aliced

We will be staying in Lucerne two nights and in Interlaken three nights in early September-- we expect high food prices and will chalk up this trip to a less than gastronomic adventure than other trips to Europe have provided. We are from NYC area and are accustomed to good and varied food. Sometimes we spend alot, sometimes we do not. Besides picking up food at Coop and dining in our rooms, did you discover restaurants where you might have a glass of wine or beer, and an entree, hopefully with a salad, for say $50 per person, not incl gratuity or tax?

tower

There are two decent Italian restaurants and a Mexican place owned by a Portuguese kid on the main "resto" street in the heart of town. (both beat the $50 per person number by far) We ate at our hotel a few times and it was excellent (The Goldey Swiss), across the river...delightful place and if you haven't booked yet, try it..great location, footbridge across the beautiful Aare takes to about a ten minutes walk into town). It's a nice promenade walk to Ost Station for all trains up into the alps...great Alpine views from the balconies of the hotel. Buffet breakfasts are enormous and top quality....comes with the room.

kja

I was extremely well pleased with a dinner I had recently at the Burgerstube of the Hotel Wilden Mann in Lucerne -- gorgeous setting, delicious food, outstanding service. Depending on what you order, it might stretch your budget a bit, but oh my, it was good!

http://www.wilden-mann.ch/cms/index.php?page=319

tower

The Interlaken Hotel Goldey Swiss:

http://goldey-swiss-quality.hotel-re...html?nav=did10

nytraveler

We've enjoyed eating at the Wilden Mann several times in a couple of different trips - both stube and dining room - was always excellent local cuisine. Also had a great dinner at the Hotel des Balances.

One of the specialties of the area are pike/perch or perch/pike (a very small freshwater local fish that is absolutely delicious when prepared properly). Definitely try them is you get the chance.

aliced

Thank you so much -- will add these recommendations to others in the guidebooks; we are not on an actual budget, and have read trip reports ("Lexi" and "Bumper"'s) just want to have some options. Yes, the perch is supposed to be great. Eating in our hotel rooms w/ take-out is just not our style.

swandav2000

Hi aliced,

Here's a second for the restaurant at the Des Balances. The dining room overlooks the beautiful river. I stayed in the hotel and wanted to try different restaurants, but the varied menu and delicious food kept me coming back "home" to eat.

I'd also like to say that, if you get some kind of take-out or picnic from the grocery stores, for heaven's sake, don't eat it in your rooms!! Take a quick walk along the lake and find a bench, spread out, and enjoy the million-dollar views as you eat! You won't be alone, believe me!! That's how many Europeans stretch their food budget and still enjoy stunning views from the "dining room."

s

aliced

Lucerne: Thanks, both of those hotels, Balances and Wilden Mann, are in our Fodors and I have so notated re their restaurants. Interlaken: Interesting, we had booked a night at the Goldey which was to have been our extra night in Interlaken that our other hotel had somehow dropped, but now an add'l night has been covered, BUT we will definitely dine at Goldey for dinner. Of course, we would picnic outside somewhere beautiful, and are bringing our travel tableware purchased years ago w/ corkscrew, knife, fork, spoon etc.

tower

Alice:
Picnic-ing anywhere along the Interlaken riverside promenade is lovely. There are benches and the calm River Aare, with its' ducks, is storybook. Further to the west, where the river begins to rush a little faster, there is a park with colorful trees where fall foliage just could be beginning (but you may be too early). See my pics for fall colors in October. At the Goldey for dinner, be sure to ask for a riverview table...magnificent views of the alps in the distance and the river.

tower

Alice:
The tree-filled park I mention above..photo #35.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...rOberland2009#

aliced

We are enjoying all the pictures-- had the Goldey for that night where we were dropped from the Krone, but as tempting as it looks, don't want to change rooms for 1 night. In early September, hoping for warm sunny days.

nytraveler

How warm are you expecting it to be? It is Switz - nothing like Italy.

Just recall that in Interlaken we had a very nice dinner one night at the Victoria -Jungfrau.