The story
Just beyond Gelnhausen, in the village of Eidengesäß at the gateway to the Spessart, Der Löwe stands beside the church as a true country inn. Hosts Brigitte and Joachim Sauter have run this multi-generational property for over twenty years, expanding it while preserving its rural character. The house includes a courtyard garden, a private dining room for up to fifteen, and a garden hall seating seventy.
The kitchen’s guiding principle is an ambitious fresh cuisine that follows the seasons. Best basic ingredients and classic craftsmanship, without convenience products or artificial additives, form the foundation. This commitment to pure, seasonal country cooking has earned the restaurant a Michelin Recommended award for 2026 – a quiet nod to the quality found here.
The menu changes with the market. Starters might include a Romanasalat with shaved carrots, pumpkin brittle, and tarragon-yogurt dressing, or a yellowfin tuna tartare with avocado, cucumber, and wasabi. Soups range from a clear broth with pancake strips to a creamy parsnip and pear soup with vanilla oil.
Among main courses, you’ll find Swabian Hall pork fillet medallions with cream, mushrooms, and Allgäu cheese spaetzle; Barbary duck breast with mango-tarragon sauce; or slow-braised ox cheek in red wine sauce with mushrooms and mashed potatoes. Fish lovers might choose Norwegian fjord salmon with wasabi crust or fresh Skrei with saffron-ginger sauce. Wednesday evenings feature a four-course surprise menu.
Desserts are made in-house: a trio of sorbets, coconut panna cotta with lemon grass crème brûlée, or warm hazelnut soufflé with pear ragout and Armagnac-cinnamon ice.
Service is relaxed and familial, the atmosphere urban yet comfortable. Country cooking of this calibre, rooted in the Spessart region, makes Der Löwe a destination worth seeking out.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
