A few subtle baroque and contemporary touches brighten up this glamorous interior, providing the perfect foil to the chef's cuisine – traditional with modern touches. Previously a pastry chef, the talented and discreet Cyril Leclerc (who hails from Lorraine) loves premium produce. He treats it with respect –

The name is a nod to Tōya, a famous volcanic lake in the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Globe-trotting chef-owner, Loïc Villemin considers the region to be something of a culinary paradise, in which wild fish, plants and herbs abound. In addition, extensive animal husbandry and premium market gardening are practised there – plenty to enrich this restaurant overlooking a verdant golf course and with a trendy and soothing nature-inspired decor. The chef was also a disciple of some of the great culinary masters: Jean-Georges Klein, Nicolas Le Bec, Bernard Lois

The team that has taken over this small Art Nouveau building opposite the Parc de la Pépinière is on a mission to serve as a bastion against "junk food" and the industrialisation of what we eat. The chef connects with producers to champion local agriculture, delivering vibrant cuisine that is, above all, packed with flavour. Very good value for money at lunchtime.

In the historic town near Saint Epvre Basilica lies an inviting eatery whose plush, stylish décor blends contemporary notes with century-old stone arches. The chef crafts a flavoursome score by way of several menus that keep pace with the seasons: Arctic char, mousseline of asparagus, chervil-flavoured veggie ravioles; a crunchy vanilla mille-feuille drizzled with caramel – to die for! Fine wine list.