I don't use the word "exquisite" very often. Bel Etage is exquisite and hands-down the best dining…read moreexperience we had in Europe. We later learned it had a Michelin star, and it fully earns it. As a warning, you will pay for it; it is far from inexpensive. However, adjusted for the general prices in Basel, Switzerland -- which are all far higher than you will experience in either the U.S. or even (to a lesser extent) in the rest of Europe -- it is costly but not out of line if you are looking for high-end dining. Before I get to the food, I want to mention the service. It was efficient, timely, attentive and the friendliest we experienced in any city. Our main waitress in particular was wonderful about answering questions and even giving us some information about the area. I say main waitress, because the small team of servers all took responsibility for everyone in the dining room to ensure you were never left wanting. In fact, each time an item was served, more than one was recruited to make sure the wife and I received our respective dishes at the same moment. Whenever we asked questions, even about things like Basel itself, they were more than happy to take the time to answer and throw in little bits of useful info. In general, while prices in Switzerland are very high, we noticed that once you've paid the price, they are generous with everything. Bel Etage was the epitome of this; we didn't want a whole bottle of wine despite them only selling it by the bottle, for example, so they found us a vintage that had been opened and gave us choices from that. They also threw in about 2 small amuse-bouche type dishes along with the meal. So, let's start with those amuse-bouche dishes. The first was thinly sliced pork. And when they say "thinly sliced" they aren't kidding around. It's almost not there, and melts in your mouth. The other was a lemongrass and citrus shot, which was like an exceptionally good wheatgrass smoothy that was actually tasty, along with some excellent paté on rye. The bread service featured three types of fresh bread, with two types of butter: one with volcanic salt and the other lemon basil butter. The volcanic salted butter was fantastic. Although not what one may think of when eating in Northern Europe, we also had a chilled lemongrass coconut soup with teriyaki rabbit was a savory, gazpacho-style cream soup that wasn't too heavy. The entree of venison (roebuck) in a vanille sauce and pancakes was, hands-down, the best venison dish I've ever eaten. And while the spinach and gorgonzola ravioli with canterelles and macadamia nuts wasn't quite to that level, it was likewise far, far above par. As a second opinion, my wife liked it perhaps more than my dish. The dessert was likewise great. The Bolivian chocolate cubes were extremely rich without being sickeningly sweet, and the woodruff herb ice cream was likewise tasty, but not overly sugary. As a note, again they threw in a little extra for us, with an assortment of 6 pralines in three flavors -- so my wife and I would each get one -- as part of the complimentary portion of the meal. All of them were great, with rich filling. And when asked, yes... they made them in-house. All in all, as you can tell, I recommend Restaurant Bel Etage in the highest terms.

From the owner: The Bel Etage gourmet restaurant has won multiple awards and offers no-frills, market-orientated…read moregourmet cuisine with a French feel, a modern interpretation and a keen focus on products. For many years, the restaurant has been under the direction of Michael Baader, who has devoted his energies to running the establishment with total passion from the outset. It is located on the first floor of the Art Hotel, occupying four rooms of the medieval townhouse. The restaurant offers an à la carte menu, three different set menus as well as a business lunch at lunchtime. The menus are accompanied by a first-class selection of wines; the restaurant also offers an extensive wine list with over 400 varieties in stock. In the summer, the restaurant in the courtyard of the Gallery Hotel moves onto the summer terrace under a shady canopy.

Amazing. Beautifully simple food cooked with expertise and personal care. I came here on the…read morerecommendation of a colleague. The tartare was super fresh and perfectly seasoned with a lovely truffle sauce. Lovely wine. Great knowledgeable and attentive service. I will be back.

We had one day in Zurich and decided to stop in for some traditional Swiss food before hitting the…read moreroad again. We had fondue (one of the milder ones, can't remember which, and added chicken) and the Raclette with sausages. So yummy! The kids were given coloring pages and pencils (always a plus!) and their rösti with Raclette plates were sooo good. The restaurant was very clean and care was taken to distance diners during the time of COVID. Our waiter was wonderful and took the time to explain everything to us. A really great experience and well worth the price!

Absolutely amazing. It can be hard to find since the entrance is not in the main road but it's well…read moreworth it. The staff are fantastic and responsive and the food is out of this world. The ambience is great. The bathrooms alone would be worth a trip. You feel like you're visiting an old friend and be using their bathroom except it is actually clean. Will definitely return whenever I'm in town.

The Zurich, Switzerland establishment Rechberg 1837 is renowned for its sustainable and innovative…read morecuisine. Since the restaurant was constructed in 1837, only locally sourced ingredients accessible in the area were utilized. Consequently, the menu undergoes seasonal variations yet consistently comprises dishes crafted from premium, fresh ingredients. Popular dishes served at Rechberg 1837 consist of the following: Jerusalem artichoke morsels accompanied by truffle vinaigrette Rack of lamb roasted alongside rosemary potatoes and roasted vegetables Grilled beef tenderloin accompanied by truffle sauce and chanterelle mushrooms Prepared pasta dishes incorporating seasonal ingredients Innovative vegan and vegetarian cuisines Additionally, Rechberg 1837 carries an extensive array of wines, all of which originate from Swiss wineries. Every knowledgeable and accommodating staff member is delighted to assist you in selecting the ideal wine to complement your dish. Rechberg 1837 exudes a pleasant and inviting ambiance. The restaurant is elegantly appointed with a warm and inviting staff. I would enthusiastically endorse Rechberg 1837 to any individual in Zurich seeking a delectable and environmentally conscious gastronomic experience.

Excellent service and food!! You are greeted by before-meal drink (alcohol or alcohol free) and…read morebread with olives on the table. Meal is 44 CHF that includes your choice of appetizer and daily soup and main dish. Anything you choose will be excellent. Good portion size and very tasty. Menu change weekly and offer something seasonal. Then the famous dessert buffet offering various cream Catalan, -caramel, -mousse and cookies, chocolate cakes etc. petit size so you can choose as many as you want. Good cappuccino as well. It's in Roche campus and worth visiting if you are on campus.

There are some places that are just a breath of fresh air when you experience them and want to go…read moreback again and again. This neighborhood gem was worth a 10 min detour to enjoy a more local experience while in Lucerne. We went for lunch, but dinner would be equally excellent with good seating outside and inside. For lunch, there are two staples on the menu in addition to two rotating specials (1 plant based, 1 includes an animal protein). We had the veal saltimbocca over a bed of risotto and the anti pasta platter both of which were excellent. They were great for our 8 and 10 year old with special plates with cute designs and pasta as an option for kids. Coffees were also excellent quality. The outdoor seating area is shaded by umbrellas and very relaxing. All the servers were friendly and helpful (there's no English menu but they helped translate what we couldn't figure out). There's an overall classy vibe to the place and I would have eaten there many more times if we were there longer. Loved it!

On a last minute dinner adventure, we found Bratschall Manala on our evening walk in Kayserberg,…read moreand it was not a disappointment as it was a quick discovery along the cobblestone road! Small inside, it seated mostly French tourists from other parts of France, but I was happy there was a table two by the wall for us. Apparently, the restaurant also had some German influences as we noticed some German dishes listed on the menu. What we had: 1/2 F O I E G R A S S A L A D E : I really wanted foie gras so we split a salad that is now one of the best salads that I ever had. So simple and adorned with raw mushrooms, picked radish, squash, beets, apples, seeds, olives, fried bread, and of course, foie gras! It was so good for two and I linger for it to this day. Q U I C H E L O R R A I N E & S A L A D E : Cheesy, eggy, thick bacon, and too big for me, I just love real french quiche lorraine and I was happy I decided on it. Although I would have liked pomme frites, I wasn't sure if it was okay that I ask for it, but I noticed someone else had a quiche and had pomme frites. LA C H È V R E T A R T E : A big tarte nearly a size of a pizza, with cheese, thick bacon, and baby goat cheese on top. It was yummy too, but it tasted very similar to my quiche. So we made a mistake in ordering similar items but in different forms, but nonetheless, we both liked the restaurant for a quick last minute find in Kayserberg x

I came to Kaysersberg for a quick visit as a part of a wine tour. After wandering through the town,…read moremy group arrived here and randomly decided that this would be the place to have lunch. It turns out that everyone enjoyed eating here more than anyplace else on the visit to Strasbourg, including a couple of Michelin-star stops. The burger (topped with ham and cheese) was juicy, well-seasoned and delicious. It was served with very good fries and a fresh green salad. The steak tartare, served on top of crispy hash-brown potatoes, was met with high praise. In addition to main courses, the restaurant has a showcase of beautiful desserts. Due to time constraints, we did not stay for dessert. Service here is excellent. The food came out quickly, and the servers were extremely attentive. When we were ready to leave, they were quick with the bill. They seemed to understand that you may have limited time, so everything moved at a relatively fast pace.