Schloss Schauenstein — Restaurant in Fürstenau

Location / Setting

10/10 - The castle is absolutely sublime. As the weather was gorgeous, we were seated on the terrace outside the dining rooms for an apéritif. The view is spectacular (surrounded by mountains) and the terrace was buzzing with life from bees and butterflies.

Presentation

10/10 Food presentation was impeccable. Everything you would expect / hope for from a 3*

Food

4/10 Amuse-bouches with apéritif were interesting and special. Amuse-bouches as part of the meal were creative, but much too salty. This unfortunately extended to everything that was served. Dishes were creative and special for the most part (in particular the langoustine "secret dish") but in all cases overshadowed by the excessive presence of salt (to the point where I felt like a goat licking a salt block!). Bread was OK. Rating is when compared to other similar restaurants.

Wine pairing

1/10 This was a MAJOR disappointment. From the Riesling / Sylvaner that was served as an aperitif to the Pinot muté that was served at the end, almost all wines were bland, unexpressive and didn't serve any particular purpose other than providing an alcoholic beverage on the side. One of the wines served was so flat and emotionless that I didn't finish the glass and had a chat with the waitress about it afterwards (who explained to us that this particular Cabernet / Sangiovese was made to be as neutral and underwhelming as possible (read: boring) which we found outrageous, since the entire point of having a wine pairing is to have interesting wines that complement or accentuate the flavours of the dishes they're being served with). 1 point granted for the excellent Gin + Tonic that was served with the first surprise dish.

Service

6/10 We were picked up by car from our hotel and brought back after dinner, which was highly appreciated. Service was friendly and relatively good. Found ourselves having to reach across the table to serve ourselves water several times (mainly due to the crazy amount of salt in the dishes).

Other remarks

-5/10 We were particularly astonished by the bill. In particular the parts that were not expressly mentioned on the menu: we ordered the full menu + surprise dishes + wine pairing + a glass of wine in aperitif + two cups of tea. So we had a good idea what to expect the bill to look like. What we received, was a bill for all of the above + extra costs for the mini G&T that was served with one of the surprise dishes and another line for the fortified Cider that was served with the second surprise dish. In and of itself, we wouldn't have minded had it been clearly indicated on the menu, or mentioned that we would be receiving additional drinks at an additional cost with the surprise dishes (for which we already paid extra). This was highly disingenious and disappointing. Unlike similar restaurants, no sign of the chef during or after the meal.

To be clear for the purpose of the review: we compare Schloss Schauenstein not against your local bistro or run off the mill restaurant but against other similar Michelin starred restaurants. The comments and rating above reflect a comparison...

The location in the old castle is truly epic, with intricate details, beautiful furniture, and thoughtful decorations making Schloss Schauenstein a visually stunning destination. The combination of traditional and modern elements is well-executed.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed with an afternoon snack and offered tea or coffee in a separate building, followed by a brief tour of the estate.

However, for dinner, the experience felt a bit rigid. We were unable to choose our own schedule or start when we wanted. Everything was orchestrated to their timing, which added a layer of stress as we were rushed from room to room, often without having finished our drinks. The dinner began with 10 different small amuse-bouche courses, which were beautifully presented but lacked variety and a memorable taste experience. Many of the dishes were vegetable-based and overly sour, leaving the palate unengaged.

The service staff, while polite, presented the courses in a robotic manner and were unable to answer many questions about the ingredients or their origins. This lack of knowledge detracted from the overall dining experience.

The wine list was similarly underwhelming. The choice of Dom Perignon as the house champagne felt commercial, further reinforcing the impression that profit maximization was prioritized over curating a unique, personalized experience.

We opted for the main menu with two extra sides, but the portions were small and failed to impress in terms of flavor or creativity. The biggest disappointment came when we tried to order an additional meat course, only to be told the kitchen had already closed. This lack of flexibility was frustrating, especially given the expectations of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Throughout dinner, the service felt inattentive—we often found ourselves alone in the dining room, pouring our own wine and sitting at a table that was either not cleaned or improperly cleared between courses. The staff's inexperience was evident and disheartening.

As it was a birthday celebration, a small chocolate cake was brought out during dessert. It arrived without any candle or personalized touch, which again underscored the lack of attention to making the experience feel special.

For our after-dinner drinks, we were directed to the smokers’ lounge. We ordered double shots of entry-level whiskey for 60 CHF each but received only around 5 cl instead of 8 cl. This was rectified only after we complained to the sommelier, who seemed more knowledgeable than the rest of the staff.

Overall, while the setting and initial impression of Schloss Schauenstein are impressive, the experience did not live up to the 1,000 CHF per person price tag. The lack of warmth, flexibility, and hospitality, combined with monotonous food and impersonal service, made it a disappointing visit. Neither Andreas nor any of his chefs made an appearance throughout the night, further diminishing the sense of connection with...

I struggle putting my experience into words. The level of hospitality is unparalleled here. We had requested in advance a vegan experience and wow did they provided one! Never again did we have to mention it, the staff always knew, and the kitchen even went to great lengths making us special and different courses. A real benchmark for gastronomy. No wonder they are top 25 restaurants in the world. The meal itself at the castle lasted 5 hours. At no point did that seem too long, we enjoyed every moment of it. There were special menus printed for us. The food was hyper local and seasonal. No wonder they have a Michelin sustainability award as well as three stars. Amazing. The caliber of technique employed was at the level of innovation, but carefully studied and tested so that everything that made the plate was perfect. Not a single bad course. Who knew radish could taste like whitefish? Aubergine like lamb? Cauliflower like meatball? Simply amazing. The intensity of flavor in every dish and meticulous focus overall were outstanding. We also stayed the night at the Castle which was a real treat. The rooms was nicely outfitted. We had a view of the mountains, and it entitled us to the most unbelievable local and organic breakfast spread I’ve ever seen. All the bread was baked in-house. The coffee was roasted on-site. Once again they prepared some vegan items for us without even asking (avocado spread, hummus, specially pickled veg). The confit tomato and aubergine spreads were awesome. Service was gracious throughout. We also used and enjoyed the pool. There was an afternoon food buffet for guests. Chef Andreas himself greeted us on multiple occasions. Chef Caminada was so gracious and down to earth. He suggested we use the property’s bikes to go to the lake 3km away for a morning swim. We did; brilliant suggestion. In summary, the castle is an amazing fairytale experience where every moment is a perfect moment in a idyllic gastronomic village. Beyond the exceptional setting, every door that needed to be seemed unlocked (leading to sense of safety and openness) and hospitality was A+++ (they even drove us the train station in a brand new audi to end the whole experience). Next time we’ll be back for several days and eat in all the establishments (incl. Restaurant OZ which looks awesome too). We also had an opportunity to see the kitchen garden and tour the kitchen, which for me was really the...