Razzia, Seefeldstrasse, Zurich

Sometimes getting a seat in a restaurant which is booked solid for at least 10 days, requires some simple planning (similar to the opening of Clouds). Razzia in the Seefeld isn’t even picking up the phone they’re so packed. Key is to saunter in at about 9.30 and you’ll get a table. Main courses are still flying out of the kitchen and the dining room is very busy even later in the evening. The interior is very international, the walls and decor is impressive and plays off the former cinema it was. Some of the chairs are over the top… but still with the bar and the lavish dining room, this shows that someone’s serious about gastronomy! Unfortunately the high demand for a table at this place also lead to a slighlty rushed service.

First course is Quinoa with vegetables. Nice springy acidity, bright vegetables and slightly undersalted Quinoa, but the dish is pretty decent, even if the plating looks rather pedestrian. The fish consomme with shrimp, fish and shrimp was nice, deep flavour and distinct, no complaints. With the main dish I had some objections, the rock lobster (Bärenkrebs) were probably sauteed and not grilled, also they were slightly underdone. The side dish of grilled vegetables were perfect (especially the peppers), the separate vegetable bed underneath the lobster was too close to what you get at a chinese takeaway. Also my sauce was forgotten and I never got to taste it.

Well what do you make of this establishment – it’s very urban, very international but also somewhat soulless. Nevertheless it will be packed since location and appearance seem to draw in the mature professional urbanites in the area, the abundance of suits and grey hair confirms that suspicion. Food is okay, some good ideas, but not distinctive. This cuisine could be anywhere in the (western) world and not many local roots can be found in the menu. In Kreis 3 a location like this would have very exciting food, in Seefeld it will make lots of money.