We visited in the afternoon: they had 2 vegan cake choice (on top of desserts buffet): muffin and cookie.
Pros: vegan cakes, all vegetarianThis is the kind of review a working girl writes when she is traveling around the globe and grabs business lunches in exclusive places. The Hiltl was founded in 1898 and has not missed it's transition into modern times - somewhat intimidating sometimes if you'd like a quiet meal and a mobile phone/ wifi free atmosphere! The Hiltl has a stunning selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, you can order there à la carte or you can serve yourself at the generous buffet. Let's face it, Zurich isn't cheap nor is the Hiltl. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine and the city life on the trottoir! I found it fascinating though that if you sit outside you become a witness of an endless testosterone defilé of expensive vintage and modern cars - that squeeze themselves through the tight alleys of Zurich's old town. There is so much gas in the air you might ask yourself: "why bother to eat healthy at all?" But that is just outside and it was a holiday. Inside the Hiltl is all style and fashion, except for a beamer that sports the newest facebook entries of the patrons. I personally enjoy a media free atmosphere more.
Anyway the Hiltl got me because they serve a vegan version of my old favourite when I was an omnivore: Steak tartar! and what shall I say, I went back the next day and ordered some to go. It was delicious! The other food my companion had looked delicious as well but I was so busy with my food I couldn't really be bothered with his couscous and chick peas. I had a water and he had a ginger panaché that tasted really good. We skipped desert because we were out of swiss francs and he had an espresso cooker in his hotel room - and i had saved some vegan chocolate from a supermarket forage in a cheaper region.
Always worth a visit if you don't have keep your pennies together...
Pros: Modern cuisine, Nice curries, huge varietyMy next order of business after dropping my luggage at the hotel was finding Hiltl. It was easily reachable, large, upscale, and very busy. However, don't be put off the upscale atmosphere; I felt comfortable & accepted in my casual jeans and tennis. I suggest reservations if you have a party and you plan to sit in and eat; I did not plan to do so, but ended up staying anyway. I ordered the Tartar (surprisingly much tastier than it looked), vegan paella (It was so-so. I wasn't impressed), and red Thai curry, which was delicious! My waitress was very friendly and humorous. Expensive, as was expected in Switzerland, so I have no gripes there. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Zurich.
Pros: Delicious red Thai curry, Elegant atmosphere, Knowledgeable/helpful staffyou don't see it. Well, if you are in Zürich you will have to try it at least once. You will breath history and still owned by the founders... and although the actual owner is not even vegetarian, Hiltl is in Zürich still a synonimous for vegetarian lifestyle. I was there several times but after a while is getting booring. Today is more a lifestyle club serving vegetarian food. 5 years ago progressive... today I would call it a relict when thinking about the vegan revolution (which did not really touch Zürich). Again.. I would try it at least once.
Pros: A Touch of History, Modern lifestyle, offer vegan foodI planned to eat here during my business trip, but it was so busy at lunch/dinner times it was quite intimidating for a non-local (who can only speak English). I ended up there in the mid-afternoon on my last day when it was a bit quieter, spoke to someone who spoke who explained how to do the buffet/pay by weight and I enjoyed trying a little bit of everything. For a cafeteria eatery, the food was interesting, good variety and was hot.
Pros: Variety, Interesting, Hot foodThe choice in this place for vegans and vegos is fantastic. My body felt better after getting a good dose of tasty variety from the dishes on offer. Went back twice more and I was only in Zurich a day and a half. Sure a good hardy meal at 25-40CHF is expensive but Zurich is expensive so get over it and treat yourself to a good feed.
Pros: Quality, VarietyWent at Monday 6pm on my own (buisness trip). It was already busy, but very welcoming staff. Had the house speciality of vegan 'steak tartare' made from a mashed up mix of veg and tofu. It was good (especially as I don't usually like meals that pretend to be meat-like). Good range of menu options all showing whether suitable for vegans, allergies etc.
Pros: Helpful staff, Varied menuIt was a wonderful experience in Hiltl. Wonderful food, atmosphere. Cannot miss that!
Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Marketing (why not?)I was very much looking forward to going to this place because of it's reputation and also the good reviews here. I was very disappointed.
The atmosphere is, well, crowded. The food wasn't good. I was there about 6 weeks ago, so I don't remember everything in detail but I had a vegan paella as a main dish. It looked like a paella but that was the only ressemblance it had with a paella. It just tasted weird. My friends who ordered other dishes weren't delighted with their food either.
Needless to say that it was very expensive - I don't think there is anything inexpensive in Zurich.
On the positive side I can only mention that Hilti is one of the very few places I know with professional waiters/waitresses. They actually know how to serve food and how to interact with customers. In general a very professionally organized place.
Pros: very professional serviceI have been there tons of times and just love the place. Good vegan selection, although it seems the vegan options are dwindling over time. It is always busy. Yes, it is a bit pricey, greater than average Swiss price. Lots of the buffet options are Indian food. I always go for the buffet because you can always see what you get.
Pros: Lots to choose fromBest restaurant of a 2 week trip round europe by 2 picky vegetarians. By far. Amazed at the size of the place! Decided not to get involved with the buffet at all and ordered from the menu. We had the Hiltl tartar to start with- absolutely delicious- and the Geschnetzltes with Rosti. made two people constantly craving austrian specialities very happy indeed. No room for left for dessert but took a brownie (great) and vegan cookie (meh) to go. beer was good and service too. sure, it was expensive, but everything in Switzerland is. wish it was in my town so I could eat there every day.
Pros: huge, fancy, great foodThe buffet clearly tells you about ingredients. Great for people who are gluten intolerant or don't eat eggs- or other special dietary needs. Friendly, great food.
Pros: Great selection, fresh rosti is fantastic, nice fruit drinksThere were some good vegan choices in the hot food section but the food all tasted more or less the same and lacked some creativity and love. The prices were very high for a canteen style restaurant which doesn't serve meat
Pros: convenient location, nice staffI am practically tethered to this place when I'm in Zurich. gorgeous buffet with so many amazing vegan choices. lots of fusion dishes, lovely salads and juice bar to live for. i love the history of the place too: first veg resto in europe! the interior design is done by U.K. designer Tricia Guild and feels super stylish, fresh, contemporary and comfortable. easy to relax, eat, drink a chai, do some work or chill with friends. the formal service restaurant is really great too. delicious menu options with nice airy, light filled views. you can also check out the kitchen through glass windows. make a reservation, it gets booked especially on weekends. it's a bit pricey but totally worth it.
Pros: Excellent creative vegan food, healthy and fresh, stylish designwent there for my anniversary meal ... we were forgotten for 40 minutes after ordering. main was good... saffron rice paella, but dessert was awful! they just mixed mango juice with whipping cream and it tasted of margarine.
update is because i had an extensive reply to my email and review here. i was impressed with their response and hope that a future visit will be more successful. i also improved my rating to fair as they clearly responded well to my critique. i would give them two extra moo's for this as i dont know many restaurants would take the time and energy to do this! well done!
Updated from previous review on Tuesday April 05, 2011
Pros: locationAs the title says, go to tibits. It's cheaper and the same food. However, If you wanna go somewhere for a nice date, this is your place...the menu offers nearly nothing for vegans which is why id say to just go to tibits instead
Pros: UpscaleThe food is very good - there are good reasons why this restaurant is so popular.
I used to go there a lot, but nowadays I prefer other vegetarian restaurants for a nice family night out or when meeting with friends, as they have crammed as much tables as possible into the restaurant - it is difficult to navigate your way to the table, to the buffet, to the toilets ... and it is very noisy. Not the sort of athmosphere I prefer when I want to have a relaxing evening.
It's very better than other buffet restaurant in Zurich. We didn't try the a la carte menu becouse the buffet was very interesting. Very very good.
Pros: veriety for vegan too, locationWide selection of flavorful food, with plenty of vegan options. It was a very nice change from traditional Swiss food, where veganism is a ridiculous concept. It's also nice that you pay by the weight of your food, so you don't feel obliged to pile up your plate like in all-you-can-eat buffets.
Pros: tasty food, nice atmospherea huge place with outdoor and indoor seating right in the heart of Zuerich. excellent food (asian and european), friendly staff, but pricey. the modern design makes it quite classy. we ordered from the menu but saw lots of people having a quick bite from the buffet after work.
Pros: good food , modern design and atmosphereAlthough it may not be "authentic" indian, it surely has some of the best vegetarian food in Switzerland! Also, don't forget the meltingly good brownies...
This place is HUGE & expensive! You can sit outside and order al la cart if you've got kids or too unhip to eat at an amazing buffet inside a happening newly redesigned trendy spot. When you get to the buffet grab a plate and just start anywhere you want, there is no real line or direction. What is important is to quickly memorize the translation key to animal products on yellow signs above the buffet. Once you've got that mastered its go time. Pile on 20 bucks worth of vegan goodness in no time and head to the bar and put your plate on the scale and insert your credit card! I highly suggest the local beer, its AMAZING!
Pros: tons of vegan, great food, beer!This place was amazing. Really great food. Lots of vegan options. We thoroughly enjoyed eating at Hiltl. The atmosphere was really nice too. Modern, clean and attractive. Would definitely return.
Pros: Food was amazing, large selection of items, Nice decorI was returning to Hilti after a gap of over 10 years. The last time I was a trifle disappointed with the taste, flavors and choices. This time I was overwhelmed! It is much bigger and better! The choices and the quality are excellent. There was not a single item I tried in the buffet that was disppointing. This was combined with excellent service and attitude. Also, I did not find the meal on an empty stomach very expensive by Zurich standards and for the quality. Do not miss it>
Pros: Quality, Flavors, ValueBuffet food - despite what some reviewers say there are a lot of vegan choices and the there a re lables on the dishes to let you know the main ingerdient - ie if they have milk, cheese etc. I think this was just in German but the staff speak English and are normally helpful (it can get busy and they do seem to have snooty days)
You can take your kids here but it is not quite child friendly - once as we had kids they sat us down and let us pay from the table rather than queueing at the bar, another time they made us queue - which is hard with two under 2 year olds.
In the evening you may not find a seat.
They also have a cook book out.
I used to go here very often when living in Zurich and was never disappointed by the food. The entire place has a great, lively feel and the menu stays creative and tasty. The only drawback is that the menu prices are pretty steep, even for Zurich. I attribute this to Hitli's immense popularity (supply/demand) but its still not ideal.
Pros: Great food, Great locationSince more than 20 years I spend my money for travelling and visiting vegetarian and wine places all over the world.
You will enjou the HILTL if you like a professional modern vegetarian restaurant which offers one of the best wine list I haver seen in an vegetarian restaurant - look http://www.hiltl.ch/en/restaurant.php?id=103.
More than 150 people work at Hiltl to over the best, friendly and very profesionell service I have seen in years.
My only!! critic is that the vegan option are quiet limited.
Besides that its one of the best veg restaurant on continental europe only comparaple with one of my absolute 5 Star Veg Restaurant IL Margutta Vegetariano (Vegetarian Restaurant) in Rom http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=1002
I had imagined that the oldest veggie restaurant in Europe would exude old world charm, serving classic recipes in a cozy timber construct or something. I wanted it to feel like it was so awesome 100 years ago that it hasn't needed to modernize. But the Hiltl I ate at in May 2007 was huge (two levels) and ultra modern with gleaming stainless steel, sleek banquettes, and well-coiffed waitstaff. It was chock full of people, hard to get a table, and difficult to navigate the path to the buffet in such a hectic environment. The food wasn't very memorable. I can only recall creamy scalloped potatoes, the best item on my plate. I was disappointed overall and kind of horrified by the bill. I'm now pinning my hopes on Gasthaus Schillinger near Vienna to give me a proper old world veggie dining experience.
Pros: I guess veg food is popular in Zurich?!I had dinner with my husband one night and then we had lunch with a friend (who had recommended the place) the next day. The place looks like a very fancy restaurant, impecable... The staff was nice and helpful if slow (although that seems to be the norm in Europe where they seem to be very relaxed). First time I had the Arugula salad and the Casimir. I loved the contrast of the sweet fruits and the spicy rice. Everything was fresh and delicious. My husband had a vegetable platter that looked boring to me but he said was real good. To start he had a Mille Feuille with wild mushrooms (real good!). Next day I had the rice ring with wild mushrooms and my husband had some other fruit/rice dis and my friend had a curry. All was very good. Portions were huge so we were too stuffed for dessert but I've been told is good. Only turn off is the same as all over Europe: everybody smokes but, surprisingly, it was hardly noticeable. As I'm a vegetarian I don't have the problems I have read vegans listing but it appeared to me that there was a good vegan selection.
Pros: Great selection, Nice waitstaff, Fresh foodsHiltl exists for more than a century, and it shows: very well balanced dishes and a wonderful 'grand cafe' atmosphere. They keep renewing; in March 2007 they will reopen at their old spot. When we go to Zurich again, you'll find us there.
Pros: terrific food, classic atmosphereEating in this place is quite an experience. It's the biggest vegetarian restaurant I have ever seen by some way (it's huge). The place was still packed though. Huge buffet with an enormous amount of choice. I had to ask staff what was vegan and was accommodated pleasantly enough. Not the cheapest but where in Switzerland is?
Pros: Huge choice, Vegan offerings
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