My husband and I are planning a two week trip to Switzerland in May. Through this forum, I've gained lots of good advice. One thing I haven't found through searches, though, is a discussion of some memorable meals. Surely some of you have some!

If they are really fantastic, I may even be able to fudge our plans a bit to try and make them happen. Currently, we are visiting the the Ticino, Berner Oberland, Vevey, and one night in Chur so my husband the train buff can take the Bernier and Glacier Express trains. And if I've missed a thread somewhere, please point me in the right direction.

Might sound strange, but my favorite dining experience in Switzerland was in a Chinese restaurant in Murren. It was a delightful and tasty change of pace since although I like rosti, a lot of Swiss food is blah to me. (Alas, fondue smells like gym socks to me!

So after a few days of non-stop Swiss cuisine, stir fried vegetables and other Chinese specialties were a treat. Many Asian people are avid hikers, and they love the beauty of the Alps, so the food wasn't some odd imitation of Chinese food. The Chinese owners were cooking up dishes as good as you'd expect to find in NYC.

I don't know if the restaurant is still there, or in the same location. I found it on the main business strip of Murren, in between the gondala station and the train station, a bit nearer to the train station.

(My least favorite was the revolving restaurant at Piz Gloria, in terms of food.)

I love Switzerland dearly but it's not really much known for "memorable" meals.

In Vevey, go along the quai (lakeside promonade) and there are restaurants that specialize in filet de perche (a tiny lake fish they batter fry and is delicious). It's not really in season but there's also a cute traditional fondue restaurant.

My favorite foods are some of the street foods at farmers markets or if you can find any special outdoor events... "sausage" (hot dogs), salet (cheese tarts), raclette (melted scraped cheese plate). Many bakeries have very nice premade sandwiches.

I do know two very nice restaurants but have to go look up the names...

http://www.montreux.ch/auberge-rivaz/
www.ermitage-montreux.com

On of our most memorable meals in Switz. was in Stein am Rhein at a restaurant right by the bridge, lakeside. The lake fish was wonderful! Yes, you don't go up to Piz Gloria for the food but you should go anyway (if you are in the area). Enjoy! CJ

Believe me, I didn't go to Piz Gloria for the food! But the revolving restaurant is often recommended, and no one had warned me how the bad the food was. Next time, I would just walk around, eating an apple!

Hi al,

In the Berner Oberland we were very happu at the the Grand Hotel Giessbach (http://www.giessbach.ch/en/). Quite expensive, though.

See Ira Returns From 22 Loverly Days in Europe - Sep, 2009
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-europe.cfm

Haven't done this myself, but I've always though this must be quite an experience! http://www.rigi.ch/en/navpage.cfm?ca...ppWVR&id=52166

Unfortunately it is only for groups.

I think my most memorable actual meal would be sitting outside on the terrace at Hotel Bodmi, on the Terrassenweg above Grindelwald. It is right next to the landing spot for the paragliders, and they reserve a table for the "pilots". It is quite a scene, and the views out over the valley and across to the peaks are lovely. I don't know that it would work in May, however.

http://www.bodmi.ch/

And I heartily agree with zeppole about the Asian restaurant in Mürren---very good food, nicely prepared. But the place is lacking in atmosphere, so we generally go there for "take out" back to our apartment.

Has anyone ever dined at Hirtl in Zurich? It is a vegetarian restaurant.

Thin

I agree with the other posters that Swiss dining has its limits, lots of potatoes, cheese, sausage..However, we did have two excellent experiences in Pontresina. Our dinner at the Kronenstubli at the Grand Kronenhof Hotel was exceptional, very creative with outstanding service.
And we were thrilled to find a Thai restaurant in Hotel La Collina with Thai food that rivaled any we've had in the US. Although the town was farily deserted, this retaurant was full of happy diners. It was a relief to have a good Asian meal.

Thin--we haven't been there, but I do know it is supposed to be very good.

http://www.hiltl.ch/

As for the comments about cheese, sausage, and potatoes---I've spent over 8 weeks in Switzerland and never had a bite of sausage, and very little cheese. I think of Swiss food as fresh fish, wonderful salads, organically-grown vegetables, and chicken that is much tastier than what we get in the US. At least that's what I eat when we're there. The kids do enjoy Rösti, although our daughter's favorite place in Zürich makes a nice salad of greens with ginger-sesame dressing, topped with slices of seared Ahi.

The only time I've had more hearty meals is the one trip that was in the fall (November). Then the small local places were featuring (delicious) things like venison stew, cabbage and sausage, heavier winter fare.

My favorite dining experiences in Switzerland have all taken place on mountain restaurant and hotel terraces, where I've feasted my eyes on the snow covered Alps while slurping up cream soup, digging into sizzling plates of Rosti, scooping up Raclette or tucking into fresh salads with greens that look as if they were plucked from a nearby meadow. (How's that for a run on sentence?)

I fondly remember a meal at the Hotel Belluevue in Wengen years ago, where I first discovered panna cotta. It was absolutely divine, covered in tiny fresh strawberries.

As you can probably tell, I'm not a foodie. If a spectacular view, hiking trails and chocolate are involved, I'm there.

We loved our dinner at The Hotel Baeren in Wengen - sitting outside and enjoying lovely light food as the sun set over the Alps!

http://www.baeren-wengen.ch/

Also really enjoyed some of the little restaurants scattered around the edge of Lake Lugano - we got off the boat as the fancy took us - and just selected ones that looked simple and used fresh food - no raclette or fondue experiences.

Last July that Chinese eatery was still there in Murren - but having spent quite a bit of time visiting our son in Xi'an we were a bit over dumplings at the time - but it did look good - and one of the staff where we stayed in Wengen was on an exchange from China and was delighted to go there.

And - it i great just to go walking and hiking and eat in such beautiful fresh air - and certainly in summer I did not feel confined to food that was too hearty or cheesy!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! And its good to know tha the food at Piz Gloria isn't that good. We're still going there for the experience, but we might limit things to just drinks and maybe an appetizer.

Suze mentioned some farmer's markets, which I would love to catch. Does anyone have any favorites they would suggest?

Ira, your trip sounds wonderful - I'm jealous of the fact that you had 22 days in Switzerland - what heaven!

annalynn~ Street farmers markets are in Vevey on Tues & Sat mornings either on the pedestrain stret or in the town square. In Montreux it's on Fri AM under the pergola on the main street. I'm pretty sure most Swiss towns have them, these are used as every-day shopping by many locals, it's not a special event.

Last night-

Went to a birthday party in a barn high up on Burgenstock. Fantastic view of the Vierwaldstättersee and the snow covered mountains all around. Dinner was grilled lamb, chicken and pork with rösti and then a dessert buffet including Tiramisu, caramel pudding, meringues, fruit salad and different kinds of ice cream. All the while a live swiss music group was playing and yodelling. Bliss.

Oh, the one suze linked you to is excellent.(Auberge de Rivaz)
They have an incredible seafood platter- but beware , they bring two helpings out, so SHARE the dish. Incredible! The cafe across from the Chillon Castle had excellent fish as well. Not touristy really- solid good food.

In Ticino- oh, we had great meals! Best pizza I've ever had was in Lugano and lots of wonderful pasta. You can take the ferry over to restaurants in car free towns with excellent views. LOVED the Italian influenced dishes there. Mamma Mia!

In Berner Oberland, my favorite meal was a fondue lunch at the restaurant in the small hotel by the hostel. GORGEOUS views- incredible. That's where I'd pick my fondue mea;. Then, work it off by hiking to Murren!

Hi annalynn. It might be a bit out of your way, but one of the best meals I've ever had in Europe was at the Restaurant in Schloss Hotel Chaste, in the village of Tarasp in Graubunden (about 60km from St Moritz). The hotel and restaurant sit atop a hill, just below the striking Tarasp Castle & in amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the area. I believe the hotel and restaurant were originally built to service visitors who came to tour the castle, and the grandson of the original owner (who is now a well respected chef) has come "home" to continue the family tradition. While I did not stay in the hotel itself, I would like to return there and stay sometime. We toured the castle in the early evening, and then had dinner in the restaurant. The meal was amazing.

Try this for an unusual dining experience: Blindekuh in Zurich. Dining in total darkness while being served by blind waitresses.
http://www.blindekuh.ch/e/zurich/res...estaurant.html