Zürich

Rico’s Restaurant, Zürich, 6/2/18

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building
building

The evening we visited Rico’s, a 2 star Michelin restaurant, a sign on the front door indicated that they were seating people on the patio rather than the inside dining area.  It is a heavily decorated place with lots of quirky objects both inside and out.  The small tables are set closely on the patio that was covered with a straw/wood  roof.  Lots of plants surround the cloth covered tables that sit on a stone floor.  The servers are dressed in casual black clothing and wear red spiked sneakers on their feet.  There is soft music in the background and lighting is natural then gradually blends into candle light.   They offer an a la carte menu as well as a 3 – 7 course tasting menu.  We chose the 7 course menu and while service was friendly the pacing of the courses was off.  It slowed to a crawl at one point, however the portion size was well done.  The chef was in house and came out to visit with some friends but did not make it around the room. Continue reading →

La Zagra, Zürich, 6/2/18

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building
building

La Zagra had a large outdoor patio where we enjoyed lunch.  The view across the street is not too scenic but the patio had lots of greenery surrounding it and nice tenting to block the sun.  It was very pleasant.  The good sized tables were well spaced and cloth covered.  The restaurant has been in this location for over 6 years and was recently taken over by two brothers from Italy.  One brother is in the kitchen cooking and the other runs the front of the house.  Everyone who worked there was super friendly and the food is honest, fresh and full of flavor.  I would put this one on your list if you’re nearby.  They offer an a la carte menu and also had daily specials.   Continue reading →

The Restaurant at The Dolder Grand Hotel, Zürich, 6/1/18

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dining room
dining room

The Restaurant has two Michelin stars and is in the elegant Dolder Grand Hotel.  The hotel was built in the late 1800’s and has been visited by many celebrities.  In 2004 it was closed for 4 years and completely renovated to restore and expand the structure.  It is accessible by car or you can ride the Dolderbahn up the hill to it.  The dining room is separated from the bar area by a floor to ceiling climate controlled wine storage unit.  The ceiling dated to 1899 and huge lighting structures hung from it.  Tables are nicely spaced and draped with nice white clothes and set with large rectangle napkins.  Some of the tables had a center circle of light which was an odd touch, not troublesome but striking.  There is faint background music.   They offer two tasting menus, one vegetarian, of 6 or 10 courses.  Wine pairings are available for each option.  The portion control of the menu was good but the pacing lagged in the second half of the menu.   Continue reading →

GUSTAV, Zürich, 6/1/18

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interior
interior

Gustav is a large place located on the ground level a residential high rise.  The restaurant has been here two years.  There was lots of construction in the area which made it a less than obvious location. The interior is spacious and attached to the entrance of the living areas. There was also a totally enclosed patio where most everyone was seated for lunch that day.  There was smoking permitted but there was a good breeze which made it acceptable.  Indoors had lots off plants and windows and the patio had a water feature. At lunch in addition to the a la carte menu, a 2 or 3 course set menu is offered where the third course was dessert.  We chose the 2 course and selected dessert from the a la carte menu.  Continue reading →

Ecco Zürich, Zürich, 5/31/18

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hotel
hotel

Ecco is the two star Michelin restaurant in the Hotel Atlantis at the foot of the Uetliberg Mountain.  The interior is elegant and an upstairs terrace overlooking some of the grounds is also available for dining.  We started on the terrace but threatening rain and the accompanying wind made us move inside after the first set of snacks.  That way we got to experience both options – and they were both nice – but inside had an elegance hard to achieve in outdoor dining.  Inside the cloth-covered tables are widely spaced and most have a combination of banquette seating and chairs.  The room is divided into thirds by large candles on pedestals and the back of the banquette that is topped with lovely flowers that meet glass sticks from the ceiling that form a light fixture.  One side of the room’s walls is covered with large paintings that are opposite the wall that is the open part of the kitchen.  Another wall looks out onto the terrace and its opposite wall has large windows looking into the hotel.   Continue reading →

Restaurant mesa, Zürich, 5/31/18

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EXTERIOR
exterior

Mesa was a medium sized one star Michelin restaurant in a fairly residential neighborhood that has been open since 2003.  It is conveniently located right across from a tram stop and looks like an old house inside.  At lunch they offer 2 or 3 course menu where you pick your courses or a Surprise menu of 3, 4 or 5 courses where they pick the courses, many of which are also offered on the dinner menu.  We chose the 5 course surprise menu.   Tables are nicely spaced and covered set with white clothes and napkins.  Windows were on 3 sides, which let in lots of natural light during the daytime.  There was some outdoor seating, while inside there was a lowered ceiling, wood floor, black and white photos on the walls, purse stools and books in the windowsills.  Service was efficient but not overly friendly and they told me that all the food is made in house except the bread.  Courses were well spaced and portioned.   Continue reading →

Restaurant Pavillon, Zürich, 5/30/18

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hotel entrance
hotel entrance

The Pavillion is in the 175 year old Baur au Lac Hotel. The round dining room underwent a major remodel in the early 2000s and is filled with gorgeous fresh flowers as is the hotel. Windows to the manicured grounds provide a lovely backdrop to the huge centerpiece that dominates the room.  It is a huge arrangement with lots of orchids on top of a round banquette seat that provides part of the seating for a couple of tables.  Nice carpeting compliments the light gray tablecloths and matching napkins set on the well spaced large tables.  It is an elegant room with very little noise level but your conversation stays private except for some weird effects brought on by the shape of the room.  They offer a tasting menu of 7 or 9 courses as well as an a la carte menu.  Wine pairings are available with Swiss or international wines. Service is friendly and helpful.   Continue reading →

Kronenhalle, Zürich, 5/30/18

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EXTERIOR
exterior

Kronenhalle has been around a long time, being a gathering spot for writers and artists, like Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso, James Joyce and Yves Saint Laurent, starting in the mid-1920’s.  The walls are covered in art some of which was supposed to have been given to the owners instead of cash.  In the same building is a wonderful old bar with a book of cocktail listings, as well a huge supply of liquors.  Luckily we were early for our reservation so we were able to spend some time at the 50+ year old bar watching the bartender go to great lengths to make a couple of cocktails that had been invented by other bartenders that have worked there.  It is my understanding that it was opened in a former hair salon. The dark wood walls and giant collection of bottles give the room a cozy feel and we weren’t surprised to find many other people already there.   Continue reading →