November 13, 2015 Paris shooting took place as we were having dinner here.
We missed the unpretentious old Au Vieux Valais. The current owner did brighten up the place. Touristy is not necessarily a dirty word for a tourist region. There are now variations of Fondue on the menu that sound appealing. Croûte au fromage was served only in deluxe (ham, egg and tomatoes) version. It was decent. But Méringue with chocolate, seriously?
An example of cultural difference.
Waiting list for walk-ins is not a norm here. People take all the time they want to enjoy their food. The check is given only upon request. It is impossible to estimate waiting time for the next seating. A year ago, we came in and were told by a server that no seats available. So we moved on. But the owner ran after us outside and told us to come back in 15 minutes. He really wanted more business. When we were back, there were a few tables to choose.
We walked in the other day for lunch. The owner said nothing available. One group (at least) was about to leave. And the kitchen was supposed to be open until 3pm. Strange that the owner didn't offer any other possibilities this time. They have apparently become popular.
If you know what you want, a place a few steps away serves traditional dishes that are authentic and reasonably priced. Most restaurants in town don't have Raclette on a daily basis, though.
Or you can ask a French speaking person to make a reservation for you. (Online reservation service is not an option yet. A cultural preference. Not due to the availability of technologies.) Foodwise, they are not a bad choice. read more