elmira — Restaurant in Zurich

My review is over a year old and I’ve been there a second since, but everything I said still stands.

A few weeks ago, I had the absolute pleasure to be a guest at elmira. It’s like a hidden, semi-underground restaurant. There is still light coming through the window, you see all the foot and bike traffic passing by.

We were greeted and welcomed by the most charming host and sommelier, Nici. He was as sweet as the complimentary playlist he curated and as knowledgeable as an old hand in the vineyard. With each alcoholic pairing, he also allowed us to try the non-alcoholic beverage pairing, most of which he had mixed and blended himself. Even though there were other guests, Nici made us feel like we were the only guests there.

elmira is a restaurant in an open kitchen where you see Chef Vilson and his team putting all the final finishing touches to all the wonderful dishes we were served. Each time a dish was brought out, it was either by Dominik (Sous chef), Benjamin (Chef de Partie) or Chef Vilson himself. Each one of them went to each table with every dish and explained what it was, and all the different components used to create such delicious plates of food. They answered any and every question I had. When they came to the table (and not just because they had more food), it was never intrusive or an interruption, but rather another welcome interaction with these fine gentlemen.

The menu is locally sourced and heavy on the vegetarian side, but when vegetables are cooked at this level, you don’t even miss the meat. One of our final dishes was with lamb, which was incredible. Funnily enough it was my least favorite dish of the evening.

If you want to have a truly spectacular and delightful fine dining experience, than elmira is where you...

It’s probably best to equate this evening to an exclusive cellar concert by one of your favourite bands - a six-piece. The kitchen is the stage and there is choreography to the way the chefs weave in and out.

Erik is the drummer, firing out juicy rhythms like the perfect lamb and dazzling sweetbreads with veal reduction. Wilson is your lead guitar - powering through the elegant opening riff of lightly seared chub sashimi. Benjamin plays bass: saucy and seductive style - the terrific trio of appetisers including Korean pork belly were part of his repertoire. Jon was guesting like a dep keyboard, filling in where necessary and adding finesse. Every great band needs a terrific frontman to reach out to the audience, and here Elmira has Nici, sommelier, juicer and actual vocalist (Clearly loving the well-curated four hour audio mix). Backing vocals from the fantastic Cecile, who cleared and watered seamlessly, rounded off this perfect group.

Bands need great songs too, and there was banger after banger - from white asparagus, with sorrel and hollandaise, to the closing rhubarb compote with elderflower and horseradish cream. Nici delivered alongside the note perfect renditions a lyrical feast of flavour. I opted for the non-alcoholic options - one of the reasons I chose Elmira - Nici gave each course a dazzling juice, the pick being his own pumpkin shrub and the cherry juice that accompanied the showstopping main course.

There is wit amongst the onslaught too. The ‘Thai main like’ sorbet where the ‘rice’ is made from iced ginger ale chips added layers and texture to the whole.

The full four-hour plus set is well worth catching. I loved every...

Elmira offers an intimate and inviting dining experience, tucked away on the lower floor of the historic Löwenbräu tower. The small dining room creates a cozy atmosphere, while the open kitchen allows for engaging interactions with the friendly and highly skilled chefs. Service is casual yet attentive, making for a relaxed but refined evening. The restaurant presents a seasonal tasting menu with options for five or seven courses, featuring bold yet well-balanced flavors. Our main was a beautifully executed duck main course, prepared with a thoughtful and precise technique. The wine list is intriguing, with a focus on small, local wineries. We opted for the wine pairing, which proved to be an excellent choice, complementing each dish well. Overall, Elmira delivers an outstanding culinary experience—thoughtful, flavorful, and warmly welcoming. Highly...