Restaurant Seerose, Seestrasse 493, 8038 Zurich-Wollishofen
While the summer weather is still warm and sunny, it's wonderful to eat lunch beside the beautiful lake of Zurich. At the end of the month, it was rather cool to sit outside, but the Seerose has an open indoor dining area very close to the water's edge. Our waitress was friendly and helpful, and we perused the menus for special lunch options and the a la carte choices. One of the quirks of this upmarket place is the handwritten day's specials, which are rather challenging to read. But we could choose from two starter and two main course options at a reasonable price of CHF 31.50: spicy cauliflower soup or beef tartare bruschetta, followed by prawns with potatoes and morels or lamb escalopes with tagliatelli and a delicious sauce. Someone in our friendly ZIWA Dining Around the World group also opted for the 'anti-ageing menu' of salmon and summer vegetables which looked delicious as well as healthy.
For wine enthusiasts it was possible to try out a choice of two whites - a Gruner Veltliner and a Pinot Grigio - before opting for one, in this case the Italian wine. A red Rioja complemented the lamb nicely, and there was also a choice of beers. The waitress replenished our water carafes frequently, and almost forgot to divide the cost between us when the time came to pay. CHF33 between ten people did seem rather pricey for a couple of glasses of sparkling water each. But the service and food were excellent.
The Seerose is twinned with the Restaurant Chez Fritz in Kilchberg, and both of them are beautiful places to dine right beside the lake on a special occasion. The international dinner options will cost you CHF 50-60 so you may prefer to try the daily lunch specials first, before making your reservation for a special occasion. Italian, French and Asian dishes are featured on the menu. Wine is available by the glass at around CHF 10-11 or you could splash out on a bottle. Why not?
For a delicious and rather special meal right beside the Zurichsee, take the 161 or 165 bus from Burkliplatz to Seerose, or try your luck with the restaurant parking or the spaces along the Seestrasse. It's definitely worth the effort!
