Restaurant Alte Trotte, Limmattalstrasse, Zurich

Sometimes I wonder myself how I find these places in Zurich. This one in particular was called Alte Trotte. Clearly a local only affair in a residential area, where the server knows everyone by first name. I start with some pieces of toast with tartar. I would have liked a bit more care, maybe some onion and pickles sprinkled on top and the toast was on the soggy side. Tastewise it was okay but not rivetting. This dish reminds me fondly of the Wy-Stübli in Meilen (now closed) which used to serve this done in perfection. The mixed salad was fitting for the type of restaurant this was, including the canned white asparagus added on top for good measure. My main course didn’t stray from the general theme, it was a veal chop with herb butter and fries. Now the Trotte has a gimmick to attract gamblers after the slot machines were banned from restaurants. If you guess the exact weight, down to the single gramm, of your chop you eat for free. I was off by about 150g, but then again I’m not in the professional meat-weight appraisal business. Tastewise it was too 1970’s for me, the chop was seared too heavy on the outside and was drenched in a rather heavy butter. Kind of made me feel sorry for the great piece of meat. This is clearly a place if you’re looking to meet friends over a Jass, discuss local politics or have had enough of the places listed in the Lonely Planet.