Monday to Friday 11.30-15 h and 17.30-23 h
Saturday + Sunday 11.30-23 h
Mère Catherine
Nägelihof 3
8001 Zurich-District 1
.How to get there
Somewhat hidden away is the secluded inner courtyard in the Dörfli, where the charming restaurant Mère Catherine has also placed its red-covered bistro chairs, marble tables and striped parasols. Once you enter it, you can hardly help but settle down here to feast on the southern French cuisine served here and enjoy the French flair.
Delicate fish dishes and Provençal, as well as Mediterranean classics, have been providing a little Côte d'Azur feeling in this elegant restaurant for over 40 years. The splashing of water from the small fountain underlines the certain je ne sais quoi of the inner courtyard.
The interior is also charming: Simple wooden chairs, tables beautifully and simply decorated in check and with flowers, as well as white plastered walls, dark tiled floors and a gallery on the upper floor create a romantic fishing village charm. And as usual in the French south, the cuisine is convincing with its seasonality and taste sensations.
Chef de Cuisine Jörg Berchtold serves fine dishes from coq au vin and moules frites to entrecote de bœuf and a wonderful French fish stew. Beforehand, you might share various hors d'oeuvres at the table, served on an étagère, including pickled salmon and polo salad, house terrine, beef tartare and marinated vegetables.
Or, with the escargots à la bourguignonne, you can taste vineyard snails, a typical French speciality. To round off the meal, the amiable service serves French soft and hard cheeses, while those with a sweet tooth will not want to miss homemade mille-feuille crème slices or, of course, a deliciously chocolaty chocolate mousse.
The dark wooden counter of Bar Le Philosophe creates a tasteful contrast to the bright dining room. Here, you can enjoy a fine glass of champagne as an aperitif, a cocktail or, of course, a good glass of (not only) French wine recommended by sommelière Sophia Benini.
It is a beautiful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre to the south of France for lunch or dinner and enjoy all the benefits of French savoir-vivre.