Brisket Southern BBQ & Bar — Restaurant in Zurich

The food was great! The pork spare ribs were unironically the best thing on the Grand Slam, just because the brisket was a liiiitle bit dry but everything tasted great. The sausage was juicy and meaty, and tasted amazing with the fries. No complaints in regards to the pulled pork. The pulled chicken and coleslaw were a bit (i think it's radish?) radish-heavy, which got tiring for my taste buds, since the south carolina BBQ sauce used radish too. But yeah, mostly a taste buds thing so that's just on me. My girlfriend loved the mac n' cheese the most alongside the spare ribs and your bread, and even said that she'd come back just for that alone, so do with that as you will, hahaha.

I do have some complaints though. The atmosphere was quite unpleasant for me. The music was way too loud for our taste and quickly got overwhelming alongside the loud talking that's caused from the loud music. Otherwise, the lighting is amazing and fits the vibe that the restaurant wants to give off really well. Another thing is in regards to the service. The service staff was generally nice, but almost made it seem like you're just someone that they have to "tick off/work off the list", generally rushing through the processes, if it was ordering or paying...yeah.

One last thing, we came here for my birthday and the staff called us ahead to ask if we would like a cheesecake or a brownie for my birthday, which i found super accomodating and cute. There was never once a mention of it being an additional charge, so we assumed it to be something "on the house", as a nice gesture. The cheesecake tasted great at first, but finding it as an additional charge of CHF14 quite soured the aftertaste. Yeah okay, we are not entitled the free desserts, of course, no question, but calling ahead for this dessert in regards to my birthday and not mentioning it being an additional charge and us only finding out as we were paying was quite astounding and rude in my opinion. Sad really, because i got really excited up until the bill came.

Overall, the main dish was great and super filling, that really hit the spot and we got what we expected in that regards. Just things outside of that bothered me...

This is an honest review for Brisket and coming from a place of constructive criticism for someone who loves BBQ. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and style that Brisket brings to the scene when you walk in, especially in Zurich of all places. It was very popular and trays were filled with meats and sides, while the drinks flowed.

At a flavor perspective the sides were ok. The Mac and cheese was a bit dry underneath and I didn't get much smoke or expanding flavor from the beans. Both had great texture with the beans having a good presentation.

For the meats, the ribs were my favorite. They were tender with just enough of a bite that I like. The rub was good too but again, I didn't get a lot of smoke flavor. The sausage was also very good and the casing had a good snap. Unfortunately, the brisket which I was most excited for, was my least favorite. I asked for lean/fatty pieces so I could get a well rounded taste. The lean was very dry and the fatty pieces were a bit tough.

The sauces were pretty good, nothing wrong there and I liked the rolls that came with the meal as well. I think my biggest takeaway from this was the lack of smoke flavor embedded in the food. Now I don't know what type of equipment they're running back in the kitchen but I didn't smell an offset smoker down the street either. I'm also unaware if the city of Zurich even allows for such a bbq with/without a permit because of the pollution they can cause. I also just want to be clear that I'm not comparing Brisket to the best bbq I've had because that isn't fair. This is clearly a labor of love for American style bbq on the other side of the world and you did a good job.

But my biggest gripe is the system for how it's served and sold. $60 per person with a minimum of 2 people per tray (3 meats and 1 side) is obnoxious for such little food. That's $120 and you're splitting the tray, not doubling it.

People that enjoy American BBQ should definitely check this place out whether they're local or visiting Zurich. But just know that the cost is per person on one tray and a minimum of two people...

We stopped by this restaurant for lunch today because I had wanted to try their brisket for a while. I had a brisket platter, and my friend had a pulled pork burger. The brisket was very tender, juicy, and nicely cooked. However, it had a very smoky taste, which felt a little too dominant toward the end of the meal. If you are not a fan of this, be aware! The platter included fries, pickles, and white bread. The fries were crispy and flavorful, the bread was okay, and the pickles were a bit weak compared to others, though this was a minor part of the meal. A starter salad was also included, which I liked, though the vinegar could have been used more sparingly. The platter was 32 francs, which seems like a fair price (for Zurich). My friend was also satisfied with the pulled pork burger. The food arrived hot and within a reasonable time, and the portions were generous. I can also say the restaurant has a nice design.

Unfortunately, there were a few things that made this experience less enjoyable. Firstly, the waitstaff were very grim, almost never smiling—except for one lady who brought us the check. This was surprising because most of the reviews mentioned friendly staff, which made us wonder if our experience was unique. (Two young people, English-speaking, and potentially less spending? I don't think so, but still—maybe.)

Another issue was that the place was very crowded, and the tables were too close to each other. We had a hard time sitting down and getting up without bumping into anyone. It felt like we were almost sharing a table with the couple next to us.

All in all, we left the restaurant with full bellies and a good taste in our mouths, but with a lingering feeling that the restaurant is a bit money-motivated. I don’t plan on returning in the near future, but I might give it another chance if I start craving...