Update: Sadly, the owner of Maienrisli decided to close the restaurant.
Baar might not be a major city, but with 23,000 inhabitants it is the second biggest city in the canton of Zug (population approx. 120,000). Yes, I know that is still not much. However, it has a beautiful city core and with the Höllgrotten a real tourist attraction. Consider a visit during the summer months as it is 10° C in the caves all year long and serves as a nice cooling down. And last but not least, it is also my home. 🙂 My go-to place for a quick and easy lunch or also a relaxed dinner is the Brasserie Maienrisli just behind the train station. Owned by Dominik Röösli (he is also the chef), they serve traditional, local food at vey fair prices. In over three years eating there, I have never been disappointed. The interior is clean and functional, yet cozy. During summer months, you can also dine alfresco and in peace as it is located in an backyard-like environment.
The lunch menus offer great value for money. You’ll get a soup or salad + the main dish for CHF 21 / 20 / 19 (meat / fish / vegetarian menu). Irish black angus sirloin steak with french fries and veggies is always on the menu and is sold for CHF 35 as lunch-sized portion and for CHF 43 for dinner. Below, you’ll find a selection of past lunch menus: pulled beef in tomato ciabatta with country fries (I so hope this one will make it to the regular menu one day), veal piccata with butter noodles and red mullets with rice and basil sauce.
The Brasserie Maienrisli is also a great place for dinner. Almost unbeatable is their four-course tasting menu for CHF 59. It usually starts with an amuse bouche (which is also served to dinner guests eating à la carte), is then followed by a small soup, a fish course, then a meat dish (often sirloin steak – depending on the season you might get venison or lamp chops instead) and finishes with a dessert, usually ice cream with strawberries, or – depending on the season/availability – with apricots, Vermicelles (chestnut puree) or Baileys. Below is a sample of a typical tasting menu.
Amuse bouche: roastbeef with tartare sauce and mozzarella with dried tomatoes.
Soup: aspargus soup with homemade breadstick
Fish course: whitefish fillets with rice and sauce hollondaise and tuna steak with aspargus, rice and sauce hollondaise.
Meat course: lamb chops with rosemary potatoes, vegetables and red wine gravy and sirloin steak with mashed potatoes, vegetables and rosemary gravy.
Dessert: vanilla ice cream with Baileys and vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries.
À la carte main dishes are priced at CHF 30-50. You will find a menu that is not overloaded, yet provides something for every taste; from pasta, over fish to calf’s liver with hash browns. Make sure you’ll order something with a sauce; they are usually deliciously flavorful, well-balanced, with a perfect texture. Another pleasant feature is that tab water is available for free (self-service), except during lunch – if you are not ordering any other beverage. I’m still waiting for a dish that is not cooked to perfection. The service is also friendly and attentive. I really don’t have anything to complain about. So this restaurant made it easily to my “my usuals” list! 🙂 Next time you’re in the area, give it a try – you won’t regret it.
Brasserie Maienrisli
Rathaustrasse 9, 6340 Baar
Closed forever. 🙁
