Restaurant Bären — Restaurant in Unterseen

My husband and I were visiting Unterseen from Suisse Romande, and we thought that this looked like a lovely restaurant. We stopped, stood at the front where you are supposed to stand to be seated. A very nice waitress came over and told us that she was just preparing a table. As she spoke to us, her colleague (I assume her boss, a middle-aged woman with blond hair) saw her speaking to us.

We waited at the front, and as we were waiting, we saw couple approaching on the pavement. Just as this was happening, the waitress had started leading us to our table. We were almost seated, when I noticed that the blond woman had waved to the couple on the pavement and called them in. She rudely pushed past us, and told the other couple to sit at our table. We protested, saying that we had been waiting for that table and had almost been seated, but she practically pushed us out of the way. The whole restaurant went kind of silent, watching, and it was incredibly embarrassing. She told us that the seats were no longer ours, and gave no reason. Pushing us out of the way, the other couple were seated, and we were left standing in the middle of the restaurant with everybody watching us. I was so humiliated.

She offered no apology. The other waitress ran up to her and was urgently speaking to her, I assume to try to explain that the seats were ours. The waitress, too, looked mortified. But the blond woman just rudely shook her head, turned her back to us and refused to engage. We were left with the humiliating experience of having to make our way out of the restaurant with the other guests staring at us.

When we left, I was furious, so I decided to go back and speak to her. This time, the woman did stop and speak to me. She was unapologetic, telling me that these other people were locals, as if that justified her actions. The whole time she was speaking to me, she kept trying to leave. She barely engaged with me at all.

I can honestly say that I have never been treated this way before in a restaurant, or any venue in the hospitality sector. I don't leave reviews often, especially bad ones, but this was such a humiliating experience, and the woman was so rude, that I think it is necessary.

EDIT TO RESPOND TO THE OWNER'S RESPONSE: What total nonsense. This just isn't true. It was the waitress who pushed us out of the way rudely in the first place, and who was unapologetic. If she was so desperate to seat the other two local people that she would behave so rudely to us and actually turf us out of a table we were already at, she must have known that the other people had reserved the table. Therefore, why didn't she tell us that?

Also, in the time it takes to call and reserve a table, then walk down to the restaurant, there would have been more than enough time to communicate the reservation to the waitresses. In fact, it was not peak season at all (it was April!), and as nobody at all was seated indoors because of Covid, the waitresses (two of them) were far from being really busy.

The owner's excuse is complete rubbish and doesn't justify the rudeness of the waitress with the blonde hair nor the way she treated us. Even if the owner's excuse is real (which I am certain it is not), why didn't the waitress/manager (whoever the blond woman was who was so desperate to seat the locals) just apologise and explain the situation? Just saying, "I am so sorry, but those people reserved the table and we weren't able/forgot to put a reservation tag on the table. We are so sorry for the mix up" would have been normal customer service. As it stands, this woman was beyond rude. Her behaviour was appalling.

From reading other people's reviews on here, it seems that xenophobia is a commonplace occurrence at this restaurant. If you are a...

Avoid if you wish to be treated poorly and rudely, especially if you are not a local. We went there after having made a reservation on a Monday evening and were treated very poorly by the waitress there. On arrival, we were greeted by the a guy who promised us a table outside (later learnt that this guy was the owner). One of the waitresses literally pushed us aside and started seating people who had just arrived after us and completely ignored the owner. She sat us in the complete corner in the worst area of the restaurant. When i asked to complain to the manager and asked for her name from the guy who witnessed the whole thing - he confirmed he was the owner and just apologised saying he couldn’t do anything about it and to not leave a negative review. We obviously left - if this is the kind of management of such establishment, i highly suspect you’ll have an enjoyable experience there! Shame on you guys.

EDIT:

Interestingly, it’s only now that the owner mentions that there was a nice table reserved inside, there was no such mention when we were shown in to an outside table next to the kitchen in the darkest corner of the restaurant.

I don’t think i gave unfair or misleading representation of what had happened.

There was no attempt or acknowledgement that the waitress was extremely rude - we didn’t leave because of the table, but because of the treatment from the waitress. There was also no attempt by the waitress to explain what had happened - even when I complained to the owner.

If you really wanted to make things right, you could have explained what had happened there and offered to move us inside by said “nice table”.

For info, i have absolutely non qualms with the first couple who had gotten there just before us. The second couple however got there just after us and the waitress in question just completely ignored us when I mentioned we had reservations and just went straight to the second couple even when we had arrived first.

At this stage, I’d prefer not to argue with management that clearly does not want to own up to it’s poor service and management.

My advice remains the same - steer clear if you are not a local, or perhaps, not within the management’s standards of what they deem nice or...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant during my vacation in Interlanken, and I must say it exceeded all expectations. We ended up visiting this delightful establishment not once, but twice, as it was conveniently located in the heart of the town. Allow me to share my wonderful experience and why I highly recommend it.

First and foremost, the atmosphere at Baren was simply enchanting. It exuded a warm and cozy ambiance that instantly made us feel at home. The rustic decor and traditional elements added a touch of authenticity, perfectly capturing the essence of the region.

The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the local menu. As enthusiasts of regional cuisine, my companion and I were thrilled to discover an array of traditional dishes that showcased the culinary heritage of Interlanken. Each bite was a delightful journey through the flavors and aromas of the region, leaving us with a lasting impression.

Now, let me tell you about the star of the evening—their Schneizel. I must admit, Paloma’s expectations were high, having previously tried Schneizel in Austria and Munich. However, to our pleasant surprise, their version stood head and shoulders above the rest. Paloma, who is quite the connoisseur, couldn't help but sing praises for it. According to her, it surpassed even the renowned Schneizel she had enjoyed in Austria and Munich. The dish was a perfect blend of flavors, expertly prepared and presented with great attention to detail.

Beyond the remarkable culinary experience, the service at Baren was impeccable. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, making us feel truly welcome throughout our visits. Their passion for the local cuisine and their willingness to share insights and recommendations only added to the overall exceptional experience.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend this place in Interlanken. From its central location to its cozy atmosphere, delectable local menu, and the unforgettable Schneizel, this restaurant offers a truly memorable dining experience. Whether you are a visitor or a local, I'm confident that a visit to Baren will leave you with a satisfied palate and a warm appreciation for the region's...