So, I rarely have anything bad to say. I live on and off for 25 years in Switzerland. I went on the 18th of October at 18:00 with 3 visitors from Texas. I was meeting 2 very good Swiss German friends from Zurich -- one a manager of major flagship retail store on Bahnhofstrasse for 20 years the other a Zurich politician and lawyer. We arrived, it was empty outside -- we gathered 3 tables as there was no one outside to assist. A woman came out (perhaps under the influence) and was extremely rude and demanded that we need to go into the empty bar (inside) ask her permission as she is the boss (she is not) and then assemble the tables.
I again -- looked around at the empty outside area and said again in English and in German that we are 8 people (not knowing if she spoke German) and where would she like us to sit? She looked around at the empty tables again -- said she is the boss and demanded she must be informed. I again said, ok we'd please like a table for 7 people where would you like us to sit here outside -- there were several empty tables. She rolled her eyes, huffed and walked inside. We sat for about 15 min... unattended. I walked into the (empty) bar inside and said in German to her (she was behind the bar with younger man that worked there) we'd like to order 3 beers, a water and a coke. She laughed at me. I said what is so funny? She said, "your comical accent" in German.
I then looked at the other bar back and said, "May I please order 3 beers a coke and a mineral water?" He was very nice and lovely. My 2 other fiends met me and ordered champagne -- we had a lovely time.
I went inside to pay the bill and left the man a 10 CHF tip on 90 CHF (service is included in Switzerland - but I like to give extra to be nice) and asked him if we should place the tables back where they were.
He said absolutely not -- that he would do it. I will never go back. Funny, I know the owner of this cafe. And, the behaviour was super strange from this very frustrated, woman employee.
I would have left in the beginning had I not agreed with my Swiss friends to meet there. read more