Chez Yvonne

Chez Yvonne is a winstub in Strasbourg's historic centre, at 10 Rue du Sanglier, about 200 metres from the cathedral. Founded in 1873, it has carried the first name of Yvonne Haller since 1956; she ran it until 2001. People come for Alsatian cooking and for a dining room that has welcomed many well-known guests.

From a farmers' tavern to Chez Yvonne

The restaurant was founded in 1873 by Eugène Jacquemet under the Alsatian name 'S'Burjerstuewel', which translates roughly as 'the farmers' parlour'. In 1956 Yvonne Haller bought the business and gave it her first name. She enlarged it by acquiring the building next door and ran it until 2001. The house has changed hands several times since, but it has kept the name that generations of Strasbourg locals know well.

A dining room of famous regulars

The critic Gilles Pudlowski described Chez Yvonne as a place where writers and artists passing through Strasbourg gather almost by ritual. On the staircases, photos and autographs recall visits from figures in entertainment, literature and politics. The house remains associated with Jacques Chirac, whose name is linked to the calf's head with gribiche sauce served here. Its standing as a meeting place has done much to build this reputation.

Half-timbering and a Renaissance window

The building is worth a look before you go in. Its upper part is half-timbered, and a Renaissance-style window dates from the 17th century. The lintel bears the date 1740, which probably marks a partial restoration. Inside, the atmosphere is that of a winstub, the typical Alsatian restaurant: wood panelling, close-set tables and regional cooking. Rue du Sanglier is narrow and quiet, away from the crowds of nearby Place de la Cathédrale.