Swiss Taste's New Austrian Chef Revamps Menu with Moreish Meat-Heavy and Creamy Dishes

We bet you didn't know that the Waldorf Salad is a Swiss invention. We didn't either, but it was actually first created by the New York Waldorf-Astoria's Swiss maitre 'd, Oscar Tschirky, the same genius responsible for forging our favorite brunch item: eggs benedict. It is influences like this that new Austrian Chef Alfred Krasser hopes to bring to Swiss Taste's new menu, as well as his own Austrian flourishes. The two countries are close neighbors, after all.

The menu is focused around high quality food, without rendering the experience unaffordable. We particularly enjoyed the strong range of starters, including the aforementioned Waldorf Salad as well as smoked salmon, imported from Norway, laid out carefully with caviar and avocado (RMB 98). The salmon was fresh, with the slices of lemon underneath adding some zest, and the caviar providing texture and saltiness.

This trend of solid options continues into the mains, where the wiener schnitzel (RMB 168), made of a crumbed but juicy Viennese pork schnitzel, is served with potato salad and cranberry marmalade. This dish a tribute to the chef's Austrian origins and did his heritage absolutely proud – the schnitzel was the star of the show, but even the potato side salad was so creamy that it would be worth another trip.

Keeping things Swiss though, the Zurcher Geschnetzeltes (German for "Zurich-style sliced meat"), is a thinly-sliced pork tenderloin in a mushroom and cream sauce, served alongside a rosti (RMB 188). While this isn't something to eat every day at the risk of clotting every artery in your body, the creamy mushroom sauce went down an absolute treat.

If, like us, you're not sure you can afford to eat here regularly, the business lunch set is a pretty good way to get a taster without breaking the bank. The deal is priced at either RMB 78 or RMB 98, depending on whether you choose a main course or one of their pastas, and includes three courses, which rotate daily. 

For previous Swiss Taste fans, there is no reason to worry, as the traditional fondue and raclette will still be available as before. Not to mention their takeaway rotisserie chicken, which is available at RMB 58 for half a chicken, and RMB 98 for the whole bird.

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Photos: Margaux Schreurs