The best restaurants in Zurich are concentrated in the city center. The Kronenhalle, for example, is a great place to see the works of famous artists and enjoy the city's best spit steaks, veal sausages, and chocolate mousse (average bill from CHF 80).
The Walliser Keller cheese restaurant is very popular, with 8 different types of fondue and raclette (melted cheese with gherkins and onions) on the menu; expect to pay between 90-100 CHF.
Italian restaurants in Zurich are very popular, according to reviews. Bindella, for example, or the classic Conti restaurant (100-120 CHF and you can nibble on homemade pasta, spaghetti all astice or delicious fish and seafood dishes).
For spicy food, head to Zurich's inexpensive Thai restaurant Ban Song Thai, where the average bill starts at 35 CHF. There's also a great American restaurant called Hooters - for 28 CHF you get a large plate of assorted dishes for two (ribs, chicken legs, fries and salad).
As you can see, prices in Zurich's restaurants and cafes are high, so budget travelers prefer to cook for themselves by shopping in supermarkets.
The best way to spend a dark Swiss evening is in one of Zurich's best cafés - where better to sample apple strudels and tiramisu than here? At Cafe Schober on Napfgasse 4, for example, be sure to order a hot chocolate with whipped cream.
And Zurich's café Sprüngli on Bahnhofstrasse 21 has been serving chocolates and pralines, truffles and Luxembourgels (the famous macaroons were first made in Switzerland by a Luxembourgian chef) since 1836.
Tipping in Zurich is only allowed in large restaurants, not in cafes and bars. Keep in mind that the Swiss usually include tips in the bill at once - you can leave an extra gratuity (about 5-10%) if you are satisfied with the service. However, the locals are not very generous - as a rule, everyone just "rounds up" the amount on the bill.
