Outa [fem n]: house, mountain chalet or main room.
In the heart of La Clusaz is a restaurant, but not just any restaurant – it’s more than just a place to eat, it’s a place to live. L’Outa is an institution, a family affair, a place where childhood memories, a love of the land and a passion for the art of entertaining come together. We met Romain and Marine, the new owners of this iconic place, who have breathed new life into the restaurant while still respecting its soul.
So, there’s Romain, 31, a native of La Clusaz. He grew up here between the ski slopes in winter and mountain walks in summer. “I grew up in La Clusaz, I went to school here, I went to the Club des Sports with my mates… straight away fond memories of my childhood in the village come back to me” he recalls nostalgically.
After studying and working here, there and everywhere, Romain decided to return to his roots and embark on an ambitious business project: to take over L’Outa restaurant and turn it into a place for locals, regulars and holidaymakers alike.
Then, there’s Marine, originally from the Paris region. After spending her childhood between Paris and Geneva, she discovered La Clusaz thanks to Romain. “It really was love at first sight, even though the first time I came, it must have been -10° with snow and fog” she recalls with a laugh.
The transition from city life to mountain life, in a small village, wasn’t always easy, but Marine was able to adapt and enjoy life in La Clusaz. “To be honest, village life is very pleasant; it’s small, everyone knows each other and you quickly make friends!” she confides.
L’Outa, a real institution in the heart of Cluses
L’Outa is a story that began back in 1969, when Romain’s grandparents opened the restaurant. Since then, it has been run by several families, becoming an essential place to be in
La Clusaz, where you meet up for a morning coffee or an evening aperitif. “You don’t create an institution; it becomes one through the people who bring it to life” Romain explains. There are some familiar faces who have been here for over 26 years, like Bruno, long-serving and dependable, and who customers are delighted to see year after year. L’Outa is a place where local customers and passing tourists mingle… they all have a soft spot for the restaurant and its warm atmosphere…
Goodbye Paris, hello La Clusaz
Taking over L’Outa is first and foremost a business project for Romain and Marine. “Catering encompasses all aspects of entrepreneurship” Romain explains. “We go from one extreme to the other in a single day; we manage several things at the same time, with all the ups and downs”.
For them, it’s all about passion, most importantly enjoying themselves, and the art of entertaining.
“There‘s this warm, sociable side to the work, a feeling we didn’t get in our jobs in Paris” Marine adds.
Romain had already been developing this sociable aspect and the art of hosting in their apartment in Paris.
“We’d manage to get 20 to 25 people around the table, make croziflette pasta bake and drink a little white wine all afternoon” Romain recalls.
They developed this project together; you might think that working as a family isn’t the best idea, but Romain and Marine don’t see it that way.
“We’re happy to see each other every day. We each have our specific tasks and we don’t step on each other’s toes. It’s smooth and it works really, really well” Marine says.
It’s important for them to respect a professional and personal balance, and their watchword is… passion.
L’Outa today, and tomorrow?
Romain’s background as a ski instructor inspired him to create a rather unique experience, the Appuie languette. “When you’re skiing, it’s important to press forward on the tongue of your boot (appuie languette), so that’s the name we’ve given to our outdoor bar. This winter, we ran it during Carnival and the Return of Champions, but we’d like to make it a regular feature” Romain explains. In the future, Romain and Marine want to make L’Outa an institution that stands the test of time, creating a living space that brings people together of all generations in La Clusaz. Changing the menu when the seasons change, creating events, a few little surprises here and there to keep this place steeped in history alive, and why not replicate this format elsewhere, but still preserving L’Outa‘s unique DNA? “We’re going to continue to improve our quality, always meeting the demands of our customers and adding our own personal touch” Romain explains.
Modern meets traditional
Today, L’Outa represents a new chapter in a family story, where a modern approach blends with the tradition and authenticity of a mountain chalet. It’s also a story of passion, local produce and conviviality, created by Romain and Marine who have breathed new life into this institution. And as they put it so well, “You have to be passionate and motivated. That’s the key to it all.
