Restaurant of the Month January 2014

Restaurant Metropol, Fraumunsterstrasse 12, 8001 Zurich

http://www.metropol-restaurant.ch/metropol/en/start.html

ZIWA's Dining Around the World group enjoyed their first event of 2014 with a congenial lunch at one of Zurich's chicest restaurants. The Metropol 'combines refined taste and a feeling of style and atmosphere', according to their website, and this was also our experience. The Business Lunch features a daily menu of two starters and a meat, fish and vegetarian option, combined with the choice of a Japanese Bento box consisting of a sushi and sashimi starter with soup and a choice of three main courses. We could also have opted for the Daily Classic or the Seasonal Special. Most of the ladies in our group opted for the Bento box, and the sushi menu is one of the Metropol's best lunch choices.  Expect to pay around CHF 35-40 for a two course lunch, plus drinks.

The service was impeccable, as the maitre d'  took our coats and the waitress brought us water. Orders were swiftly taken and we sat back to enjoy  the conversation with a sociable group of older and newer members from at least six countries.

The Metropol is very conveniently located close to the Bahnhofstrasse and the Lake of Zurich, and in summer also offers an outdoor terrace as well as an indoor bar area with its own bar snacks menu. The lobster soup is always a winner here. And the a la carte menu offers a great selection of international dishes.

For a chic and stylish meeting place for two people or a group, or for a solitary business lunch in one of Zurich's neo-Baroque houses, the Metropol is hard to beat.

Restaurant of the Month - April 2013

Restaurant Samurai - Weststrasse 180, 8003 Zurich

http://www.samurai7.ch/samurai7/Samurai_I-ENG.html

For authentic Japanese cuisine in central Zurich, the Samurai restaurant in Weststrasse is a top choice. The food is fresh, the chefs and all the staff are Japanese and the service is prompt and attentive. And at lunchtime certainly you get good value for money with a choice of several different set meals priced at a reasonable CHF30. While the ZIWA Dining Around the World group met there this week, many singles and couples also dropped in, mostly having booked ahead. It's a popular venue.

We were able to choose from the sushi/sashimi meal, the tempura meal and various bento box combinations. The meal began with miso soup, followed quickly by a box or tray containing a tempting and delicious combination of dishes. Raw fish such as tuna, salmon, eel and kingfish, cooked prawns and chicken or pork were on offer as well as different selections of maki or sushi rolls. If a menu selection didn't suit you, there was also an extensive selection of individual portions to choose from. Accompaniments consisted of pickled ginger, soy sauce and wasabi paste, as well as steamed rice.


The food is prepared freshly on the premises by the two Japanese chefs, and the owner and waitresses are all Japanese too. You will also be given a choice of Japanese beers such as Kirin, wine or green tea to complement the meal. Service is quick and we didn't have to wait long to pay the bill either. Many people stop by for a quick business lunch but you can also linger for a chat in the pleasant modern surroundings. The restaurant has been doing so well, they have recently opened another branch in Kanzleistrasse.

The restaurant opens daily except on Saturday lunchtimes and Sundays. The a la carte menu is extensive if you want to try your favourite dishes or an unusual combination. And it's all beautifully served. There is plenty of choice for even the fussiest of diners. Why not book now?

New to Japanese cuisine? These descriptions might help:

Sushi Cooked rice topped with raw fish – tuna, salmon, eel, sea bream are popular. Eat dipped in soy sauce
Maki sushi Sushi rolls with various fillings wrapped in rice and nori (seaweed)
Sashimi Raw fish of high quality, served with wasabi and ginger and other condiments
Miso Soy bean paste, made into a soup
Tempura Deep fried vegetables, prawns, white fish cooked in a light batter and served with dipping sauce
Bento box A healthy meal served in a box or on a tray with compartments
Sukiyaki Beef sliced thinly and fried with a marinade of soy sauce and mirin
Teppenyaki  Food cooked on a griddle in front of the customer – meat, seafood or vegetables
Teriyaki  Food marinated in a sweet sauce and fried or baked, has a shiny appearance
Yakitori Chicken coated in a special sauce, cooked on a skewer, may be served as an appetiser
Sake Japanese fermented rice wine
Mirin Sweet rice wine used in cooking
Wasabi  Green paste made from very hot horseradish
Gari Japanese pickled ginger, served with sushi

Julia Newton, 2 May 2013