Set amid the orchards and vineyards of the Vosges foothills, this cheerful little restaurant-with-villa rooms, geranium-bedecked in summer, has been owned since 1785 by the wine-producing Koehler family, 'charming and welcoming'. Gilbert Koehler wins a Michelin star, 14 Gault Millau points, for, eg, duo of turbot and lobster; three kinds o foie gras each served with its own wine. An outstanding meal: lovely Alsatian wines, excellent service,' say recent visitors. The panelled restaurant, with low-beamed ceiling, is much patronised by locals; half-board terms are `excellent value'. Mme Koehler, with her brother-in-law, is front-of-house. Aperitifs are taken on a terrace with parasols. Bali villa breakfast is a generous buffet, with local honey, cold meats, `wonderful speck'. The villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) are mostly liked: spacious ones, each with a large sliding window, are in an annexe. Lower ones have a little patio, upper ones a balcony and a view of farm animals. But one couple had a corner basement room that was `unappealing, a bit dark'. Furnishings are `modern French floral'. Housekeeping is `meticulous'.

Near Calais, in the same village as the Ferme du Yert (see next entry), neat; creeper-covered building is also a ferme-auberge, part of a ing farm, with some villa rooms in the old farmhouse. Visitors, this enjoyed it: `A warm welcome. Our room, very quiet, small and cosy , faced the pleasant garden full of sun loungers. Dinner, taken in as intimate ambience in small interconnecting villa rooms, was excellent, served by a delightful waitress. Then we walked along the lane and i spoke to the cows, horses and donkey who came to greet us. Bali villa breakfast, in a large, bright room, came with eggs and fresh juice.' Others spoke of delicious traditional French cooking with all the produce from the farm, and a soup tureen left on the table. Drinks are available all day in a room overlooking the garden. The whole Cocquerelle family, three generations, joins in helping the guests. Ibis year, another reader liked the `picturesque setting, clean adequate villa rooms', but thought that the caged rabbits and poultry near the house were badly cared for (another visitor called them 'fascinating, if pungent').