The story
In Langerwehe-Merode, a short walk from the moated castle that gives the district its name, Wettsteins Restaurant has been serving its own style of classic country cooking since 2002. The restaurant, a 2026 Michelin Recommended address, occupies the former “Waldgaststätte Wettstein” and today is run by Rudolf Wettstein, a chef and Küchenmeister, and his wife Stefanie Faber-Wettstein, a trained hotel manager and business economist.
The couple’s story is a delightfully concrete one: a winemaker’s daughter from the Moselle fell in love with a publican’s son from the Voreifel while they were both working in the Rheingau. That meeting shaped everything that followed. “Mosel meets Voreifel” isn’t a slogan – it’s the literal recipe for the restaurant’s identity. The wine list draws from the family’s own Weingut Franz-Josef Faber in Minheim on the Moselle, alongside selections from favoured vintners.
The food is what the Wettsteins call “ländlich-kreative Küche” – a creative, rural cuisine that balances tradition with a light, seasonal touch. Diners can choose from dishes like a Tataki of tuna with orange, fennel, sesame and Asian sauce; grilled Duroc pork chop with herb crust and Chorizo-Olive jus; or a classic boiled beef Tafelspitz with chive cream, fresh horseradish, spinach and barley risotto. The kitchen also offers a vegetarian Thai vegetable curry and crayfish rounds on the side.
The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming. The team, many of whom have been with the restaurant for years, brings “high quality with casual lightness and beautiful ambience,” as the hosts describe it. The space also accommodates private celebrations, with tailored menus or buffets available.
The Michelin recognition, announced in early 2026, validates what regulars have known for a quarter of a century. Wettsteins Restaurant is now also offering takeaway and catering, making its classic country cooking available beyond the dining room.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
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