Helvti Diner: new fancy Zurich diner-style burger joint - Page 2

Capacitrix · #21 01.11.2011, 14:45

	Quote:	Uncle Max
	If you want fancy fancy go to a fancy fancy place; I was satisfied. Please, no food snobbery; it's a diner. If I'd wanted to stand outside or sit on a stool and eat a kebab I'd have gone towards the station. The HelvtiDiner does what it says on the tin.

	Quote:	bananafisch
	1. Turned up without reservation. The hostess just shook her head and gave us a sorry smile. "Not tonight, you won't...". After leaving with our head down, she came after us and offered that we could sit at the high table next to the bar. Yay! .

We tried to go to Hevti Diner today. Despite it being 12:10 and mostly empty, since we did not have a reservation and the high tables were already occupied, we did not actually eat there.

So, thanks for starting this thread, so I have some ideas of places that 1) have a decent burger and 2) are interested in customers. I've seen ZicZac, but never tried. I will probably rectify that the next time I'm in Zurich and want a burger.

Big Mac #24 · #22 08.11.2011, 15:06

	Quote:	Uncle Max
	I had the pleasure of dining here one lunch time last week and it was perfectly acceptable in it did exactly as promised: burger with extra cheddar cheese and a Dr. Pepper (please note the old school use of the . even though Dr Pepper have removed it...) Friendly service from er, a preddy lady amongst a team of er, preddy staff and a perfectly decent burger and fries. I didn't go for the fancy fancy burger as that's too easy. The setting is a bit upscale - as one would expect in Zurich: flower arrangements and nice furniture - and the bill came to about CHF30 including rounding up for the tip. I found the service friendly and considerate. Never trust a food reviewer until you've had a bite there yourself, of course. If you want fancy fancy go to a fancy fancy place; I was satisfied. Please, no food snobbery; it's a diner. If I'd wanted to stand outside or sit on a stool and eat a kebab I'd have gone towards the station. The HelvtiDiner does what it says on the tin. Plus, did I mention the preddy waitress? "She's got freckles on her butt she's preddy..."

Exactly what I would say too.

Good tasty, tender medium rare burger with tasty blue cheese, chunky chips and a tidy mildly spiced bbq sauce - washed down with a Dr. Pepper.

Very friendly attentive service, speedy delivery right in the middle of the lunchtime (12.30) I didn't mention the pretty waitress, but there were 2 of them!!

jebote · #23 13.11.2011, 01:15

i was there twice since the opening about 4 weeks ago.

first time:
i had the swiss burger (cheapest of the 3), with cheese (cheddar, you can choose from 4) and bacon (makes everything better

) and fries (cost extra as well as the bacon/cheese or egg if you want).

i wanted it medium, but when i got it it was welldone (a bit dry). in the end the bill was around 35 CHF, quite expensive. so my first experience with helvti diner wasn't the best.

second time:
i had the wagyu beef (it's liek kobe) burger (most expensive). with all the extras and fries it was about 50 CHF. expensive yes but the BEST burger in town in my opinion! i really like the buns and the beef... you have to try.
oh and almost forgot, great service!

my advice: always call and make reservation, its full (lunch/dinner time). or you go at 3am when it's still open

dont be cheap! try the wagyu!

#24 13.11.2011, 06:10

	Quote:	jebote
	i wanted it medium, but when i got it it was welldone (a bit dry).

You should have looked at their website first..

http://www.helvti-diner.ch/home

TammieE · #25 13.11.2011, 07:07

	Quote:	Capacitrix
	I've seen ZicZac, but never tried. I will probably rectify that the next time I'm in Zurich and want a burger.

I've tried the ZicZac and was really disappointed

.

KeinFranzösisch · #26 13.11.2011, 09:04

	Quote:	bananafisch
	Just came back from the Helvti, where we had a quick dinner tonight. Here is a short summary of our experience: 1. Turned up without reservation. The hostess just shook her head and gave us a sorry smile. "Not tonight, you won't...".

Another thing for them to work on then, for the "authentic" American diner experience.

One needn't make a reservation for a diner. In fact, diners don't take reservations. If you want to eat there, you wait for a table. Sometimes up to 90 minutes. Period.

higgybaby · #27 17.11.2011, 14:14

	Quote:	KeinFranzösisch
	Another thing for them to work on then, for the "authentic" American diner experience. One needn't make a reservation for a diner. In fact, diners don't take reservations. If you want to eat there, you wait for a table. Sometimes up to 90 minutes. Period.

I reserved a table here for work colleagues in the evening.
What a shambles. The staff member wouldn't let us in as we had no reservation.
We insisted we had but she basically said they were busy and we'd have to leave without a reservation.
What a pathetic booking system they have : 3 minutes after leaving I get a call from them apologizing and asking us to come back. We didn't.
This was a couple of weeks ago.
Tonight my girlfriend and I are going to try it with four friends who've already booked.
My friend emailed them yesterday to add us but no reply. Sounds like they don't like walk ins but don't have their systems or staff working properly yet for bookings.