When driving home from Geneva the "long way" through Gex up the long and windy road that passes through Col de la Faucille, we came across this charming restaurant that is about five minutes drive up from the main centre of Gex. On dark winter nights, the lights of the restaurant glow with a warm buzz that makes you want to stop by for a piping hot and hearty meal. And that is precisely what you get. The interior is welcoming and comfortable and on the two occasions we have been there, the place was packed to the rafters - a very good sign given how easy it is to forget about a restaurant in an isolated occasion such as this.

The menu is an impressive array of mountain food that ranges from fondue and raclette to tartiflette to interesting dishes such as the 'pierrade' - a hot stone upon which you can cook different meats, which is served with a generous helping of jacket potatoes covered in sour cream and a radish salad. I have personally had the joue de boeuf (braised beef cheeks) on the two occasions I have been - and I am not usually one for repeating my orders, but the depth of flavour and tender texture of the dish was too good to pass over. The dishes are plentiful, full of flavour and well presented - the cheeseburger maison, for example, being served up on a trendy-looking slate. The decor is very comfy and reminds you of many a restaurant you find on the ski slopes, but it is so relaxed inside that is makes it easy to pass a long evening dining in. Service is prompt and pretty friendly, although desserts are pretty standard. All in all, highly recommended especially if you fancy a nice, long lunch or dinner a short drive away from Geneva - oh, and the view on a clear day over Geneva is pretty damn good too.