Restaurant of the Month - March 2015

Restaurant Helvetia, Stauffacherquai 1, 8004 Zurich. 

http://www.hotel-helvetia.ch/de/node/2

This smart and popular lunch venue is located right next to the River Sihl at Stauffacher in Central Zurich. It's been recently renovated along with the bar downstairs and the integral hotel. The first floor dining room has views over the river and the city and is popular with business people meeting for lunch. This week, the ZIWA Dining Around the World group took a table for 10.

We had a table with banquettes on one side and chairs facing us. The waiter was very attentive to our arrivals and brought water immediately! Every lunchtime there is a Mittagsmenu selection of around five options with two starters and a choice of main courses costing between  CHF 24 and 33. Dessert, coffee and wine are extra.

Yesterday we chose between a salad and pepper cream soup. The soup could have been hotter but tasted good. The main course choices included salmon, beef stroganoff and some Swiss specialities. Last time I ate here, I could opt for a delicious corn-fed chicken and on another day you could choose pork. There is always a vegetarian option as well. Everyone was happy with the selection on offer but one or two of us felt that the plates were not hot enough. The waiter was happy to change them.

Several people opted for the house red wine and there is a daily wine suggestion at around CHF 8 per glass. The restaurant was full and is not very large, so you always need to book. Downstairs in the bar, snacks are also available. The a la carte menu has a small but good choice of dishes to suit all tastes at around CHF 40-50. The style is Swiss and international cuisine.

If you are looking for a smart but reasonably priced lunch in a convenient location with attentive service, this could be the place for you. Make sure to reserve and arrive early.

En guete!