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Ratings and reviews

Travellers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

MICHELIN Guide's Point of View

This place boasts an enviable location in the historic old town, with a magnificent terrace right alongside the River Reuss. Diners can enjoy the chic ...
Read more on MICHELIN Guide
About
In Balances restaurant, Luzern, head chef Andy Fluri creates culinary masterpieces with great success. This master chef, who has been awarded 14 points by the prestigious Gault-Millau guide, takes his guests on a flight of fancy for the taste buds, with delicacies such: as cream of parmesan soup with basil Espuma and beef fillet steak carpaccio; braised veal cheeks in a truffle jus, served with a potato and onion mash and savoy bacon; or dumplings filled with chocolate and nuts, accompanied by apple mousse with sour cream and banana ice cream. All meals are prepared with only market fresh produce and everything is produced according to the season. Guests are welcomed with historic flair, which
PRICE RANGE
£35 - £140
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
CUISINES
Swiss, European, Central European
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Reviews (929)
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Traveller rating
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All reviews amuse bouche salmon lamb chops bread potatoes ravioli salad the river des balances course menu fantastic meal fine dining great wine excellent food and service wine list an appetizer chapel bridge
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Reviewed 29 December 2023

The behavior of the staff was terribly rude. We were standing at the entrance for a good while being ignored, only to find the German customers behind us being received kindly and seated. They told us then that they do not have any more tables!...This is the first time in my 5 years in Switzerland to get such racist and inexplicably rude treatment. They did not even apologize, only with a hand gesture showed us the way out!!! Unbelievable and shocking…More

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 2 January 2024

We are sorry to hear that you had a less than excellent experience at our hotel. Your experience is not normal practice for us and we apologise if you felt you were treated unfairly. Our restaurant was indeed already fully booked, so unfortunately we were...More

Reviewed 26 December 2023

We went for dinner. I had mentioned it was my husband’s birthday upon reservation. The chef made a lovely dessert with firecracker candle. Service was fantastic. We also ate breakfast here and it was spectacular.

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 2 January 2024

Thank you very much for your great review! We are very happy that you had awonderful evening at our restaurant for your husband's birthday and we hope to welcome you very soon again.

Reviewed 21 November 2023

Spectacular dining experience ! Went for the 7 course meal... Sometimes it's fun to sit back let the chefs do their thing! Each course was both a visual and mouth watering delight brought to us by a knowledgeable professional server. The flavors melded together like...a symphony playing from our plates...wonderful. Enjoyed a "paper plane" cocktail at the bar too...fantastic hospitality!More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Buchhaltung/Finanzwesen at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 26 November 2023

We thank you very much for your excellent rating and for your positive and kind feedback! It is a great pleasure for us to hear that you fully enjoyed your experience at our restaurant. We will gladly pass on your comments to our team. We...More

Reviewed 10 October 2023

We had an amazing meal here on our last night in Luzern. The staff were really friendly and the waitress was great and really knew her stuff (including the details of the wine list). I had the most amazing beef with pumpkin tagliatelle which was...to die for. The presentation was beautiful and the flavours sublime. I then had a beautiful ricotta and honey mousse with plum sorbet which was just divine. There were so many thoughtful touches including a delicious variety of breads and garnishes, a greeting from the kitchen and some beautiful truffles at the end. It's not cheap but if you want a special place for a special meal this is the one.More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 14 October 2023

We very much appreciate your excellent review and your kind comments regarding your evening at our restaurant. It is always a pleasure to receive positive feedback which will serve as an encouragement to all of our staff as we strive to continuously improve the quality...More

Reviewed 30 August 2023 via mobile

Outstanding menu with delicious choices. No problem with my gluten free diet needs. Service was first class Fantastic setting.

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 31 August 2023

Thank you a lot for your excellent rating! We are pleased to read that you appreciated your visit to our restaurant very much. We would be happy to welcome you soon again.

Reviewed 22 August 2023

Beautiful location with an amazing terrace next to the river and fabulous view. Great food and very friendly service!

Review collected in partnership with this restaurant
Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 25 August 2023

Thank you a lot for your excellent rating! We are pleased to read that you appreciated your visit to our restaurant and enjoyed the beautiful views. We would be very happy to welcome you soon again.

Reviewed 4 August 2023 via mobile

My friends and I have just one afternoon in Lucerne after riding bikes through Switzerland. My sister in law highly recommended this place! It was delicious with excellent service. The lime ravioli with red peppers and artichokes was amazing.

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 5 August 2023

We thank you very much for your very good review and your kind comments. It is a pleasure to hear that you enjoyed your afternoon at our restaurant. Come visit us soon again, we look forward to it!

Reviewed 30 July 2023 via mobile

I had dinner for my birthday here and the food was just beautiful. The Asian Salad was nothing short of spectacular. Hot and cold, sweet and sour, crispy and crunchy. Such a complex dish that hit the right spot. The meal started off with a...cold cucumber soup and something else that I cannot remember for the life of me. The view of the lake was not bad either. A walk on the chapel bridge afterwards just topped the evening off. The service was wonderful too.More

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 2 August 2023

We thank you very much for your wonderful review and your kind comments. It is a pleasure to hear that you enjoyed your birthday dinner with us. Come visit us soon again, we look forward to it!

Reviewed 24 July 2023 via mobile

Delicious food, beautiful view. Lovely staff. This is our favourite restaurant in Lucerne. It is expensive but worth the money. You can sit outside next to the lake. It is just wonderful!More

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 29 July 2023

We are very happy that you took the time to leave us this wonderful note. We do our best to keep our guests happy and we are glad that you enjoy coming to our restaurant. Thank you again for your kind words and we look...More

Reviewed 6 June 2023 via mobile

The food was terrific. The hotel concierge told us it was fully booked but we went anyhow and were seated within the piano bar. The food was exceptionally good. As was the service. Not overly obsessed with “foam” dishes as so many Michelin starred restaurants...seem to be these days. Just superb flavors, creative dishes, and top quality ingredients. Well executed.More

Date of visit: June 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 7 June 2023

Thank you a lot for your excellent rating! We are pleased to read that you appreciated your dinner at our restaurant and enjoyed the food and the service. We would be very happy to welcome you soon again.

Reviewed 3 June 2023

Writing my review while here still in the seat. Service is lackluster. They messed up my reservations (placed them for the day after I had reserved somehow) and insisted I made an incorrect reservation while I literally showed them the reservation reminder email. After being...seated, we waited approximately 15 minutes to even receive acknowledgement from our waiter, who then quickly asked us to order all of our meal at once. Despite my partner ordering a drink at the beginning of our meal, she did not receive it until ~30 minutes in - because our waiter disappeared after taking our order and didn’t come back to check on us until time for payment. Also - we got butter and accoutrements for bread, but never got any bread - what is that? The food is exceptional and the view along the River, especially of the bridge, is serene, however the service at this restaurant (for Michelin star?) was wholly disappointing and made for a poor dining experience.More

Date of visit: June 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 7 June 2023

We would like to thank you for your sincere feedback. We highly appreciate our guests’ comments on their experience and are very sorry to hear that you had a less than excellent experience at our restaurant. Your experience is not normal practice for us, and...More

Reviewed 29 May 2023 via mobile

We discovered this restaurant on our arrival to the city. We were lucky that we got the last table at the river as the restaurant was fully booked. We had a 5 course menu which was innovative with great taste and presentation. The portions were...perfect to enjoy the food and not to be too full. The service was excellent. We really enjoyed our dinner.More

Date of visit: May 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 7 June 2023

Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We are very happy that you had a lovely evening at our restaurant and appreciated our service and cuisine. It would be a pleasure for us to welcome you again in the near future.

Reviewed 13 May 2023

Lunch on May 5, 2023. The food was incredible, as is to be expected of a Michelin restaurant. We had a starter salad that was fresh, well-balanced, and with lovely complimentary flavors. My mom had the grilled salmon with veggies and rice, which she loved....And I had the gnocchi, which ranked among the best I've ever had! The view from the outdoor tables is beautiful—right along the water's edge with the perfect view of the chapel bridge and Jesuitenkirche church. Unfortunately, we had a very poor experience with our waitress, Jessica. As great as the food was, this really dampened our overall experience at Restaurant Balances. We are kind, polite, understanding patrons, but we got none of that in return. I can appreciate when someone might just be having a bad day or going through a difficult time, but we watched her constantly check-in on her other tables with a big smile and friendly conversation, while we sat by unattended and frowned upon for some reason. Our first course had come and gone before we got our first glass of wine (which we had ordered immediately once we were seated). Our wine and water glasses then sat empty for nearly an hour before we finally flagged someone else down to order more. And we also watched as another waiter outside offered bread 5 times to his tables, while we were only offered that once and then ignored afterwards. We were not in a hurry that day, and it was mentioned that the kitchen was busy—but to sit at a lunch for nearly 3 hours and be ignored while other tables were doted upon was hurtful.More

Date of visit: May 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 18 May 2023

Thank you very much for your good rating and also for your honest feedback! We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the food at our restaurant. We are sorry however that you did not receive the service you have come to expect from us,...More

Reviewed 12 May 2023

We had a wonderful seating outside and in a beautiful weather! Had a great coffee and delicious warm muffin.

Date of visit: March 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 18 May 2023

We thank you very much for your excellent rating and for your kind comments. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time at our restaurant. We hope to welcome you back soon.

Reviewed 29 April 2023 via mobile

Amazing place, view on the river. Very romantic for couples or business. Very well trained staff and welcoming. The food was amazing and so delicious. They also have a vegetarian menu.

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel Mesa, Accounting / Finance at Restaurant Balances, responded to this reviewResponded 5 May 2023

Thank you for your fantastic rating and for your very kind words, they are much appreciated. We take pride in providing the best service possible and are very happy that this reflected during your visit to our restaurant. We hope to welcome you soon again.

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Questions & Answers
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Jane F
17 November 2019|
Answer
Response from pitpatusa | Reviewed this property |
I have no idea. As it is in Switzerland, I doubt that it celebrates Thanksgiving, an American tradition.
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B8646OQ_
18 September 2019|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from Gerardo L | Reviewed this property |
Hi!, not sure is pet friendly, though the do have terrace to eat. I suggesto to ask directly to the Hotel!
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RESTAURANT BALANCES, Lucerne - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Restaurant Balances

Restaurant Balances is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 5