http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20082
In late August 2008, the owners opened another restaurant, Bristrot et Chocolat, which, although I haven't tried it, looks fantastic. It's located on Rue de la Râpe, near the Cathédrale de Notre Dame.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20082 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16147
The atmosphere in the restaurant is friendly and family orientated. Superb food at very appealing prices. 4 rue des Charpentiers, Strasbourg.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16147 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16145
It's a kind of thin pizza like thing, but minus tomato and tadtionally made with a topping of cream, bacon and onions.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16145 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16142
It has an entry in the Guiness Book of Records for the largest cheese board.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16142 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15792
It offers clean, comfortable en-suite hostel accommodation, which is often booked up by MEPs.

For the best tarte flambees go to Les Trois Brasseurs at 22 Rue des Veaux. It often has special deals on tarteflambee and beers.

For great beers, go to Academie de la Biere on Rue Adolphe Seyboth. It is a great place to have a few drinks after wondering around beautiful Petite France.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15792 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15791
Tell him/her you want to meet him/her in session in advance and you get a tour round the European Parliament, the debating chamber, listen to the MEPs argue in multi-lingual debate (pretty impressive), since you just can't just turn up to see the Parliament (for security reasons) most tourists miss out on what makes Strasbourg most famous.

You'll probably get a free lunch thrown in too!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15791 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15790
Passing through a passage opposite the Cathedral you will find the restaurant, situated in an immense arched cellar.

The ambiance in the restaurant is excellent - dimly, atmospherically lit, and decorated with dark wooden furniture. The restaurant offers all the local specialities, wonderfully cooked, and despite the excellent location the prices are reasonable.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15790 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15789 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15789 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15787
This offers a nice gentle walk, it is well sign-posted and you can see the Rhine in the distance.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15787 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15785
If you're recovering from the night before, try the vast breakfast, served with steaming bowls of hot chocolate/coffee.

Beware though - this place is extremely popular with the locals and its wooden benches fill up quickly.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15785 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15784 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15784 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15782
August is the best time to visit for cultural events and street theatre.

As to getting familiar with the local cuisine, I came unstuck at trying their famous Alsace sauerkraut. They say you've got to try anything once, in the case of sauerkraut, once is enough in my lifetime no matter how many Michelin chefs prepare it.

Apart from that little hiccup I will recommend Strasbourg to anyone who'd like to experience the French/German melting pot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15782 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15781
Visit the European Court of Justice, and end your day with an aperitif and meal at the Petite France Hotel on the balcony by the river.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15781 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15776 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15776 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15775
No need for a car – there’s excellent public transport on tram-trains via Baden-Baden and Karlsruhe to Freudenstadt on a cheap day ticket or ‘Tageskarte’ that can also be used on regional German trains and rural buses.

Karlsruhe is worth a visit in its own right, for the Stats Baden-Wuerttemburg museum.

While in Germany, enjoy a reasonably-priced ‘Kaffe und Kuchen’ mid-afternoon, perhaps including a real Black Forest Gateau, quite different from what we get here.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15775 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15773
The restaurant (a closely guarded secret amongst MEPs) is tucked down a cobbled street. Inside, it is dominated by an enormous, temperature-controlled Cloche.

All recipes contain cheese, apart from the chocolate fondue.

A selection of cheese from the Cloche is scientifically ordered in a "snail" on your plate and you eat your way into the middle saving le grand fromage for last.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15773 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15772
Try booking a hotel in just over the border in Germany. Make contact with your EU Member of Parliament and arrange a free private tour around the parliament.

Get to know them before you travel and who knows you might get them to take you to lunch or dinner.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15772 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15771
Getting there is a bit of an experience but well worth it: take tram A from the city centre to Illkirch-Graffenstaden (about 12 mins), get off by the university, walk down Chemin du Routier, under the road bridge, it may look like you are going nowhere but you find yourself on the edge of an amazing forest with tributaries of the river Rhine.

At the end of Chemin du Routier (about 5 mins walk) you find a detached house by a stream - the restaurant!

There are all kinds of fish, and there is a great family atmosphere, all for about 30 Euros.

Book on 0388661485]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15771 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15767
You can enjoy the beautiful park nearby with its resident stork colonies or take a leisurely stroll along the river to the historic centre.

Another bonus of a summer visit is that there are free Son et Lumiere shows and street theatre at various riverside locations in the evenings.

For lunch,with the money you have saved on your hotel room,treat yourself to a special meal at one of the seriously good restaurants.

Or if you are like us and fail to read the small print, be embarrassed by only being able to afford starters and a bottle of wine in the evening.

The waiters didn't bat an eyelid and we were treated with exactly the same charm (and complimentary nibbles and aperitifs!) as the other diners.

Maybe we were lucky, but it did seem one of the friendliest, least stuffy 'significant cities' we have been lucky enough to visit.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15767 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15765
To enjoy Flammekueche (specialty from Alsace, like a square thin crust pizza with cream, onions and bacon), go to the trendy ‘Le Flam’s’ (29 rue des frères).

And to experience superior jacket potatoes French-style, head to ‘La robe des champs’ (4, Rue de l'Ecurie).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15765