Yelp Review 2026 #94: Established in 1858, Old Swiss House is in a building that has served as a post office, then an antiques shop. "For three generations, it was lovingly run and brought to life by the Buholzer family, and every single piece here tells a story. On August 1st, the house passed into the hands of the Friedli-Studer family from Escholzmatt. Through Distillerie Studer, their name has stood for Swiss culinary excellence for generations. In this spirit, they now carry forward the tradition of the Buholzer family." It's an old upscale Swiss restaurant famous for its table-side Wienerschnitzel and table-side chocolate mousse. We didn't make a reservation but after 12pm and they had tables available. Not everyone was dressed up. Our server was friendly and very chatty. A few more people with no reservations walked in. Although I was curious about their Wienerschnitzel, the portion is for 2 people and I simply wasn't in the mood to eat that. I've been craving pasta and fish (not together) after a few days in Switzerland. I looked up their menu the day before and planned on getting their lobster pasta. Tagliata vom Rindsfilet Mit Hausgemachter Café de Paris und Pommes Frites: Beef fillet Tagliata with homemade café de Paris and French fries. So, basically, beef fillet with buttery breadcrumbs served with fries. 4/5 Zarter Rocklobster Aug Nüdell, Serviert Mit Hummersauce: Tender rocklobster on noodles served with lobster sauce. This was exactly what I wanted and needed. 4/5 Unsere Hausspezialität Mousse au Chocolat mit Schlagrahm - am Tisch geschöpft: "Our house specialty. Voted the best mousse in Switzerland by the NY Herald Tribune: Mousse au Chocolat with whipped cream - served at the table." I'm not sure I've heard of NY Herald Tribune so, I chuckled because it's not like it's the NY Times. I love chocolate mousse and don't care for awards and newspaper features for it. It's rich, dark, creamy and glorious. The table-side prep lasted about 2 minutes. It's not like they make it from scratch next to your table. The server just whips the cream and fluff up with mousse, serve two big dollops of chocolate mousse under the whipped cream on a plate. 4.5/5 Their best dishes are German and French which makes them truly Swiss. I left feeling satisfied. The restroom is downstairs. They have a wall of fame with pictures of celebrities and politicians that have dined at Old Swiss House such as Frank Sinatra, Pres. Nixon, Pres. Carter and Pres. Johnson, Gorbachev, Federer, etc. read more

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We had a very nice dinner at Restaurant Old Swiss House, on a crowded Saturday evening. We didn't have a reservation, but the staff worked us in at opening time on the patio. Katharina was our waitress, and she did a great job. Wonderful personality, and funny! She handled the dinner blitz with ease, including table side preparation of wienerschnitzel, which the place is known for. For dinner, we started with the lobster soup (it was exceptional) and the broiled. snails (also good with a side of garlic toast). We followed that with a table side wienerschnitzel (a bit too much breading for our liking, the veal was very good) and the veal pieces with mushrooms, side of rosti (hash brown). All very good! We selected a bottle of Italian red to go with dinner, it was very good. The wine list is extensive, and represents the Old World well. To finish the meal we shared the house speciality chocolate mousse on whipping cream, also presented table side! What a delightful evening! Outside, good weather, lively crowd, and Katharina expertly juggling dinner service for all. We would definitely go back. Recommend Old Swiss House! read more

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After reading & seeing mixed reviews, I was hesitant to make a reservation, but oh I am so glad that we did. We dined here on our first night in Switzerland (visiting from USA). From the host to our waitress, who prepared our meal table-side, they were just the sweetest and funniest. We felt super welcome, and "at-home". They have a large wine selection and ample menu, but the table side schnitzel is a must-have! We enjoyed it & all the butter. There was A LOT of butter. It's one of those restaurants where you are paying mostly for the experience, & it was a great experience and memory. The house is cozey and the decor is amazing, you could stare at it for hours and discover new details. Highly recommend. read more

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I'm not usually a big schnitzel eater, but at Old Swiss House in Lucerne, it's a must--and now I understand why. They've truly perfected the craft: prepared tableside, breaded with their homemade crumbs, and fried in fresh butter until golden perfection. My wife ordered the vegetable risotto with chicken--she's very picky about risotto--and even she said it was one of the best she's ever had. The meal was paired with a crisp glass of Swiss white wine, making the whole experience unforgettable. A timeless Lucerne dining gem worth every bite. read more

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Phillip was amazing. The schnitzel was amazing. All around great experience. But it's pricey! Small pours of wine. They don't take reservations or hold a waitlist.. but, will take walk ins if they can.. so make sure to plan ahead. Regardless, I definitely recommend if you're in Lucerne! read more

Classic, authentic Swiss cuisine in the heart of Lucerne. Came here with a reservation and so glad we did because people kept flowing in. They're famous for the table side schnitzel- and it lived up to the hype! It's definitely a must see, you can tell it's a hot spot as there's endless pictures of celebrities who've dined there on the walls down to the restrooms. Perfect for a Switzerland dining experience! read more

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Wonderful. Be sure to make a reservation. Very busy as it should be. The experience is fantastic. The filet melts in your mouth and the schnitzel is perfection! read more

Restaurant Old Swiss House - When the owner cooks your table side wiener Schnitzel you know it will be epic ! - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

It's our first time in Switzerland and we were looking for authentic food. I highly recommend this restaurant. They were able to accommodate us without a reservation. The food is amazing!!!! Such a great experience! The service is the best we've had in Europe! read more

Restaurant Old Swiss House - Authentic Schnitzel made table side. - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

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We had dinner here in May of 2023. We enjoyed it. I think it's nice for a special occasion. They will even prepare the schnitzel table side which is nice. The whole atmosphere takes you back in time. It's kind a cool. Service was top notch - they did a great job. The food was pretty good. I don't know if I'd come back, I think it's a one and done kind of thing for me anyway. Would definitely recommend coming at least once. It was a nice evening. read more

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We really enjoyed our experience here. We ordered: - Croquettes - good - Foie gras- probably the most meh part of the meal but we are foie gras enthusiasts and have had amazing renditions of this dish in NYC, CA and France - Tafelspitz - very good!! Probably no American would think to order this but you should really try! This is a traditional Swiss meat dish - Beef carpaccio- really really good, with the sauce made table side. It's a simple sauce with egg yolk, mustard, salt and something else but it's very well done and absolutely delicious We didn't order the famous schnitzel but the table of 8 in front of us did, and it looked amazing. Would come back to try next time The ambience is great as you're in an old Swiss house, the walls are adorned with photos of old famous people like Nixon, LBJ, etc. The only minus was that service was a little slow, mostly because our waitress cooked schnitzels for 8 people before coming to get our dessert order... read more

The sweet smell of butter fills the lungs as you enter the restaurant and greeted by staff dressed in period Swiss attire. The establishment first opened in 1858, very nice decor inside. We came after the dinner rush around 8:30pm, plenty of seating, staff was very accommodating with our 1 year old. I ordered the pike fillet 49CHF, tender fillet, good flavor. My husband ordered the deluxe Wienerschnitzel, basically breaded veal, cooked in front of us, lots of butter. The pasta was great. 59CHF We shared a small portion of chocolate mousse. The portion is not small, 11 CHF. Not cheap, but good food and great ambience. (Written by husband) read more

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Suggested by a local, this restaurant really is a "must experience" if you're not concerned with a budget. That said, my 4 star rating is because we were told we could not share a plate. I get it, but I didn't like it. That said, the truly remarkable history and decor, coupled with delicious, traditional foods is an experience I'm super happy to have had. read more

Restaurant Old Swiss House - Our waitress preparing traditional schnitzel at the table. - Swiss Food Near Me - Luzern, LU

Great restaurant. The atmosphere and decor were interesting. Loved the food. The weiner schnitzel cooked at our table was an experience. The service was wonderful. read more

I was excited to eat here. It was our "fancy dinner," while in Lucerne. This place received a "plate" rating from the Michelin guide so I figured it had to be good. We started with the cheese croquettes. They were ok, but were barely above chain restaurant cheese sticks. I would not get these again. We were finished with our appetizers before we finally got our drinks. The tableside wienerschnitzel is famous so we ordered that. At this point a different waitress had taken our table and she was very friendly. She did a good job cooking the dish, but it lacked flavour and seasoning. I do not think it was worth the $59. The food was ok, and the service was hit or miss. I would probably skip this place next time. read more

"Not tourist friendly despite what it advertises" Our first meal in Switzerland. I did not know the tipping etiquette and asked our waitress when the bill came and was told 20% which I added to the total. I guess now we know why she was robotic throughout the meal and became all friendly when the bill was paid. The food the wine even the service was not bad. The place and decor was nice and I understand that the markup was because of this. Just a lousy first impression because of one individual unfortunately. read more

Restaurant Old Swiss House - Luzern An interesting restaurant with a rather unique ambience, filled with antique minutiae. It's not a tourist trap, but favoured by every stripe of local gourmet. Which is surprising, because the kitchen can't seem to make up it's mind and settle on one style. The two excellent goose liver entrées were good, the liver with baked apples and a port reduction was particularly tasty. The restaurant's star dish is the giant Schnitzel, which possess the sophisitication of kick in the face, but is very tasty. It'll rob you of every last bit of endurance and you'll feel as if you have to rolled out of the restaurant! It's made with slabs (yes, really, slabs!) of butter by the waiter at the side of your table. The desserts were okay, but quite average. The best chocolate mousse award given by an American newspaper is a bit of a joke, since the mousse was also pretty average. If you want a spectacular finish to your meal, visit the Palace Hotel's restaurant Jasper and allow pastry chef Nicole Beckmann to spoil you. The food would be better value for money if there were some amuse bouches or friandises to round off the meal. Oh well, thank God that Lucerne has Kerstin Rischmeyer and Nicole Beckmann! Go here instead - the Palace's Restaurant Jasper is THE best restaurant in town: http://www.qype.co.uk/place/1661557-Restaurant-Jasper-Luzern For more photo reports, interviews and restaurant reviews, please visit: http://www.dessertblog.ch read more

The atmosphere and antiques alone are worth the trip. Service is fantastic. Go for the schnitzel, stay for the schnitzel, come back for the schnitzel. The schnitzel is prepared and cooked table side. That is why the whole restaurant smells like schnitzel. The service staff is attentive and the owner is quick to tell the stories of the host history and very proud of the establishment, as he should be. Must eat here when in Lucerne. read more

This probably the worst meal I have , not worth for the price. Staff was gave me the Menu. I choose 69F meal. The main dish is beef , the beef cool with mushroom. I was think is beef steak. But not. Just frozen beef cut and cook with mushrooms. Looks like Chinese recipe, like Asian food. Don't tell me this is Chinese shop. And soup taste like bean with salt ,like salt bean soup. Really disappointed. Not more come again. . read more

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No words! Extremely satisfied with the food and service rituals. A must see place for food lovers in this beautiful city. read more

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This place is expensive...and worth it? We ordered: Schnitzel Smoked salmon Lobster The good: The smoked salmon was carved right in front of us and it was very good. Came with a bunch of sides including bread, onions, pickles...and mayo The schnitzel was very tasty. You could tell they used a good cut of veal. Again, they cooked it in front of you...but more on that later The restaurant was small, intimate and cute. Staff was super friendly The bad They made that schnitzel in front of us...and in that moment I learned a lot about Swiss cuisine. They prepared, breaded and cooked the veal at the table. They definitely used 2 stocks worth of butter - something I wish I didn't see. I just kept thinking "heart attack" The price of the place I still am on the fence about. That was by far the most expensive place I went to out there but I feel like the portions could have been bigger and the food was good but nothing crazy. If you're a baller - go. If not, there might be some other options for you. read more

Beautiful restaurant, historic, and warm. Service and food were excellent. Loved learning all about the restaurants rich history. Would highly recommend to all. read more

Charming traditional Swiss restaurant visited by royalty and celebrities. Famous Wiener schnitzel cooked tableside with melted butter, delicious chocolate mousse and kirch tart are yummy. Top service quality and prices. read more

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Arrogant even racist service. Waitress was cooking something outdoor but walked away very often, with food unattended. Some birds started eating the food from the plates she used to prepare food. At first we were like, "oh, it's cute they are feeding the birds". Then it turned out the food was our dish! Who knows what disease you will get from the birds!!! The waitress was extremely impatient when we politely pointed out there were birds eating from the plates, she tried to deny and just walked away, even mumbling "oh my god". Really?! We weren't even speaking loudly to her at that time, just wanted her to make things right. This was the first time that I already be seated but walked away from a restaurant, which would not happen if they just bring another dish cooked in the kitchen, or just stay with the food all the time if have to be outdoor... read more

What a disappointment! Before we went, we spent a long time searching the restaurant. It was highly recommended place by a lot of people. We ordered the breaded steak, cheese cube and fish. They made the steak In front of you with lots of butter. The food were awful. We didn't even finish half the food which cost us over 200. The restaurant is very transitional style with lots of antique. The mirror on the stair to the bathroom scared me. read more

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While many people write that this is a delicious place for dinner with their schnitzel done at the table, to me it presents itself more as a tourist trap. The decor is typical older swiss style, but the food is just average. And, like so many restaurants in Lucerne and Zurich the prices are outrageous. You can expect to pay approximately $75 for the schnitzel. read more

During a business trip in Luzern, when my friend told me that we would be having traditional schnitzel and beer for lunch, I thought we were going to one the fast food restaurants. But as soon as I saw the building, I understood that some extraordinary things would happen. I was very much impressed with the place which was full of antiques, traditionally clothed waitresses, Michelin rating and most importantly to see the photographs of the famous people who had eaten here. It was such an interesting feeling to eat at a place where Gorbachev or Nancy Reagan had been. The waitress was very friendly and cooked the schnitzels in front of us by using at least 250 gr of butter which is the amount that I consume in a whole year. There is an old Turkish saying that "if you put that much butter on your fathers boots you can even eat them". Of course our meal was absolutely tasty. The only bad thing is that when I returned the hotel all my clothes were smelling schnitzel and butter. The other thing is that this is an upscale restaurant and it is quite expensive. Well once in a life time we deserve to spoil ourselves with such taste adventure. read more

The Old Swiss House, located in the city center of Lucerne, is a family-owned Swiss restaurant that looks like a cottage from the outside and boasts a lavish decor inside, adorned with numerous antiques. I had the chance of eating here when my parents were living in Lucerne and enjoyed their famous dish - the wienerschnitzel (cutlets of veal dipped in their secret blend of beaten egg, Swiss cheese and herbs, coated with breadcrumbs and cooked in butter table-side). Okay, so not the healthiest of options but still a delicious, traditional and authentic Swiss meal. Fun fact: While dining at the Old Swiss House, Mr. August Busch, President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch met the daughter of the restaurant's proprietor and they married a year later. read more

It's not the best food, its definitely not the best prices. But it IS authentic, and if that's what you're interested in, you should come here. We had the table-side Schnitzel, which was delicious, albeit, something I could have made in my own kitchen. If you travel with the mentality that you should blow money on one really special, really fine-dining experience, this place is not it. read more

My kid fell off the high chair in that restaurant. Please be alert if you have a child.

A good and very high end restaurant with very good wine selection also. We ordered brunello Di montalcino DOCG from Italy, it is just the most typical wine from this area very good. Und Die Ober sind sehr nett. Sie kochen neben den Tisch. Sehr angenehm. Die Lamp Fleisch schmeckt ganz gut. read more

If you are in Lucern you must come to the OSH and someone at the table MUST get the fried schnitzel. It it a bucket list food item and the setting (house built in 1858) is perfect for the area. read more

Stumbled upon this restaurant by accident. It's a charming little restaurant that serves traditional Swiss cuisine to perfection. The staff, helpful and friendly; the decor, historic and elegant; the food, an excellent representation of culture in an edible form :-). ... and of course it's Michelin rated ... Guten Appetit! read more

I got a recommendation for this restaurant from a friend. I'm not disappointed. We ordered the Wiener schnitzel and it met expectations. Prices meet Swiss standards so don't expect a bargain. Good food, friendly staff which is proud of their products. read more