Gül Restoran — Restaurant in Zurich

Last weekend we've been to this location with a couple of friends. It was my first visit to this outlet. I had not heard any opinions on this place before so I wanted to make up my own mind.

The restaurant appears to be hidden in a back yard of a building with indoor but also outdoor seating. The interior is pretty nicely decorated with decent Turkish items on the walls, not too much but when you look exactly you can recognise the traditional background.

When entering I was told by one of my colleagues, that the staff welcomes you in Turkish and they even speak in Turkish while ordering, which is interesting as this normally does not happen often at other Turkish places in Switzerland. Until this moment my impression was great. The staff, as already informed, welcomed us in Turkish and showed us our table based on our reservation. We just were about to sit and were informed how we can see the online menue on our phones, when a different staff member asked us politely to change the table, with the justification that a larger group would come and we, quote: "owe him since we changed our reservation from 5 to 4 people". Seemed to me very strange as I do not owe anybody anything, especially not, when I am the customer. You might need to re-arrange your tables, but you need to do this prior to our arrival, and not after we sat down. Anyways, mistakes can happen.

As I said, it was my first time in this restaurant, and people who read my comments would have noticed that such a conversation has never been mentioned in my reviews before. I think it was a one off faux-pas. Anyways, we accepted the table shifting and moved to a different table.

The explanation of the dishes and also the service was great. The food was outstanding and really delicious. A big thanks to the kitchen team and to the chef.

However, the staff serving the table needs to understand, or someone has to teach them that when there is still food in the meze plates, you do not ask whether we are done. A raki table is not a fast food table and people enjoy the meal, the raki and the conversation. Hence, whoever has been at a raki table before, would know that food usually is enjoyed along with the raki. But unfortunately the young guy was coming and going several times to ask whether we are done and whether he could take the meze plates. Maybe it's not his fault, but definitely the fault of his manager not telling how to treat a raki table.

Hoping that this was the worst mistake, I must say, I was surprised when the same boy asked us whether we would like to have the bill! This was the moment when I wanted to speak up, but I was at the table with colleagues who I met that very evening and I did not want to leave a bad taste for our first dinner. If the closing hour has not reached, the host does not, under no circumstances ask the guests whether they want to have the bill. The guest requests the bill when he wants to leave, not the other way around. At least not in Turkish nor in Swiss culture.

But the peak of the amateur-like behaviour was when the same boy explained, that he has to give the table to the next customers and we would have to leave within 20 minutes.

Something like this happened to me once in my whole life, which is nearly half a century, and that was in a McDonalds outlet when I was sitting too long at a table with friends without consuming anything, but we were teenagers and were told by the floor manager that we have to leave as it is a fast-food chain. To my understanding, Gul is not a fast-food restaurant and we ordered dishes for 600 CHF.

Value for money is not given, due to the small portions. It is pricey but at least it should have been a good experience for the rest of the evening, which was unfortunately a dissapointment.

To treat customers this way, while enjoying the evening is rude, respectless and not the industry standard. Would I go again? For the taste yes, but because of my respect to myself I won't.

As one of my senior managers once said, you never get a second chance to make a...

Turkish food without hospitality

Our experience started off great. We were there for the first service starting around 6PM. We were highly encouraged to pick the surprise menu with a reordering option and the elderly gentleman who brought along the appetizers was a pure delight. We tremendously enjoyed the first dishes. So at first I told myself that 3.8 on google was a bit harsh for such nice people and a great atmosphere.

Things then started going south culinary and service-wise. First, among the main course dishes they served us, we could only eat 1 out of 3, the only one being the kebab. The two other dishes, the endives and the potatoes, were overly salty (and I like me a salty dish) making them inedible and we did not want to force ourselves to eat these two for the price we were about to pay. So we asked to reorder some of our favorite dishes and at this point, let me tell you, they were not happy. We wanted to reorder one or two dishes at once but they made us order all at once as they wanted to kick us out as soon as possible for the second service, which was frustrating not only due to the price but also the delay, in-between the appetizers and the main course, being their own fault. To tell you how grotesque it was, they snatched my friend’s plate while he still had some food in his hands! Who does that?! When the dessert time came, we chugged the supposed baklava for which they didn’t even give us a knife so it was a massacre at this point with our tablespoons . We rushed to eat it and even before clearing, they brought the bill as you can guess.

If you pride yourself as high-end, you should act so, just saying. Also, If you want people to leave fast because your ultimate goal is getting numbers on the expense of quality, you should not offer the reordering option to especially those coming at 6PM. I have been to many high-end restaurants, but this is the first time I have encountered a staff forcing clients to leave in such an obvious and an impolite way.

Also, who charges 20.- for water they put themselves on the table, without asking us? But they had no problem refilling that, if you see what I mean. As they call themselves fine dining, FYI most fine dining places do not charge for water.

In conclusion, the prices were as salty as some of the dishes (without alcohol) and it felt Turkish without its heartwarming...

Gül is a hidden gem in Zurich that serves up some of the most authentic and delicious Turkish cuisine in the city. Nestled within a charming courtyard, the restaurant exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere that is both cozy and refined. The décor is tasteful and understated, allowing the focus to remain on the exquisite culinary creations that emerge from the kitchen.

From the moment you step through the doors, you are greeted with genuine warmth and hospitality by the attentive staff. Their knowledge of the menu is impeccable, and they are always happy to offer recommendations based on your preferences.

The menu features a wide variety of traditional Turkish dishes, all prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail. The ingredients are sourced from local farmers and producers, ensuring that the dishes are not only flavorful but also sustainable.

In addition to the dishes I mentioned in my previous review, I would also highly recommend the İskender kebap (thinly sliced döner meat served on pide bread with tomato sauce and yogurt), the Lahmacun (Turkish pizza), and the yaprak sarma (stuffed grape leaves).

The wine list features a selection of both Turkish and international wines, all of which are carefully chosen to complement the flavors of the food.

For dessert, be sure to try the künefe (a warm cheese pastry soaked in syrup) or the sütlaç (rice pudding).

Overall, Gül is a truly exceptional restaurant that offers an unforgettable dining experience. The food is exquisite, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a truly authentic Turkish...