It's my birthday and I want to head out for a nice (and this means not Kronenhalle super-di-duper) dinner at a new restaurant. Any recommendations?

I would like to try something new. I have eaten often at the Hiltl, and Tibits, and I like Les Halles, Lily's, Josef's, Keo Inn Thai-Restaurant, Palme de Beirut, Yooji and King's Kurry. I am tired of Zeughauskeller because we take every guest there. And I have blinde kuh'd a few times too.

My last fancy night out, we went to Giesserei and while it was lovely both our mains were a bit disappointing so we don't want to go back. I also don't want fondue or raclette -- it's not cold enough yet.

I don't need super service and attention but just like nice tasty food with a good atmosphere.

Any thoughts??

I'm a big fan of the Tessiner Keller

Plenty of ideas on the following threads Happy Birthday Dinner

Do you like Japanese?

I really really like Kai - fusion Japanese, sounds a little foo-foo but overall extremely tasty.

Alternatively, my favourite restaurant in Zurich and somewhere I will always take visitors to is Die Waid.

Stunning views of Zurich city on a clear day and food's seasonal and decent. Local wines from the Höngg area too. Reservations for dinner is a must.

Happy birthday.

Do you like french food? Lumiere restaurant in Widdengrasse 5 is reallly good - try the double entrecote and fries for 2 - if you go, make sure you book in advance and ask for table number 14 or 16 - best in the house - oh, and happy b'day

Thanks for all the tips. I heard about a neat idea, "Essen Gehn"
www. essengehn.ch The website is in german but here is how it works:

You purchase a book (this year has a hard green cover). Inside it is filled with information about 16 Zurich restaurants. You can go to each restaurant and receive one for a free entree when you purchase two. The book costs 58chf. You can purchase the book online and in a variety of local stores. But it is a yearly thing and this years is only valid until Nov 09. I don't know when you can purchase one for next year.

The restaurants all seem very nice and it looks like a great way to get to know new restaurants in the city with a little incentive.

This years restaurants are Alpenrose, Blaue Ente, Brasserie Bernoulli, Buergli, Caduff's Wine Loft, Chez Brigitte, Ginger, Greulich, Hermanseck, Italia, Jdaburg, La Salle, Mesa, Ristorante Strozzi's, Tizziani, Tre Fratelli.

Of course, when I was looking online, only some of these restaurants have english menus.

Anyway, just thought it was a great idea and wanted to pass on the info!

Thanks again for the tips! I have a nice full list now!

Doh! I thought you said you didn't want super-di-duper restaurants! Oh in that case, my I suggest somewhere slightly off the beaten track in the heart of Zurich?

Kaisers-reblaube (It's 800 years old, but the fish is good )

Looks good. Just tell me they don't play the music used on their website whilst you're eating!

The Tessiner Keller is fantastic. One of the few places which serves a menu of both food and wine, written to complement each other.

Go now for their fabulous pots of Moules and Fries and a few glasses of Veltliner. Better than Brasserie Lipp: a hipper - though not 'szeni' - clientele and an atmosphere of rugged, muscular indulgence. No Volksmusik, either. But you never know.

Well, if you'll support a bit of self promotion for a moment, I have to recommend the restaurant my husband (Italian-Swiss chef) and I (artist from Chicago) just opened in Aesch called Restaurant Schlössli [URL="www.schlossli.ch"]. The menu is small, a bit Italian, a bit Swiss, a bit French, but always seasonal and fresh. There's also a la carte brunch with eggs, bacon and sausages made to order on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

It's a cozy location with indoor and outdoor seating and a great view. You take the number 11 tram all the way to the end of the line in Aesch and the restaurant is just across the street. There are also great hikes that start in Aesch so if you want to combine some outdoor activity with a nice meal, this is the place to come.

The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner or just coffee or drinks from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm.
Have a look at the website and current menus (in English), www.schlossli.ch, and hope to see you sometime soon!

hoi birthday planner.-hum...two places i have taken friends from all walkes of entertainment-hooters on langstrasse puts on a nice cake and b day hats show-all leave smiling-and also desperado in shmediwedikon-free for b day celebrators-hows that for zurich--??good luck-

Just took a look at the menu of Die Waid and don't get me wrong, I can spend it like the best of them, but isn't this 29CHF for a litre of juice?

"Refreshing aperitif bowl made from pineapples, berries, melons or mixed fruits without alcohol Fr. 29.00/l"

A very interesting dinner out is at the "blindekuh zurich". http://www.blindekuh.ch/e/zurich/wayin.html

I took my wife there for our 9th anniversary. Very neat experiance. I wasn't impressed by the food, but the experience was worth it.

I really like both DonLeone and Maison Blunt.
I think the food is excellent in both (although maybe nice enough for your birthday) and the atmosphere is good. Both tend to be full of locals which I really like.

I would say if not for your birthday then for a regualr night out, I dont think either would dissapoint.

Hi Janie6, Happy Birthday Or did you already celebrate it?

I can reccomend this one for any occasion:
http://www.restaurant-luegeten.ch/

Great place, view and food

Enjoy !!!

Thanks all! I did celebrate the big day and went to Alpenrose. It's on Limmatstrasse just past Limmatplatz -the address is Fabrikstrasse 12. The food and atmosphere were great. "Swiss" but not kitsch. I highly recommend it though the menu is swiss german and it took us a little while to negotiate. The server let us struggle with our german (which was appreciated-- it is sometime so difficult to practice german when everyone switches so automatically to english-- but this is off topic) and she helped an english couple near us in english. And it was so full that reservations were necessary.

But thanks for all the tips. I am really looking forward to trying all the other suggestions over the next year!