Restaurant Weidstübli — Restaurant in Lauterbrunnen

Restaurant Weidstübli is a restaurant I have visited 4 times over, and it was my go-to restaurant in Lauterbrunnen I've been taking guests who visit me in Switzerland to. I’ve visited with my best friends from my home country, my mother on the 2nd occasion, my beloved niece and nephew on the 3rd occasion and just yesterday afternoon once more with a good friend and her young child. It was a place I was proud to bring my visitors to – Swiss style restaurant set in idyllic surroundings, with relatively good food and more importantly, warm service that made my visitors feel at home. But after yesterday’s visit, I am certain that I will not dine there anymore or recommend anyone else to.

We came by at around 130pm on 18 Feb Sunday, happy that the restaurant could take us without a reservation. We were a frazzled bunch – my friend had to urgently feed her child who was famished and fussy from a morning of ski lessons, and my partner and I quite dazed and hungry from a 3-hr drive into Lauterbrunnen.

We took a while to get ourselves organized after sitting down at the table, and were trying to juggle between choosing our food and an excited, distracted child. The waitress (the older lady with the short pixie hairdo) came by and asked if we were ready to order. In a frenzy, my friend told her that I would order but I did not hear and process that. What I didn’t realise at that point was that she stood there for a few more moments before going away.

When we were ready to order, I smiled and waved to her from a distance, giving her the indication that we were ready. She came over to my side and proceeded to berate me sternly, saying “It would be nice if someone talked to me while I stood there and waited to take the orders”. Again, the frazzled me didn’t immediately process what she said, and I stupidly went “oh ok, no worries”. And this led to a curt retort from her - “and of course, it is “no worries” for you, but not for me”.

By the time I made sense of what she was unhappy about, it had already left a bad taste and an atmosphere of awkward-ness at the table. The earlier positive happy vibes from meeting a friend and our enthusiasm to show her what Switzerland has to offer vanished into thin air, and none of us enjoyed our first meal together. I was incredibly embarrassed to leave such a poor early impression of Switzerland on my friend.

While I probably should have been more alert and attentive, we didn’t think any of this warranted the behaviour of the waitress. A simple “I see that all of you need a bit more time to make your choices and I will be back shortly” would have sufficed. And this same waitress was warm to me and my party of visitors in the past, so it was immensely confusing and sad to experience. I get that people have bad days and may not feel like exuding warmth and providing personal touches etc, but taking a more professional approach to situations like this should be the basic, non-negotiable protocol. There was really no need for the passive-aggressive and curt attitude in this instance.

The food, while above average usual Swiss fare, is nothing to shout home about and quite undifferentiated from a lot of the other restaurants in the area. So the reason I’ve chosen Weidstübli over the rest multiple times was for its previously warm and cheery service. But I now know for sure, the next time I have visitors here in Switzerland, I will be taking them elsewhere in Lauterbrunnen. Dining out in Switzerland is not cheap, and I wouldn’t be risking it on a place which has had a fair share of serious service level misses in the recent years (going by the reviews here).

Before I end my review, again going by the responses of the restaurant to the many other reviews here, I know that this is likely not going to sit very well with the restaurant’s owners/team. And they will probably have their version of the truth which will be unreservedly shared as their response. But I stand uncorrected, and leave readers of this review to judge and decide if this restaurant is the place for you in...

One of the worst cheese fondues and raclette dishes I have had. I have been to 6 places now for fondue and 3 for raclette in several Swiss cities. I have a attained very sophisticated pallette after travelling to 51 countries and trying several new dishes. Every Swiss place I have been is so tasteful and you can tell they put effort and quality. I have had gourmet raclette, vacherin mont d'or, and appenzeller cheese. What pieces of art!

This place was just a commercialized restaurant to capitalise off tourists who don't know better. Here it was so basic and poorly made. Felt like vomiting. I had lost my appetite. If you want good fondue go to Bern or Zurich. They know what they're doing. This place overpowered the fondue with the white wine. Probably cheap wine too. Not worth 25CH. No effort was put into it. No matter how much you stir it to get it thick, it was watery and tasted like pure wine and a slight bit of cheese. Even their fondue pots are a health hazard. The inner coating is chipped off and that is highly carcinogenic. Take a look at any pic people posted. You can see the coating chipping off. No health inspections are done here, you can tell. They are too cheap to replace the pots even though they call it a "special Swiss dish". Also they offer a small portion for the raclette and compensate the quantity with an ungodly amount of extra gherkins/pickled onions. For 22CH you would think a plate of simple raclette and toppings would be better lol. For a highly rated place this was such a disappointment. I didn't even put a geotag on my food video on instagram for the first time in Switzerland. I do not want my friends and family members to come here.

This is a great example of a over-hyped place that probably buys their reviews or feeds desperate tourists. They even told us to wait for a table since they claimed it was busy, but gave us a table within 5 mins. Clearly not busy. There are not that many places to eat here anyway so I think people dine here in desperation. These eager positive reviewers are probably just unassuming tourists or hungry people lol. Waste of money and time waiting. Will definitely not recommend. 0/5 stars. The only nice part was the atmosphere and toasty warm feeling with blankets. Easily replicated in other restaurants. Service was average. Waitress was either MIA and disappearring or in a rush to...

After an unforgettable, yet exhausting, journey to the majestic Jungfraujoch, our family of three found ourselves back in the enchanting village of Lauterbrunnen, famished and searching for a late dinner. With most establishments closed, we were directed to Restaurant Weidstübli, nestled within the picturesque Camping Jungfrau.

Stepping inside felt like entering a cozy alpine retreat. The restaurant exuded a warm, inviting charm, with a rustic yet elegant decor that perfectly complemented the stunning natural beauty surrounding it. The gentle hum of conversation, the soft lighting, and the overall ambience created an atmosphere that was both relaxing and magical.

The service was truly exceptional. Our waitress, with her genuine smile and attentive demeanor, made us feel like valued guests. She was knowledgeable about the menu, offered helpful recommendations, and ensured we had everything we needed. Her kindness and efficiency elevated our dining experience from simply enjoyable to truly memorable.

And then there was the food… oh, the food! Every dish was a masterpiece of flavor and freshness. We savored the hearty, traditional Swiss cuisine, prepared with obvious passion and skill. The ingredients were clearly of the highest quality, and the portions were generous, satisfying our hungry appetites perfectly. The flavors were authentic and comforting, a true taste of the Swiss Alps.

Restaurant Weidstübli was more than just a place to eat; it was an experience. It was a haven of warmth, delicious food, and exceptional service, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lauterbrunnen. If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in this magical valley, don’t miss the opportunity to dine at Weidstübli. You’ll leave with a full stomach and a heart full of wonderful memories. It was a perfect ending to a...