A couple things to know before going into this venture- This place smells STRONGLY of the beer cheese they use in the fondu. I don't have issues with smells but if you have an aversion, you might want to avoid this place. We went on a chilly night and when we entered, it was SO HOT indoors, we opted to eat outside in the freezing cold because it was better than inside. I'm talking like standing in front of an open oven. I don't know how all the other patrons sat there through dinner. Truly amazing. When/if ordering the fondu, it only comes with bread squares. Order a small side of meat to supplement with that dish. Other than those tips, their by-the-glass menu was pretty great but they were very small pours. Be aware of that. And of course, like everything else in Switzerland, brace yourself for the tab. It's going to be a lot. read more

Tourist trap. Crap service. High prices. Subpar food. But it is a scenic spot along the river. read more

Be ready to pay tourist prices. If eating fondue here (they only serve fondue here), be ready to pay $160+ for 2 people. Views are nice though! read more

We wanted to try this place based on their menu choices and location. We were able to get a table out on the terrace to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and the river views. Our server was very helpful in answering our questions and describing some of their dishes. We tried their hot cheese pie with a side salad, their macaroni and a dish with a phylo dough bowl filled with a meat stew which was amazing! Sorry I can't remember what the dishes were called but everyone was very happy with their choices. The food, service and ambiance was perfect! read more

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Fantastic fondue, service and ambience! We have been eating cheese fondue forever and this was so delicious and not too filling. read more

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We ordered the cheese fondue and it was pretty tasty. The bread was a bit too airy and plain but the soft potatoes were good. The best pet of this restaurant is the view with our reserved table being right by the water. We took that plain bread and fed it to the ducks, and later to the swans. Seating is very tight as they sat another couple right beside us. So forget about having a nice intimate dinner with your partner. read more

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I'd give a minus 10 stars if there were an option. No comments on the foods because we were not given a choice to taste them before we decided to leave. The waiter left us waiting for more than 20 minutes and chose to serve guest who came and sat later than us. I asked him why, and he replied that "you guys look like that it would take you longer to order". I asked if he was being a racist for judging people by their look, and he said "maybe". I asked for other waiters or their manager, but he said he was the only one who serve in the restaurant. Being in catering business in a city that welcomes thousands of tourists everyday, your irresponsible behavior represents part of the image of the city and culture, so shame on the waiter and would definitely not recommend this place for people who travels here. read more

Sat outside. View is gorgeous. They have self service bread that you can cut. Had the fondu which they bring out cubed bread and these long skinny forks. Had the pork cordon bleu and the sausage platter with hash brown... food is pretty decent. It is very expensive however. Fondue was 39 chf. They charge 4.50 chf for water. Expect the service to be slow because it was busy however he was very friendly. Prob would elect to choose a different restaurant if I go back... read more

This is one of the best views for dinner in Lucerne. I tried the Chardonnay cream soup, which was absolutely delicious and the alpine macaroni. We also had the best waiter who was very funny and attentive. We did not need a reservation on a Wednesday night but were lucky to get one of few tables on the terrace. read more

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Ok Swiss food. Nice to experience the food of the country but nothing to rave about. Tried local dishes- fondue, meatballs and chicken with butter cream sauce. All ok, but not great. read more

Delicious cheese fondu in a historic villa. This is the way fondu should be enjoyed, over a delicious glass of Swiss wine overlooking Lake Lucerne in the old town. Our waitress had 20 tables yet still managed to be available whenever we had a request. If ONLY cheese was a healthy diet, I'd eat here every day. The seating was very tight, due to the age of this business (people were smaller then...) we fortunately fit nicely with a side table pulled up to accommodate our wine bottle and fondu pot, but a larger person would struggle. read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Wine and cheese! - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

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The fondu was excellent. The cordon blue was terrific. The service was great. Our party of four got there pretty close to closing time, but they didn't rush us out of there. Priced relatively reasonable for Switzerland. The wine was tasty. I'd definitely go back. read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

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My friend and I came here for chocolate fondue shortly before the restaurant closed. Their kitchen was closed, but they were still serving desserts! We were really impressed by how many items came with the fondue. The chocolate was room temperature at first, but heated up over time. Not a bad deal at less than $15 per person. And not to mention, amazing views of the lake! The restaurant also had a great atmosphere, with an indoor/outdoor layout. The furniture was funky and there were purple lights all around, which enhanced the mood. Next time I would have to try some of the entrees, but for dessert and good vibes, I highly recommend! read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Ambiance - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

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Pfistern is a romantic, elegant, traditional, and lovely restaurant along the river...and its expensive and full of tourists. It was early November, but the place was decorated with love in a Christmas winter wonderland. The staff were friendly, but more business than the other Luzern restaurants. Maybe the magic is sitting on the balcony and hearing the river, but it was way too cold outside for that nonsense. Wine: Switzerland has the smallest pours in the world, and Pfistern is no different. 100ml pours are the norm for our $6.50 and $8.50 choices. $13 and $10 Salads...fresh and good enough. We needed something healthy! $33.50 Fondue...our one and only Fondue dinner in Switzerland...and it was good and overrated. The red pot is filled generously with a fragrant blend of cheese, garlic, wine, and spices and accompanied with bowl of potatoes and semi stale bread cubes. Pretty good, but this vegetarian meal didn't seem worth $33.50. All in all a good experience, but the high prices keeps it away from a 5 Star. And I don't think a single local eats here. read more

Had dinner here in early October. It was a bit cool, so we didn't want to sit outside by the river, on their crooked, wobbly tables. They gave us a table upstairs, inside, but for some reason assigned us to a cramped, tiny table by a window without view, even though there were plenty of other free tables. I had the classic "Pastetli" vol au vent pastry filled with veal and a white sauce. The food was ok but not great. Service was friendly though. read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

Historic 500+ years buildings along the river by the ancient bridge. A massive bread station where you select your own. A bit chilly this day, bring a coat! Food was fine service was grand. If you are in the area find soul chicken, a treat. read more

Great service and ambiance all around. If you get a chance to sit outside by the water do it! Food was great. The fondue definitely something you need to get used too with the taste. Very strong and pungent. But overall great experience read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

This was by far the worst dining experience I've had in my time traveling Europe. I have traveled to 18 different countries and I have never experienced a least helpful person as our waiter. We spent $250 on the smallest amount of food, which was also one of the worst meals I've ever had. The ambience of the restaurant was good, but this is a tourist trap and I would never recommend anyone to go to this restaurant. read more

With this restaurant being our only real Switzerland meal during our visit, I was very disappointed. To start, I literally had to drag my entire group to this place because I really wanted fondue and the lovely seating right next to the river. The only part that made me appreciate this place was that the waitress was nice to accommodate us moving to a table closer to the water. They do provide complimentary bread, which you slice and grab yourself at their bread station. As for the food, my Fondue that came with only bread and potatoes was CHF33.50. Seriously, all I had was 5 baby potatoes and a basket of bread, which comes free from the complimentary breads anyways! In addition, the cheese tasted awful and this is coming from someone who absolutely loves cheese. I don't know what it is, but Switzerland made me not like cheese for a few days. None of my friends were impressed with their dishes either. The only dish that was actually decent was the Chalbsgschnatzlets (CHF39.50), which was a Swiss veal with creamy mushroom sauce and a nicely fried rosti. To say the least, this was the biggest waste of my money; expensive and not worth even eating. read more

As expected based on the location, it is a tourist trap. However, it is one with great outdoor seating by the river! Coming here was totally my fault, as I really wanted to dine by the water... and fortunately it wasn't too crowded, so I got a table right next to the water with a plain view of the Jesuit Church. It was gorgeous. However, food-wise... you are probably better off buying Swiss food from the Coop food court. The rösti dish with veal and mushrooms was okay (veal was a bit dry), but the Luzerner Chügelipastete... it may not have been the best idea to try this meat pie native to Lucerne at this restaurant. It didn't seem freshly baked, and the ingredients were not of the finest quality. The veggies were overcooked and simply thrown together without any flavor. Still, the salad is decent and it's not a bad place for wine with a view on a summer night. read more

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This place is okay, but expensive. The best part about this place was that we got to sit on the balcony and look over the lake. The view was beautiful and it was so peaceful. We were looking for a place with traditional fondue and Swiss food and they gave us that. It is basically a lot of money for a pot of strong cheese with a few potatoes and bread. Maybe we were just not big fondue people, but it seemed overpriced for just that. The waitress was nice, but a waiter downstairs was not very friendly to us. read more

Less then friendly. Staff act put out that you've asked to sit and dine. Came twice just to be sure, both times wait staff despondent and lackluster. read more

We got the fondu and it was great! Unfortunately for us we got kind of tired of it but our server recommended another dish to us that we shared which was perfect! The views of the river are great, we had an inside reservation so the window "seat" for two is small...like cloister phobic small. Overall great, sit outside if you can and get a reservation. Only reason for 4 stars is that really small window seat read more

Have been to this restaurant multiple times when on business. They have gluten free options that are labeled on the menu, which takes a lot of the stress out. They also have gluten free bread and a tasty raclette experience. The tables can be a bit small, and it can get a little loud. But generally the service is friendly and accommodating! Which isn't always easy for gluten free. (I ate inside on the first floor both times). There is also outdoor fondue by the water. read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Gluten free entrecôte. Delicious. - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

I ordered the entrecôte with veggies and my boyfriend ordered the fondue. My meal was okay. I ordered it medium rare (in the US that's slightly pink) and it came out basically rare. I asked the waiter if I could get it cooked a bit more and he immediately brought it back to the kitchen but unfortunately it still came out pretty rare. My boyfriends fondue on the other hand was delicious!!!! Best fondue we've had in Switzerland. Be aware the drinks (especially wine) are VERY pricey. A bottle to drink at the restaurant was a minimum of $50 (if you want to buy it to go it's only $16 which makes it feel like a rip off). The atmosphere and location definitely were a plus for the restaurant. I recommend sitting on the second floor out on the patio - it offers a great view and is off the street and more private!! read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Outdoor patio with views of the Chapel Bridge!! - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

We came at night and had a wonderful view of the church and River. The food, though expensive, was excellent. We had the fried breaded perch, cordon blue, and the beef in puff pastry. All three were excellent (we shared). The fries with the cordon blue were crispy and seasoned well, but may be a bit salty if you're sensitive to those sorts of things. The puff pastry was nice and soft and the vegetables were soft and tasty. We also got the salmon tartar which was excellent as well. The food came out within a short time after ordering despite the restaurant being packed. This may be a tourist trap as some of the other reviewers have suggested. If so, it is a trap I would like to be trapped in again. The only thing I'd say is the complementary bread (despite what other reviews say) is average at best. read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Fried breaded perch - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

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We arrived for our reservation and were seated promptly. There seemed to be a slight momentary feeling of what I would call judgement based on my physical appearance upon our arrival, but it didn't last and I wasn't entirely certain since I didn't understand the language. We attempted to sit outside but it was a bit too chilly - they were very accommodating in allowing us to relocate to an inside table (we would have loved the view for dinner otherwise!) Our server was very courteous, though quite busy for our dinner. My husband had the venison, very delicious but so much to eat (not a bad problem). I had the chicken and it was very tasty. We passed on the bread and didn't do the fondue like many do when visiting. I truly loved the mushroom ravioli as an appetizer! Our server also made wonderful suggestions for red and white wines that we enjoyed very much. The prices were a little steep, per glass, so we only had one each unfortunately. If I was able to safely transport some of that white wine home I would have definitely have bought a bottle! I would recommend this restaurant, though on a warmer day perhaps. The view is truly amazing out on the balcony. read more

Had their cheese fondue and their chocolate fondue dessert - both were so good! Our waiter was very helpful and encouraged us to try their fondue's, which were a classic being in Switzerland. While in Lucerne, "you have to have our cheese and our chocolate", and he was right! Truly enjoyed it...and the atmosphere in the restaurant was so fun! We felt as if we were in an in old home in Lucerne! read more

The plus: the view! We had reservations upstairs and it was an excellent spot! The minus: the food was just okay. I tried a lot of fondue on my trip and this one was the blandest. The prices were high. The service was slow. The wine pours were weak. Overall, I'd say it's worth the stop but maybe have a small bite during off-peak hours. Enjoy the view and then move on to something else! read more

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We had a lovely dinner here on our one night in Lucerne. Wait staff was multi-lingual and totally cool with our English speaking. The breads were awesome and so were the cheeses. We enjoyed the river views and this place is in a perfect area in old central Lucerne. The place was able to seat us quickly too...which was nice since we were tired from traveling. Prices were moderate to high, but it is a very tourist-laden area. Food was prepared quickly and the meats were very good. We shared a cheese plate app, I had a nice sliced pork dish and my wife go a vegetarian salad. Was a very close walk from our hotel and we got to cross the scenic Church bridge. A lot of folks said the service was not great...but we had no issues with our experience here. ENJOY! read more

My wife and I split a salad and Listener Fritschi-Paschtete . It came with lots if vegetables and a very tasty gravy. The dish was like a meat-pie. Very tender pork & beef with raisens, apples, mushrooms in a cream sauce. Extremely delightful. The salad was obviously fresh and varied in ingredients. The whole meal was excellent! You fetch your own bread from the bread bar. Very fresh and flavorful bread made even better with the supplied Olive Oil from Spain. By wife order the house white and it too, was excellent. 2-thumbs up for this place on the river with scenic views. Oh, I can not forget to mention our wait person. Friendly, extremely helpful and patient - Claudio Pinto ! Hope you get him, you'll have an enjoyable experience! read more

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Food was really good and service was great -- downstairs was open and crowded but we were seated fairly quick. read more

We had a wonderful dinner at Pfistern. We had made a reservation for 7pm (we did it online), but we arrived early and we were able to be seated at 6:30. We got seats right next to the water with lovely views of the Chapel Bridge and Jesuit Church. My husband had a draft beer (the only one) and I had an Aperol Spritz. The instructed us that we could go get fresh bread from the white box. You served yourself and had the option of a few kinds. The bread was delicious. For our meal, I ordered the Äntlibuecher Tätschli. It didn't seem to have a direct translation as where the other dish names were in English this was still in German. It was similar to an egg roll, with potatoes, leeks, cheese and other delicious things and a slightly spicy mayo-like dipping sauce (which my husband enjoyed on his fries as well). It also came with a small mixed green salad. My husband had pork cordon bleu (a big portion!) with fries, all of which was also delicious. We considered the dessert menu, and it looked very good, but we were stuffed. Overall I enjoyed our meal at Pfistern. My only complaint would be the proximity to your neighbors. We arrived fairly early and had the table to ourselves for a while, but then another couple was seated next to us. I'm sure it would be fine if your table mates were quite, however this couple was a little loud. read more

A friend recommended this restaurant and we're very excited to try it. The waiter inside the restaurant was SO rude to us. When trying to order our starters and then our drinks, he cut us off "wait a minute please, I have to enter this in 1st". We ordered a starter, two cappuccino, and a dessert. He brings us the dessert 1st....then the starter. He forgot our cappuccinos, so I had to ask him again for them. When we were ready for our check, we asked for it. Waited 20 minutes for him to bring it so we could pay. Never did, so we got up and asked someone at the bar (while he walked passed and looked at us a few times) to please help us. They didn't want too and said we had to wait for him. Another 10 minutes standing there waiting for him. This was one worst experience we've have had traveling over 2 weeks in Europe. Maybe if we had sat outside we would have had a better experience but it was pouring rain when we got there. I would not recommend this place. read more

Ending our last night in Switzerland with a BANG! This restaurant is located along the lake in Lucerne, and boy did it have a view!! We decided to have a nice dinner in Lucerne before we had to head back to Zurich for the night. There are multiple seating areas both indoor and out. Since we wanted to have a beautiful view and do as the locals do, we decided to sit outside. The waiter was very friendly and gave us blankets since the air started getting chilly after the sun set. We were given a menu right away and were told that there is a bread section located nearby where you can cut your own bread and it's self-service. The menu comes in multiple languages including English, Italian, French, and Chinese. The menu is pretty extensive, offering selections from all around Switzerland. We started with the chardonnay soup which was complimented the chilly night. It was a bit on the salty side but still pleasant. We followed with the Shepard's pie/ puff pastry meal with veggies which was filling and absolutely delicious. If you are unsure of what to order, try this one! For dessert we ordered the chocolate fondue (one order is enough for 2 people), but I could've done without this. I'll preface by saying that I am not into chocolate anything, but I didn't really enjoy this. The chocolate is more like a baking dark/bitter chocolate with a side of fruits and other dipping options. The fruits chosen did not compliment the chocolate whatsoever. I also had a rose from Lucerne with my meal that was great, I wish I could've bought a bottle to take home. All in all, it was a wonderful night with great company and good food. I could not have imagined a better way to end my last night in Switzerland! read more

Service personal need better attitudes. Our waitress should not be in this line of work. Had drinks and fondue. Bread was hard as a rock. Do not recommend. read more

We had to wait 20 minutes after seating for our drink order to be taken and 20 more before delivery. Our server was rude to us and an associate who accidentally dropped a glass; deriding her in front of the entire restaurant. Food was average at best. Our worst dining experience during our 4 days in Luzern. Would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Service is HORRIBLE. Food is okay, for the price you'd expect a lot better food. The wait is long, although we were visiting end of August at peak tourist season so I understand why it would take so long if they're overburdened in the kitchen. We sat outside and enjoyed the pretty views. read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Veal with mushrooms - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

I wanted Swiss Fondue and didn't get a chance to try it before I left Zurich, so it had to be done in Lucerne before I left. After going through numerous pamphlets and conducted a couple of online searches, it turned out that having swiss fondue in Lucerne is probably not the best idea as not very many places actually serve it. Stadtkeller was closed, so between Pfistern and Fondue House, I figured Pfistern was the better choice because it didn't shove three types of fondues down your throat. The prices in general were all pretty similar for each of the restaurants - apparently Luzern is even more expensive than Zurich - lucky us. Anyway, there's not much story to tell for this place so i'll just provide it in point form: - oldest guild house in Lucerne, fantastic location by the water and you can sit by the water in the summer with a gorgeous view towards lake luzern and the alps) and very cozy interior - almost everyone in the restaurant were eating fondue, which can only be ordered if you are willing to pay for 2+ servings (33.50 FR a person, so at least 67 FR if you want fondue....so ridiculous in price) - the fondue was okay - nothing special....a pot of melted Alpine cheese, a basket of bread, and a bowl of small potatoes. The cheese was not very salty. - service was fine, no issues - a coworker said his non-fondue dish was quite good (I think it was a pasta with a large chunka meat) - drinks were good and reasonable in price There's probably much better food in Lucerne but I wanted to be tourist, and tourist food and prices I got. read more

Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern - Fondu - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

The food was pretty good but not great. Definitely a great option when you're in Lucerne and you're starving like I was. :) Honestly, you come here for the view. I sat right along the river and it was beautiful. The staff speaks English incredibly well, they have a very diverse and extensive menu so it caters to everyone and they have some great local beers as well. I got the puff pastry with meat, and it was pretty good overall - I'd recommend it! read more