As for the tips having anything to do with it - they dont. The level of tipping is the same throughout continental Europe and I can assure you that the value for money ratio in Spain or Sweden e.g is way better than Switzerland.
I very rarely go out to eat in Switzerland. 20 years in the country has tought me that the value for money ratio simply is way off -always!
In Basel you get 4 pieces of sushis for 7-8 chf and here we get all you can eat FRESH sushis for 15 euros.
Nicolaschutz, I'm sorry to hear (read) you had such an appalling experience, especially given that the meal was for a troika of special occasions
We don't dine out much here for the same reason: more often than not, the food is mediocre and disappointing and the service and the attitude of the waitstaff leave much to be desired (some of them act as if they're doing you a favor by serving you!). We seem to be stuck with two choices: either very high end, upscale restaurants at which it's easy to spend >200 francs for a meal which is not always rave-worthy or low-end like kebap and fast food There is not that much in between, except places like Uncle Sam's, Stars & Stripes, Chinese takeaway, which tends to be bland and tasteless here and pizza places, all of which -- again -- are overpriced for what you get. I think it's ridiculous to pay @ 100 francs for pizza, a salad to share and a couple of drinks.
But there have been rare occasions, in all fairness, where I've had some wonderful meals here: Winzerhaus in Weiningen is very nice as is the Hotel Krone in Biberbrugg and Hotel Seeburg in Luzern. The Hertenstein in Ennetbaden has delicious food and the family running it are very nice and deliver very attentive service. But, again, you will pay $$$$. For something a little more down-to-earth, I've never had a bad meal at Hiltl, Le Cédre or Mere Catherine, which are a bit easier on the pocketbook.
But, it is frustrating, to say the least, which is why I do much more cooking at home here than I did back in the US. But there are days, especially after a long day at work, where I'd love to just come home, make a drink and order some decent takeaway, and it just doesn't exist
We usually buy deals from DailyDeal or other websites. I have to say so far they have been good. Last Friday we went to a hotel restaurant for a deal for 2 that included 2 really good steaks on hot stones, two salads and two huge bowls of fries and for both of us it was 38 CHF total. Before that we went to a really nice 3 course menu dinner with a steak again, a salad a side dish and a dessert at Hotel Ascot. It was premium quality and for both it was around 75CHF. Now we only go out with the deals.
No need to go to Vienna.
Hop on a train to Austria, get off at Dornbirn and just across from the station is a place that does Schnitzels about 3mm thick but so big they stick out over the edge of your plate. And they taste so intensely right that you wonder why you don't live there. But just a warning. After you've been there you'll never think highly of anybody else's Schnitzels ever again.
good one.
Wow recommended by Colleague - what were they thinking of!
Sorry you had such a disappointment on your joint celebration, hope you found somewhere nice to have a drink after.
Not sure if you made a reservation first, as if your husband could see into the kitchen sounds like you got a lousy table. A factor that lets down a restaurant that obviously in your case did not care about its customers.
Personally if the food was crap I would not eat it, unless I was in mixed company and it was only me who got bad food. You are entitled in Switzerland to complain if the food is bad, provided you have hardly touched it and then you are not expected to pay for, yes you would have to pay for the other sundries - it is the best way to complain, pay & leave early.
Not sure why you would expect bread to be brought to the table, that is usually served if it to accompany something you are eating, not in my books Schnitzel & chips.
Tipping yes like you we usually tip, but not for the service you did not receive, it is the waiter's responsible to ensure the food that is served is good.
Although can not remember a bad restaurant experience in Switzerland, has happened to us in another country where we were recommended and the meat in my books was uneatable, so I did not eat it. The manager kept offering me free drinks, but on an empty stomach I declined. We paid and left and put it down to a bad experience, but unlike you guys it was not a double celebration.
Next time you go out, if there is a next time, do your research, many restaurants/hotels have stuff on-line, so then you can check the menu, unfortunately it does not tell you about how it is cooked, but then you can look up reviews. Remember also to pre-book, ie make a reservation in advance.
belated Happy Anniversary
I don't really get this ...
Thanks for your comment, latigresse. In London there was a food delivery company called Deliverance, who offered a variety of first class food at a reasonable price, which was perfect after a particularly hard day at the office. In fact, I am very pleased to see that they are still thriving:
OMG, I just clicked on that link and am on the verge of drooling at the food porn I wish there was something like that here. Of course, this being Switzerland and overhead being so costly, offering food at reasonable prices may not be do-able *SIGH*
On Saturday I had a drink with my Fasnacht clique at the Rheinfelderhof in Basel - just ordered a glass of red wine (Primitivo) from the open-wine selection.
The first glass that came was completely off - sent it back. Clearly the bottle had been open for a few days. The replacement came - apparently from a fresh bottle - and wasn't much better.
Why can't restaurants here just have a nice selection of wines that they serve by the glass. The French manage it; the Italians manage it.
Cheers,
Nick
I've been fortunate to eat very well in Basel at places like Stücki, the Schützenhaus and Schloss Binningen. The food and wine were superb and the service attentive but not intrusive. But (and this is a VERY big but), there was little change from 150+ CHF a head - certainly not a weekly occurrence for me and Mrs TD and very much a celebratory treat.
In my experience, it seems that what Switzerland is missing is good middle-of-the-range restaurants. London, for example (and considered by many to be one of the best places to eat out in in Europe nowadays ) has quite a few middle-of-the-range places that make it onto the Time Out London "where to eat in London" list and where an extremely good meal with alcohol will seldom go north of £40/head (and the Time Out London "cheap eats" recommendations have superb eating at less than 10 nicker). Basel, Zurich, Geneva and Bern would really benefit from real "Time Out London" standard/quality restaurant reviews.
Circe referred to the Swiss being "food virgins" and I do notice considerably less knowledge about food in many of my Swiss acquaintances than exhibited by the Italians, French and many English. And it's not only lack of knowledge of "foreign" food (which is, perhaps, understandable) but also of basic cooking knowledge (I was flabbergasted to learn that in German Switzerland you add flour to egg to make an omelette, "non, non, non" as the French would say [flour and egg in varying quantities is the starting point for crepes, NOT omelettes!!!])
Of course, now we get into a "chicken and egg" situation (no pun intended): do customers having good food knowledge cause an increase in the quality of restaurants or do good restaurants improve the food knowledge of the customers...
Meanwhile, except for very special occasions, Mrs TD and I tend to eat at the exclusive TD Pulmann Dining Car
In fairness, I should also mention the delightful Bistro that is attached to the Apartment/hotel where my husband is staying, here in Winterthur. It is run by an extended family of Turks who are delightful. I have eaten a delicious pizza with a thin and crispy base and a very good spaghetti carbonara, and they have an amazingly good wine selection, including some Sicilian ones.
In fact, both hubby and I agreed that we would have done much better eating here last night. The guys have promised to cook us proper Schnitzel tonight so I will report back
I forgot to mention that it is open 24 hours which I imagine is something of a rarity here.
Just an FYI, 'Omelette' is indeed the term for what we would call a crepe - and that is what one expects to get in my neck of the woods - something wrapped in a thin pancake. An Eieromelette is what most of us would expect to be an omelette. Falsche Freunde .
Still doesn't excuse the dreary dining experience, though.
Would be interested to know the name of the bistro since I just moved to Winti. Thanks.
Please indicate the name of the restaurant in question .... thanks
there are many such "robbery-places" here around, but CHF 64.- looks a bit extreme indeed
It is called Take24, has a green sign and is on the opposite side of the road from Lokwerk, Zurcherstrasse. There is a garage forecourt, behind which is a small shop and the Bistro. It looks pretty unprepossessing but is well worth a visit
Beware! All food outside of Switzerland is tainted and impure! You have been warned!
Is it fair to assume this restaurant would be a good place to ... horse around?
I am sorry to hear of all the not so pleasant experiences some of you have had.
In the hope that some of you will give it another try, here are some great staff I recently had the pleasure to meet in restaurants...
First was at the Hiltl in Zürich, me and my friend were sitting at a table in the self service part of the restaurant and weren’t aware of this. When we tried to order the drinks we were told that we were sitting at a table where we were supposed to get our drinks, food and cutlery and such. In a fun light hearted tone we told the waitress that we weren’t aware of this. She then said oh well that’s not a problem just let me get a tablecloth and everything else, she would be happy to serve us. (we did not have to move to another table). The entire evening she was like our new BFF and it was really great fun even though she was really busy.
Second experience was at a Restaurant Gartenhof Zürich again I was meeting a friend for dinner. It was one of those really cold evenings the other day and I arrived at the place at 18.15, as I wanted to make sure we would manage to get a table. It turned out that the Restaurant opened at 18.30. I knocked on the door and asked them if I could wait inside. That was not a problem at all. Needless to say I was really embarrassed but the staff and I were chatting the remaining 15 minutes before the place opened and they were really friendly throughout our meal.
Third was at Ecluse in Biel. Just a lovely little restaurant with really nice staff and very reasonably priced and yummi dishes (try the Tartar!) and wine IMO.
There is obviously a clue that some people might get ... but I don't! I am not sure of the name of the restaurant but will ask hub later.