The place to be seen (age 30+), luxury Restaurant (luxury prices - hélas), Collection of exceptional art-works.

very special:
* Pilsener Urquell beer on draught
* Kronenhalle Geschnetzeltes (fine cutted veal on a heay creamy sauce with mushrooms), Roesti (crusty potatoe cake)
* (or the not so high priced best sausage in Switzerland, the original): St.Galler Bratwurst, with Rösti
* a must is the swiss chocolate mousse (even people 'as a rule not eating any desserts' shouldn't resist)

Kronenhalle, Rämistrasse 4, CH-8001 Zürich,
(1 walking minute from the tram station Bellevue)
tf 0041-(0)-1-251 02 56,
Reservation a must,
open 7 days lunch and dinner
all major credit cards

One is always wise to heed the advice of an expert. http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif I understand the bar associated with this establishment is quite wonderful as well.

Here's my review from a couple of years ago:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">At 6pm, I head across the street to the world renowned Restaurant Kronenhalle (http://www.kronenhalle.com/) to join up with Rudi. This is the place to see and be seen in! Those aren’t just copies of Picassos, Renior and Degas and other fine works of art on the walls. They are the real thing! The staff all comes up and greets Mr. Martel and I am introduced as a visiting crazy American friend. What a great setting and great experience! I had the Zuerich Geschnetzeltes which was a marvelous plate of small strips of veal in the most wonderful sauce accompanied by great rosti potatoes! Rudi enjoyed his favorite Ballernon Salad. I had pretty much cleaned my plate when the waiter comes back, sets a fire and heats two covered dishes. “What’s this?” I ask Rudi. “It’s the rest of your meal, that was just half!” Yikes! Another plate of veal and potatoes! I’m stuffed. I couldn’t eat another thing. Rudi says “nonsense, you would insult the Chef if you did not partake in the specialty of the house…their award winning Chocolate Mousse!” Not wanting to create a diplomatic incident and give all future American visitors a bad name, I “struggle” through what must be the most heavenly example of this well known dessert. Sublime. The only thing that could cap this perfect meal would be a fine Cuban cigar. I just happened to pick up 2 short Monte #5s at the Davidoff shop upon arrival in Zurich. We finish them in perfect time to head out to the Circus, which is literally just across the street, set up in the Sechselauten Platz just opposite the Opera.</font>

great memories!

I'm hungry now.

memories refreshed last Saturday, Patron being my guest. Also followed by the 2003 Zirkus Knie performance.

Same procedure as above (PremEx,etc.), same procedure as every year ...

this Thursday ex US-President George Bush sen. was seen as a guest (in company of royalites like pricess von Fürstenberg) at a place I had the pleasure to show most of my guests in Zurich.

He wrote into the Kronenhalle-guestbook, after praising food and service: «aber (doppelt unterstrichen) das Essen war zu gut, und ich verlasse dieses Lokal fünf Pfund schwerer».

"but (underligned twice) the meal was to good, and I leave this place five punds heavier", signed George Bush 41st president of the USA.

I actually had my favorite dish: orinial St.Galler Bratwurst and Roest (swiss potatoe cake) - now you know where my overweight comes from ...


article in the Tagesanzeiger (local Zurich newspaper), in german (http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/dyn/news/zuerich/378988.html)

Rudi, considering that you have dined in both restaurants, which one is better?

Kronenhalle or Steirereck (in Vienna, Austria) ....?

Same procedure as above ... same procedure as every year ...

And only seven months to go until New Year's Eve :D !

Rudiwhich one is better? Kronenhalle or Steirereck (in Vienna, Austria)?

the Steirereck, Vienna Austria, for me, compares with some french Michelin** or even *** Restaurants (and what a wine-cellar to visit in person downstairs).

the Kronenhalle is a (high priced) swiss-brasserie style restaurant (but also THE VIP place in Zurich to see and to be seen), with old-fashioned swiss-style cooking - and some say the very best chocolate-mousse (with 'double crème fraîche' from the canton of Fribourg). Playboy some 35 years ago, did rate that chocolate mousse as the very best worldwide. The walls of the Kronenhalle show many original 'top-value' paintings (including Chagall, Picasso, Klee, etc. etc. - you better don't touch them, they are all linked with a sofisticated alarm system to the local police).

while he Steirereck is not in the middle of the major points of interest in Vienna (but I learned that they will move somewhen in 2004?), the Kronenhalle is in the middle of 'everything' in Zurich.

Rudi, considering that you have dined in both restaurants, which one is better?

Kronenhalle or Steirereck (in Vienna, Austria) ....?

Steirereck is one of the best restaurants in Austria!

From Gault Millau:
HELMUT ÖSTERREICHER, KOCH DES JAHRES 1988 - KOCH DES JAHRZEHNTS 2000.
Käse Ambasador
Was sollen wir sagen? Die Konkurrenz in Wien schläft nicht, nein, sie ist so aufgeweckt wie nie zuvor. Aber alles in allem behauptet das beste Restaurantteam der Stadt rund um die Familie Reitbauer und Helmut Österreicher die Pole-Position. Mag ja schon sein, dass es andere Lokale gibt, die mehr den Geschmack der Zeit treffen als das schon in die Jahre gekommene gute alte Ecklokal im dritten Bezirk mit seinem Interieur, dessen Facelifting schon viel zu lange hinausgezögert wird. (Wie und wann das neue Steirereck seinen Betrieb in der Meierei im Stadtpark aufnehmen wird, darüber zu spekulieren überlassen wir gerne anderen.)....

Kronenhalle is an interesting place. The food is not top. We had Zuercher Geschnetzeltes with Berner Roesti, which was O.K. The (draft) Pilsener Urquell was perfect ...

From Michelin:
The restaurant a Zurich institution with its remarkable art collection is in a rather unassuming building. Good, plain dishes.

the Steirereck, Vienna Austria, for me, compares with some french Michelin** or even *** Restaurants (and what a wine-cellar to visit in person downstairs).

the Kronenhalle is a (high priced) swiss-brasserie style restaurant (but also THE VIP place in Zurich to see and to be seen), with old-fashioned swiss-style cooking - and some say the very best chocolate-mousse (with 'double crème fraîche' from the canton of Fribourg). Playboy some 35 years ago, did rate that chocolate mousse as the very best worldwide. The walls of the Kronenhalle show many original 'top-value' paintings (including Chagall, Picasso, Klee, etc. etc. - you better don't touch them, they are all linked with a sofisticated alarm system to the local police).

while he Steirereck is not in the middle of the major points of interest in Vienna (but I learned that they will move somewhen in 2004?), the Kronenhalle is in the middle of 'everything' in Zurich.

Understood. One goes to the Kronenhalle to be seen and watch VIPs, the food is only adequate, albeit highly priced.

I'll be in Zurich for two evenings next month. Sounds llike a must-do for one of those nights. Are reservarions required for the Kronenhalle? We tend to dine early...

I'll be in Zurich for two evenings next month. Sounds llike a must-do for one of those nights. Are reservarions required for the Kronenhalle? We tend to dine early...

I recommend a reservation (which can, if it has to be, be easily and with no problems cancelled). Less problems for a table Sunday-through Thurday, more of a problem Friday/Saturday. If they deny the reservation (sold out), tell them that you are an early diner and that you will leave at 8pm - that may really help.

The most attractive place to see and to be seen is in the main (= historic) brasserie room, a little bit less VIP (but even more formal) is the adjoining restaurant room.

Give the head waiter (Mr. Senn) the best greetings from Rudi MARTEL. He will know, and it might help with a preffered seating.

Don't forget that, beside a little bit overprized wines, the Kronenhalle has, a rarety in Switzerland, original Pilsener Urquell on draught.

Rudi,

Thanks for the information on reservations at the Kronenhalle. I'll check to make sure it is OK with ms birdstrike, then go from there, ms birdstrike is bringing a dress, but I was not planning on bringing a formal jacket or tie. Is that too informal for the Kronenhalle, or will slacks and a dress shirt suffice?

I was not planning on bringing a formal jacket or tie. Is that too informal for the Kronenhalle, or will slacks and a dress shirt suffice?

There is no formal dress officially required - but if weather conditions remain as they are now (cold) 95% of men will were a jacket and a tie.

I asked Gisela, and she says, that slacks don't really fit for that visit, even when hotter.

(and I am not sure yet about my whereabouts in the next 4 weeks, hopefully we can meet at Wengen, but I am not 100% sure yet, sorry. I believe you have my tf numbers already - don't you?)

There is no formal dress officially required - but if weather conditions remain as they are now (cold) 95% of men will were a jacket and a tie.

I asked Gisela, and she says, that slacks don't really fit for that visit, even when hotter.

Thank you. I shall consider my options when packing. I'm a fanatic about trevelling light.

(and I am not sure yet about my whereabouts in the next 4 weeks, hopefully we can meet at Wengen, but I am not 100% sure yet, sorry. I believe you have my tf numbers already - don't you?)

I believe I do at home. I'll check after work today. We'll play it by ear then.

I hope it warms up before we get there. I have Arctic-capable gear, but it's bulky :)