Absolutely amazing experience! We left the fondue house nearby due to poor atmosphere and service and ended up at this peaceful calm spot right on the lake with exceptional service. The waiter was a true pleasure. A young Hispanic man that had lived in Spain. He was very accommodating and attentive. The view and atmosphere was unbeatable. The food was so delicious. We had wine and salad followed by the chorizo fondue and perch fillets. We had to finish with dessert after such a great meal! Warm gingerbread and the most beautiful Irish coffee. Truly great and I highly recommend this restaurant. The bathroom is also something to behold with chandeliers and an original vintage toilet. 10/10! read more

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This place has markings of a tourist trap. Caprese salad was ok but not great. Beef tartare was way too busy. Not great.

Come here for the view, and not the outrageously expensive, mediocre food. The tables sit right next to the river, providing stunning views and little ducks that pop by to wink hello (do not feed them). We didn't have reservations and were able to walk right in. Plenty of indoor seating is available, but seems like a waste of a gorgeous view and a clear day. Check out the bathroom inside-- hand painted porcelain bowls and an oil painting in the stall make you feel like royalty as you wee. The Hugo cocktail was nice, but a little diluted by ice. Ironically, the drinks here usually do not arrive with ice (and I love my ice). We thought we requested tap water, but received 2 small carafes of iced water for a 9 charge of Swiss francs. At least the water was served with lemon slices. The pasta dish was tasty-- a creamy Parmesan sauce with bits of bacon. The beef tartar looked better than it tasted-- it was infused with some sort of tomato sauce that didn't work well with the dish. If you want the view and can find a seat, go for it. If you are looking meticulously for fine dining, skip it. read more

La Barca - Hugo Cocktail and a view - Italian Near Me - Luzern, LU

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We just happened to discover this restaurant on our very last day in Lucerne. It's located on a street called "Unter der Egg" which is a pedestrian walkway along the Reuss River in Old Town. This restaurant has a large covered terrace overlooking the river. The building appears to be part of Old Town's medieval history, but I haven't been able to verify that. Nevertheless, it has a very charming atmosphere. The greeter and server were both very welcoming. I think we were the first to arrive for lunch, so finding a seat with a view was not too difficult. The view was exceptional, and even on a rainy day. We knew exactly what we wanted when viewing the menu earlier that morning. Benjamin was also helpful in giving us a description of the Cheese Fondue Moitié-Moitié. It's a blend of Gruyere and Vacherin Fribourgeois cheese with wine & rubbed garlic. It comes with bread cubes and boiled potatoes. We also added the pickled onions & cornichons which provided a little acidity to balance out the richness of the cheese. It was quite an experience. The only other time I've had fondue was at the Melting Pot. This one was very different than the American version. The cheese had a sharper taste. It was different in a good way. The boiled potatoes made it more filling. The fondue was creamy & satisfying on a cold rainy day. We liked it so much that we stayed for dessert. Autumn is the perfect time of year to try anything made with chestnuts. We decided to try the Coupe Nesselrode which was basically a chestnut puree in the shape of vermicelli noodles on top of ice cream and a meringue. It was good. I've never seen anything like it before. It was a new experience. The service, ambiance, and food checked all the right boxes for that one last hurrah in Lucerne. We won't talk about the price. It's comparable to any other restaurant with fondue in Lucerne. I also can't complain about the weather. We had 3 out of 5 beautiful and unseasonably warm days. It was still a memorable lunch with a beautiful view. read more

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To be honest... we are staying right above this restaurant & we just popped in after a long day of travel. There were 5 of us and we shared 2 fondue pots, beef cheek & a fish dish (with spinach). Everything was tasty but even more than this... the service was lovely & the table next to the river was priceless. A beautiful first night in Lucerne! read more

La Barca - Italian Near Me - Luzern, LU

Nice waterfront view, menu was limited, portions were good, food was bland had to add some balsamic and salt to season the Italian and the dressing on the salad was very basic. read more

La Barca - The beer - Italian Near Me - Luzern, LU

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Let's be honest .... You are really coming here for the location and view of the lake and bridge. First time trying cheese fondue so I can't really compare it to others. For me, it was just okay, not much flavor. Food is very expensive in Switzerland so I can't say it was a good value but the location is prime. read more

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We ordered fondue and it was a cool experience. I wish the bread was fresher, some pieces were stale and it wasn't very soft. I liked the boiled potatoes. We also ordered the Vol au Vent and we had no idea what to expect. We thought the veal meatballs were beans at first lol but it was delicious despite our tourist ignorance. The service was good, and I loved that they had blankets and fur coats for eating outside in the cold. I would recommend just for the "Swiss" experience read more

La Barca - Fondue on the river - Italian Near Me - Luzern, LU

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Some of the most friendliest people I have met in Switzerland work here. The staff was kind patient and playful. I enjoyed the fondue and the lemon cheesecake. There was no reservation needed and the views from the tables were spectacular. The restroom had an antique toilet too which made for a neat thing to see! read more

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Was staying at Hotel des Balances and popped into La Barca for a quick bite. Food preparation was substandard for the area...food swimming in oil (schnitzel), salad dressing was very heavy and thick--again salad swimming in it, and the guy who seats people told me "sit anywhere", so I sat at a table almost on the street because there wasn't a better one, I put in my order, and before anything had arrived, a much better table came up, I asked him if I could switch and he said no I cannot... (Huh/what?).....The nicer table sat open forever and I had to sit in the street. The food server was nice but this place is an unfriendly tourist trap with subpar food! You can do better! read more

Since we were spending the evening in Switzerland, and Luzern is particularly romantic at night, we decided to seek out some fondue with a view. La Barca has both of these things, although the view definitely outshone the food. It was freezing outside but we opted to sit right on the edge of the lake. The restaurant thoughtfully provided blankets to moron tourists who insisted on dining outdoors, so there we were with another couple (from Canada) a few tables down. Our waiter was good, friendly and efficient. He had to come back out to re-light our candle several times because of the wind, but he almost always noticed when it went out. We ordered the cheese fondue for two, and as with everything in the country, it was crazy expensive. With wine, we dropped $120 U.S. on this mediocre meal. But let's face it: nobody is eating here for the food, it's the atmosphere and view! And boy, is it stunning! Elegant swans glide silently through the crystal-clear waters from the melted snow high atop the adjacent Swiss Alps, the historic Luzern bridge is right there, and lights twinkle and dance. It's romance 101, folks! The fondue was nothing to write home about, and it costs about $35 U.S. PER PERSON (just wanted to prepare you for the sticker shock). It was served with bland boiled potatoes and stale bread. Yes, I know the bread is supposed to be stale so it won't absorb too much cheese, but this bread was so old it was almost hard (and probably close to being moldy). I love bread, but it was nasty. I finally just ate plain cheese once it started to thicken up. The wine we ordered was horrible, I couldn't drink it. I really wish places like this would at least TRY to serve a decent plate of food. It was overall a disappointment, except for the view. Oh, and if you're American (how can they always tell?!?), get ready for the hard sell to leave a substantial tip. read more

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Nice cozy restaurant, the seat warmer and blank was great. Very special experience with a view of the river.

1) Its right on the Lake Luzern Canal = Beautiful views 2) Half of the outdoor dining area is covered so fuck you, rain. 3) The horse steak was delicious. Horse fuckin steak. Deeeelicious. 4) The slick waiter asked for a tip. I ain't hatin; get yours homeboy. 5) The Swiss beers are refreshing. Duuuh 6,7,8,9,10) Be like Louis R, travel to Switzerland. read more

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I had fondue for the first time here. It was delicious, but a little expensive for my taste. We also had to sit outside in the cold. They do provide blankets though. And there is a lovely view. read more

La Barca - Italian Near Me - Luzern, LU

Beautiful location on the canal from Lake Lucerne. Nice outdoor dining and people and swan watching. The hostess and waitress were friendly and the food was good. As with all of Switzerland, the prices are a little on the high side. read more

La Barca - View of the bridge - Italian Near Me - Luzern, LU

The food and drinks are delicious however, the service is rough, we ordered an app 50 minutes to close and she straight up sighed and looked at her watch. The person who seated us seated us at a table that was not yet cleared and cleaned. We recommend the hot wine and the tarts. This is our second visit. The service did not live up to the first time. read more

Wonderful fondue. Cheese was delicious. Enjoyed it with wine at a waterside table. Perfect day for it. Service was wonderful. Can't wait to have their fondue again! read more

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Good service.... until after you place your order. Then.... where did everyone go? After having a litany of dishes pushed on us ( those of which I noticed were the most expensive on the menu,) we chose a beer and I had tap water. Tap... from a faucet.... poured into a glass vessel... for which we were charged 3 Francs for. Ahem!? Tourist trap much? We ordered our food and we were enjoying the surroundings. I mean we were eating a meal on one of the most gorgeous bodies of water, with one of the best views. However, the poorly trained service staff and mediocre food turned us off majorly. Our fondue was flavorless, I've had better in the states & Canada. It took 10 min. to ask for our check, 15 min. to get it. Not acceptable, they weren't that busy. Pleas do a little research and opt for a place w actual service and properly made food. Opus across the way is phenomenal and comes highly recommended from locals. read more

My second time eating here, the food is good. The waitress had a bad temper and attitude while I asked her to help me at rearranging the table for us. read more

This Vincafe and Antipasteria was a special hidden find. There are many little cafes along the water in Luzern. This one is part of a hotel and hidden inside a large covered portion of the walk way. Inside the place is tiny. There is some seating along the window and wooden bar. You feel like you have stepped back into time when you walk inside. You can watch the staff as they hand cut the meat in a manual meat slicer for the meat and cheese plates that are very popular here. There is a large selection of wine to choose from as well. There is more outdoor seating than you can find inside. The outdoor seating has been set up to enjoy anytime during the year. It is covered, and there are candles lit in the evening, coaches and comfy chairs are abundant. Blankets are available to wrap yourself in and hot spots for cold days. You can even grab a fake wool coat to wrap yourself in as well. All this with a view of the water. It could be a very romantic spot in the evening for a nice drink and apero. We just ordered coffees in the late afternoon, but I definitely was getting hungry looking at all the meat and cheese trays. This place was also very packed. A bonus was the bathrooms, you definitely have to check them out. They have the old fashioned porcelain painted sinks and toilets with the pull flush chain. Not to be missed! read more

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Pass you way to the next restaurant... Very bad service, bad food and top of that, they make you pay 3CHF for tap water... read more

We had the saltimbocca and the pork schnitzel- both were delicious and all of the staff were very pleasant and attentive. Great location on the water read more

We ordered chicken piccata, spaghetti bolagnese, and veal meat balls with mushroom sauce. The food came out quickly. Probably because they just defrosted some frozen TV dinners. I could've had better at Luby's. And half the price. Not coming back! And worst of all, the beer was not cold! read more