Zum Bader Gastwirtschaft — Restaurant in Hallstatt

This will be one of my most difficult reviews. Not because it's negative but because I don't have enough stars or superlatives to put into words to describe how great this restaurant is.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews from Hallstatt, you are a prisoner to the limited amount of restaurants to choose from in this tiny Lakeside mountain tourist town. If you read other restaurant reviews you will see many negative reviews that's because when a restaurant has a great location the food served does not have to be as great, and usually isn't.

Not so with Zum Bader Gastwirtschaft. It's brand new, only had seven reviews before mine, but all were five stars. I was intrigued. First of all when we arrived at the restaurant I could see it was recently renovated, and the renovations were extremely high quality with excellent workmanship and design. When we entered the restaurant we were greeted by a very welcoming young waitress who said we can sit wherever we want to. She was immediately attentive to us, brought us some drinks and water as well as the menu. The selections on the menus were limited and few, but we soon found out after returning multiple times to the restaurant whatever selection we chose deserved five stars and better. I knew something was up when the waitress bought plates, placed them on the table and I realized the plates were warmed. When was the last time you ate at a restaurant where plates were warmed. Also, the preparation of the food on the plates were a work of art and I could tell even before my first mouthful that we were in for a treat. I have eaten all over the world from Europe to Asia from India to Canada, even multiple star restaurants in France with obnoxious French waiters, but the food we were served here was equally on that level. I just couldn't believe what I was tasting. I returned multiple times and tried three of their main dishes along with their desserts all prepared by chef Gerhard, who I discovered had been head chef for 20 years and oversaw a kitchen of more than 30 sous chefs under him at his last place of employment. He gave it up because he didn't want to manage other chefs anymore and wanted to cook simply because he loved cooking. And you can tell because he put everything into his dishes and desserts and even the salads which were all incredible. If you have a pallet to recognize amazing food prepared in an amazing way and served with an amazing staff you must try Zum Bader.

One evening while dining we met the owner of the restaurant and I was able to ask him why the prices were far too reasonable for the quality of the food. The owner said that he was a local and he didn't want to price out his friends that lived in Hallstatt by charging more then they could easily afford. Another mark of excellence from the owner equal to the excellence of the chef. Zum Bader it's a little gem of a restaurant in a little...

We arrived around 11am at halstatt and so hungry from long travel. We chose this nice looking place with flower decors outside.

Food is good. Not bland or salty, just right flavor. We ordered the Char grilled fish with potato salad + Black and white pasta with fish and dill.

Service i personally dont like. I forgot to put my small water bottle in the bag and the old lady waiter told me while ordering that 'keep that, we are a restaurant' with a not so good look. I know i should keep it but just missed to put in my bag for a while as my husband and I are focused on ordering. There could be a better way to remind customers on it. They served our food, then I look around the other tables where they served a small pitcher of water even if they have not ordered yet. The lady didnt give us or offered us any water.

Toilet is clean.

Overall, okay food place but ruined my appetite because of a water and not feeling like a valued guest.Could use some customer training a bit. I have a sense though it is a family run business which I admire generally as place is well kept. Improve customer service and I think it is splendid. But right now, I remember the way the serve me more...

There was no wait to seat our group of 7 without any reservation at 11:30-ish. For Halstatt, the prices weren't terrible. The portions were a great size for eating and certainly did not leave you hungry, but at other restaurants in Austria, you could probably get bigger portions for the same price. Regardless, the char fish and potatoes, side salad, black and white pasta with char fish, mixed dumplings filled with meat on top of saerkraut, and Hallstat salad were all some of the most delicious dishes we've had in Austria. The char fish was perfectly cooked, the meat in the dumplings were seasoned well and the hot saerkraut underneath was spectacular, and the salad had these amazing chanterelles that were so decadent. Taste: 5 superior! Price: 3 average Service: 4...