Domaine de Lardoisière

Established in a handsome mansion, abutting the Opera House and just behind one of France’s most beautiful squares, chef Charles Coulombeau and his wife Roxane are a firm fixture of Nancy’s culinary scene. After stints at Les Prés d’Eugénie and Lameloise, Charles deftly crafts modern cuisine, enhanced by creative flourishes and nods to Japan, where he worked for a time. Citrus, seaweed and Asian notes are perfectly paired with premium ingredients such as ikejime Vosges Arctic Char or plump Bresse chicken. Knockout terrace overlooking the park.

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

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 –

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.

Klaus Erfort's restaurant in this stylish white villa remains a beacon of classic French cuisine. Uncompromising in his choice of ingredients, he creates dishes that are harmoniously balanced, the flavours teased out with finesse. A four- to seven-course set menu is offered, with accompanying wines on request. Alternatively, "Les Grands Classiques" is available by preorder – this includes langoustines royales cooked on sea salt with grilled young leeks or Bresse poularde with truffles and potato foam. Perfectly washed down with a bottle from the high-calibre wine list. Charming service from an

In the restaurant of the tasteful boutique hotel LA MAISON, chef Sebastian Sandor and his team have forged a distinctive identity rooted in modern French cuisine infused with pronounced Japanese influences. Their seven-course menu, complemented by a succession of amuse-bouches, reflects meticulous craftsmanship through its interplay of numerous components, aromas and contrasts. One standout dish is the lightly smoked ikejime salmon trout, which is of exceptional quality, accompanied by swede prepared three ways – pickled, lacto-fermented, and grilled – and a superb beeswax and vanilla beurre b