begood913

Will be spending a couple of days in Zurich and Geneva(before and after a tour) and hoping to enjoy some resaurants that tourists may not typically hear about. Inexpensive - or relatively for Switzerland -would be appreciated!

ira

Hi B,

We stayed at www.st-josef.ch in Zurich recently.

Aside from being a very nice hotel, with a good bkfst, we very much enjoyed dinner there.

From my trip report:

TimeOut Restaurant at the Hotel St. Josef. . . A pleaant room with interesting art work on the wall (much of which changes color), good, professional service, food is well prepared and nicely presented.
May is spargle (white asparagus) season, and I love spargle. The spargle special was worth every penny of the 45 CHF. However, the hit of the night was the zander wrapped in zucchini and sautéed. 3 course menu for two with a bottle of Fendant (light, fruity, dry) 125CHF($115)

BistroKiosk Marion. . . A local resto, with a very friendly atmosphere, close to the hotel. Schnitzel with noodles (the noodles were particularly good) for myself and sautéed plaice for Roberta. The “igloo” ice cream concoction for dessert was pleasant. Two 3-course dinners with a bottle of Rioja Blanco – 93CHF($86) w/tip.

Ban Song Thai. . . A very good Thai resto. This was recommended by another Fodorite. We had various small dishes of very well prepared, flavorful and appealing thingies with just the right amount of heat. With a bottle of white wine and a tip – 122CHF($112)

Keep in mind that we tend toward the expensive end of the menu, especially the wine.

Enjoy your visit.

begood913

thanks so much! this is my first fodorite experience so wow. thanks for the detailed info. similar food prices to home if ordering towards the expensive. so that has us covered.

happy eacing

W9London

Geneva--there is a wonderful ice-cream/gelato shop on Rue 31 Decembre, one of first shop on the left side from the lake. Sorry can't remember the name.

traveller1959

Zürich:

Reithalle is a very trendy location serving well-prepared dishes at very reasonable rates. They offer lunch menus at 20 CHF, for dinner a main course would be 25-30 CHF.
www.restaurant-reithalle.ch

Alpenrose is also very trendy, in retro-Alpine style. There are specialized in regional dishes (like fish from Lake Zürich). Also reasonable for dinner (around 30 CHF).
www.restaurant-alpenrose.ch

Both restaurants are non-touristy and favorites of my friends in Zürich (a couple of architects in their late 30ies).

My personal favorite is the Rechberg, but it is a little more expensive.
www.rechberg.ch

suze

I can't help with restaurants in Geneva, as I always stay out in Vevey/Montreux, but don't miss the amazing cheeses and cured meat specialties, I'm sure you can find a specialty shop, deli or large supermarket with deli section in Geneva somewhere?

Also bakeries often also feature savory pastries and ready-made sandwiches that are wonderful.

W9London

Aside from obvious chocolates, cold cuts (watch out for the horse meat!), cheese, and brads, I have a number of favourite food items I make sure to stock up from supermarkets in Switzerland.
- Sweetened chestnut puree (vermicelli) that comes in metal tubes. Great on pancakes, ice creams, anything with chocolates. You can make into nice mousse.
- Dried morel mushrooms (unfortunately imported from china but very reasonably priced)
- Spaetzel (usually in chilled section) and rosti (comes in foil pouch)
- I'm also a big fan of swiss jam (esp Hero's exotic ones or 70% fruit content ones)


You can find Co-op in central Geneve, near the tram-stop Bel-Air, at the corner of Rue du Rhone and Rue Commerce (grocery in the basement). There is a Migros branch very close to the train station in Geneve. I believe it was on Rue de Lausanne, turn left when you exit the station.

Also there is a Migros store at the airport (next to the train station). Good selection of chocolates.

Cicerone

I think I am the Fodorite who recommended Baan Song Thai in Zurich, one of my favourites and I think one of the best Thai anywhere (and I now live in Hong Kong). I used to live across the street from the restaurant, and this is a lovely narrow pedestrian-only lane in the old town near the Gross Munster, you can eat outdoors along the cobblestones. Thai cuisine may not be Swiss, but this is very good. For good Swiss from the Valais area, I would try <b>Le D&eacute;zaley</b> (R&ouml;mergasse 7-9 01/251-61-29) just over another lane in the same old town area. If you want Zurich food (like the famous veal Zuricher) in a causal setting with lots of locals, try <b>Vorderer Sternen</b>, or even just have a bratwurst and a beer at their stand outside – then you are a real Zuricher! (Theatrestrasse 22, Tel: 251-4949). That IS cheap and cheerful. About 3 doors down is <b>Globus am Bellevue</b> (Theaterstrasse 12) which is a department store with a nice food hall on the street level with a big selection and some eat-in at the tables, including picnic tables outside, or you can do take away if you want to do a picnic somewhere along the lake or take it up to the Utliberg. Also go downstairs to their gourmet grocery if you want a huge cheese and cold cut selection.

There is a <b>farmers market</b> every Tuesday and Friday morning at Burkliplatz on the lake. It runs most of the year, even in winter, although it is reduced in size from about November through March. There are fruit, vegetables, cheeses, breads, flowers, it is quite a good market and interesting to see. You can buy great croissants and bread and have breakfast and you can usually find coffee as well. The cheeses on offer are amazing. It is quite colourful, and you will laugh to see Zurich women actually shopping using wicker shopping baskets!

Also, from about May 1 to mid-October there is an excellent <b>flea market</b> on Saturdays from about 8 – 4 pm also at Burkliplatz, lots of fun stuff on offer, including the old wooden alpenstock mountain climbing/walking sticks which the Swiss don’t want any more and which make great souvenirs (the Swiss want the expensive telescoping metal poles). You can usually find some stall food there as well.

I have posted a list of restaurants on an older post, I still think it is valid, see a post from 2007 called “2 Days in Zurich” that will give you a link to it (I can’t seem to post the link myself, perhaps others can help.). All of the above are listed on it. (Note that the Zimmerleuten guild hall had a fire last year and I believe it is still closed, along with the Kuferstbuli below it. Check with your hotel.)

For the Geneva area, most of my reccos would be on the expensive side, as I would go there to eat, as there are some really, really excellent but expensive restaurants in the lake area. Place like <b> L'ermitage</b> (http://www.ermitage-montreux.com/) or the <b>Auberge du Raisin</b> (http://www.relaischateaux.com/raisin); although <b>Le Mazot</b> (7 rue du Conseil) in Vevey is a nice inexpensive bistro as is the restaurant in the <b>Hotel Les Negociants</b> also in Vevey (http://www.hotelnegociants.ch/francais/index.htm)

I would really encourage you NOT to stay in Geneva, but to stay further down the lake in the Montreux/Vevey area mentioned above. IMO it is much more beautiful, with smaller villages and you can get easy access up to the lovely vineyard areas. These areas are 30 minutes or less by train from Geneva and Geneva airport, so you can go into Geneva for the day if you want to see it, and can easily get to the airport. However, I don’t see any point in staying IN Geneva. Stay down the lake and get more of a village atmosphere, better ferry rides and mountain views, be closer to the lovely Chillon Castle, etc. I am not a huge fan of Montreux as I think it is too big, but I like Vevey a lot, I think Lausanne has a really lovely old town (although it’s a large town really). I like Vevey a lot. Then there are tiny villages like Cully and Morges that are really charming.

There is a flea market in Geneva on Saturdays and Wednesday generally starting on May 1 through about the middle of October as well, it is even larger and there are more antiques (including furniture) for sale. It is in Plainpalais area up the hill from the old town. There are cafes in the area.

Cicerone

Address (and correct spelling) for the Thai restaurant in Zurich is:

Restaurant Ban Song Thai
Kirchgasse 6
Tel: 41-44 2523 3316
http://www.bansongthai.ch/ (German only but “unser menu” is pretty easy to figure out and has prices)