| Switzerland & Austria | Europe |
|
|
"ZüRICH BEER HALLS" Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Rheinfelder BierhausThere's no pretension here--the Rheinfelder Bierhaus, on Marktgasse in the pedestrian zone of Niederdorf on the hilly side of the Limmat, is a cheerful no-frills beer hall where most of the atmosphere comes from cigarette smoke. In many ways, the Rheinfelder is my favorite of the three beer halls in this article. It has a lively mixed clientele of students, working men, soldiers, and business types, with a few red-nosed regulars imbibing liquid meals. The waitresses are good-natured (mine was almost motherly), and you can watch soccer on the TV above the door if you aren't in a mood for conversation. When you enter the Rheinfelder Bierhaus, grab a chair at one of the long wooden tables, nod to your neighbor, and light up a cigarette or get a nicotine buzz from your tablemates' exhalations. If you aren't very hungry, you can just order a beer or a snack, but I recommend the "Jumbo-Jumbo Cordon Bleu" after a long day of hiking around the city. This is a huge boneless pork filet sliced in half, filled with cheese, breaded, fried, and served with excellent French-fried potatoes. A small gemischtes Salat makes a nice accompaniment; it isn't on the menu, so just ask. Prices are the cheapest of any beer hall in this article; if you're on a budget, this is the place to come for an economy splurge. Verdict: Great value, friendly staff, and cheerful patrons--but don't bring your friends from the Anti-Tobacco League. Rheinfelder Bierhaus
| ||||||