My husband and I have not been out to eat without our 3 year old in almost a year. My mom is coming out for a visit and we plan to take advantage of the time and go out to a few nice dinners.

Problem is, I have no idea where any good restaurants are anymore. Can anyone recommend their favorite "special occasion" restaurants in the area of Neuchatel, Biel or Bern?

Preferably a good fondue restaurant or a good Rosti restaurant. We also love the restaurants with a set menu so you don't have to worry about choosing the right dish. Any recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks!

For a fondue, one of the many mountain restaurants would be much more fun than a 'good' restaurant perhaps. You could take her to the Plage de Boudry, a little restau right by the lake- great atmosphere in the evenings. Or for a walk at Champs du Moulin up the Gorges de l'Areuse (easy walking for quite a while, with dippers and herons dashing by - and have an excellent trout at the restau there. Or drive to Couvet then up to le Soliat/Creux du Van for a really Swiss mountain fondue in a really traditional farmhouse restau, the if she is up to it, the sort walk up to the Cirque du Creux du Van for a fab view of Lake Neuchatel and Bienne, with the most amazing wild flowers. For an easy lunch by the lake, go to the Trinquette de Bevaix by the port and sit on the terrace.

As you are in Neuchatel have you tried the www.bainsdesdames.ch ?
It is on the left going out of Neuchatel towards Yverdon. You can walk there from the centre along side the lake.
You can sit outside literally touching the lake, and they give you blankets.It is quite inexpensive and my daughter who is a vegi had, she said, one of the nicest dishes she had ever had there!!

Thanks Smackerjack - although Neuch born and bred, never heard of that one- so must try it one of those days. Of course the best fish restau if Le Poisson in Auvernier. Not been to Le Robinson by the port in Colombier for a while, but is is a very nice spot.

i have NOT been to this one, but i've been waiting for a special occasion to try it out. it is also not a fondue restaurant but maybe it is a good suggestion for someone who wants something special/romantic: kind of inside a greenhouse (in worb near bern)

http://www.eisblume-worb.ch/

If you get lucky with the weather, the lakeside terrace (not the harbour side one) at Le Silex in Hauterive has to be one of the best locations in the Neuchâtel area, the food is decent enough as well.

Another good weather option: the Buffet d'un Tram in Cortaillod has a nice little garden out the back - it even used to have a romantic "tree-house" table, not sure if this still exists. Good, simple food at a reasonable price.

The Maison du Village in Sauges (just beyond Saint-Aubin) is another good one, and would be a good option if the weather leads you more towards eating indoors. They also have a terrace.

It's in the building just beyond the bus garage, where the water skiing club operates from. Only open in summer, I think.

I've been disappointed a couple of times recently by Le Robinson (now called L'Aparté)... great location, but very average food and service. Still a good place for a meal with friends or colleagues, but I wouldn't go there for a special occasion. The Trinquette in Bevaix is good, I agree with you on that one.

Great, thanks for all the ideas!

Stephen, isn't this strange? I know the spot exactly, and the water skiing school - and yet never knew there was a restau there. Mind you I left Neuch in 1970, so...

If you like the Trinquette in Bevaix, maybe we could meet up with a few of the 'oldies' from Neuch there. We were there on Sunday.

With the nice weather, I vote for the Creux du Van. magic place, you can go up early, have a fab fondue and a walk. My favourite has always been La Ferme Robert, but le Soliat can also be nice.
Then, you can come back up during the week-end with the kids.

http://www.restaurants-montagne.ch/

One of our favorites is Buener off the Papiermullerstrasse in 3013 Bern (Breitenrain). It's in a house, has a nice romantic setting and a good wine list. Also a fixed 3, 4 or 5 course menu, although they are always willing to substitute and change. It's neither really rosti or fondue however.

http://www.buener.ch/

It got good reviews on trip advisor. It is a bit pricey... we spend at least CHF 100 per person when we go, but that's with wine and usually the 5 course menu.

I'll probably be up in the mountains on Sunday, but thanks for the suggestion !

I think the Bains des Dames has been there for about five years now. The building went through a big renovation and the restaurant opened after that. It's very discreet from the outside though - no big sign or anything that would show you it's there, just a blackboard.

Hi,

If you feel like going out to eat a Fondue ( I always do...), I recommend going a little bit up in the montains, the restaurant in Hohmatt, in the montains above Bienne is a great place to eat local speciality in a very local atmosphere.
http://www.bergwirtschaft-hohmatt.ch/main.htm
Enjoy!
Sandrine

Would be great to know how you got on- where you went to eat and what it was like.

I love the seasonal cooking in the bistro in Villa Lindenegg BIEL.
I also love restaurant La Péniche in NIDAU, excellent food and a beautiful location.