Julien

The story

Julien in Rothau, France – Bib Gourmand Alsatian Restaurant with Family History

Julien

In the village of Fouday, a few minutes from Rothau, the Goetz family has been welcoming guests for over sixty years. What began in 1955 as a small roadside restaurant with five rooms has grown into a full-scale hotel, spa and dining destination, yet the spirit remains the same: generous, unpretentious, deeply rooted in Alsace.

The restaurant, Chez Julien, is where that story began. Today it is led by chef Gérard Goetz, a Maître Cuisinier de France, who took over the family business with his wife Marylène in 1976. Over the decades they have expanded and refined the property, adding a veranda, a terrace, and eventually a dedicated dining room called La Schirgoutte, which opened in 2017. The room is cosy and warm, with wood from an old Canadian farmhouse and leather accents — a space that feels both intimate and lived-in.

The food is squarely Alsatian, built on the produce of the region. The kitchen works with the seasons, turning out dishes that are straightforward and satisfying. The restaurant has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, an award that recognises good quality, good value cooking — and it fits. There is no grandstanding here, just careful execution and a respect for local ingredients.

Beyond the dining room, the property includes Café J, a more casual spot for afternoon treats, and an extensive spa with indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, hammams and treatment rooms. The setting helps: the Bruche river runs past the garden, and the Vosges forest rises behind.

This is a restaurant that wears its history lightly. The third generation — Hélène and Eléonore — are now part of the team, and the place still feels like a family affair. If you are after Alsatian cooking that is honest, well-made and backed by decades of know-how, Chez Julien delivers.