Osteria Valle di Zerz — Restaurant in Lucerne

If you are willing to breach the walls of Alstadt, and meander 10 minutes or so up the hillside, do we have a treat for you! Osteria Valle di Zerz is a neighborhood Italian restaurant second to none. Jurgen and his wife may call Lucerne home, but their gastronomic heart lies in southern Italy. Jurgen had the prowess and good fortune to pluck his chef from the Calabrian countryside. His longtime restaurant experience combined with the deft touch of his young chef come together for an Italian dining experience unique from the hustle and bustle of old town. While Valle di Zerz has garnered local accolades, my wife and I were literally only the third Google reservation to be made at this Osteria. Jurgen’s staff was attentive from the minute we walked in the door, greeted us with warm smiles and welcoming us like old friends. The space was well appointed with live plants, dried flower arrangements, and an old piano juxtaposed with modern artwork. There’s even a legitimate baby changing table in the women’s WC for new moms. And now for the best part, Jurgen started us off with a glass of prosecco accompanied by meaty olives and salty bits of cheese. While everything on the menu appealed to us, my wife and I could not resist the gnocchi with fresh pesto sauce to start. The gnocchi was the most delicate potato morsel we’ve ever experienced and the pesto was vibrant in color, and somehow rich and subtle in the same nuanced bite. Now for the pizza! This Osteria offers twenty plus Sicilian pizzas with farm-market ingredients. We have always enjoyed fresh porcini mushrooms but why not throw in bacon, mozzarella, and Grana Pardano. Jurgen brought us a petite ramekin of homemade chile sauce and matched the meal with a recently authorized wine of Bordeaux varietals from Tuscany. The combination of crisp crust, mouth watering toppings, and Bordeaux wine from Italian terroir was simply divine! In summary, this hidden gem takes a little more effort to get to but will...

This place is a hidden gem. There is a good reason it has a 5 star rating with almost 100 reviews. Go here before it gets too popular. Great for a date night or dinner with a group of close friends. They offered a 69 CHF tasting menu that was delightful and more food than we could eat. Everything was delicious from the mains down to the simple things like the olive oil and balsamic vinegar imported from Italy and the fresh baked Focaccia. They had a great wine list and the restaurant felt like you were in a charming Italian home. The service was amazing. Our waiter Alex was very attentive, knew all about the food and wine, and was charming. They should probably charge more than they do....

I had a fantastic experience at this restaurant! From the moment I walked in, the staff and the owner made me feel genuinely welcome. Their friendliness and attention to detail really stood out. I ordered the saffron risotto, and it absolutely blew my mind - perfectly cooked, rich in flavor. The prices are more than reasonable for the level of food and...