Places to eat in Geneva

"In Rome be a Roman".
In Switzerland eat... fondue.

I had to do it in my first meal in Geneva, but I must confess that it didn't add much to my Portuguese experiences about Swiss fondue.

That's why I forgot the name of this nice and affordable restaurant, somewhere in town.

Indian (or Bengali or Paskistani) restaurants have been opening up in Geneva at a fast rate over the last couple of years. Food is generally excellent, but I have not found any "budget" places so far (such as kebabs or some Chinese fastfood restos). Indian places are mostly in the mid-price segment; most annoying is the fact that basic rice is charged seperately, at around CHF 4 or 5 and more p.p: a rip-off, exception made for buffet and day-specials (plat de jour) on MON to FRI lunchtime (so why not try lunch at these places).
Best choice for eating Indian is in the Paquis district, between the rue de Lausanne and the lake. Here some recommendations:

The Gandhi Café, a busy place, known for its creative Indian cuisine,
Rue de Neuchatel 37,
http://www.gandhi.ch/index/index_contact.html

Raymoni: friendly place, also take-away, or just for a drink.
Rue Rothschild 34 (of rue de Lausanne 65, after Asia supermarket
www.caferajmoni.ch

Indian Plaza: Slightly cheaper than average, buffet MON-FRI lunch at CHF 17 is excellent value.
Rue Monthoux 58 (behind Le Cygne shopping mall next to main station.
www.indianplaza.ch

Spice of India (Delhi cooking)
Beautiful modern architecture, good food, the special of the day (plat de jour) on MON-FRI lunch is good value.
Rue de Lausanne 29 (5 mins walk from main statiom)
www.spiceofindia.ch

Bollywood: good location and terrace, lunch buffet MON-FRI
Place de Navigation 6 (bus No 1 at Navigation)
www.cafebollywood.ch

Bombay: just next to main post office and 5 min fr railway station, very busy
Rue de Berne 11
www.bombay-restaurant.ch

Little India (same management as Spice of India above)
Rue de Prieuré 20, closed SAT/SUN lunch
www.littleindia.ch

Favorite Dish: Too many favourites (I am Swiss, and Indians might have different preferences), go and aste yourself. Also try the vegetarian specialities.Your comments are welcome.

This restaurant is super-easy to find (walk down from Gare Cornavin), has a nice atmosphere, friendly service in several languages, Vietnamese menu with a plethora of suggestions regarding roast duck (mmmm).

Favorite Dish: I tried the pho, which was good, but the roast duck was amazing. Order it with noodle soup or rice, according to your preference. And don't forget to smother it in the brown sauce which stands on your table in an unmarked container (top secret).

The King (originally from Gruyere. Fribourg) might be in a better place by now, but his Italian wife Graziella still excels in everything. The beautiful biusro-typer retataurant, impeccably clean (including the toilets) offers good value and excellent food and drink. This includes the Croute Fromage Royal at CHF 17, the famous Coq au Vin at 32 or the Entrecote dishes around CHF 40, plus liquids at bistro prices. And Graziella will try to keep everybody happy, vegetarians included. A brillant mix between local Swiss and Italian trimmings.

Favorite Dish: Coq au vin, of course, including the veggie gratin that goes with it. The Croute Fromage Royal at CHF 17 is great for the casual hungry. I still have to try the fondue at 22 or the mushgroomy fonduze at 25, I am sure that I weon't be disappointed.

Most Geneva bistrots (and also some restaurants) serve Cheese Fondue, but many locals have a favourite place to enjoy this happy meal: Mine is the Cafe du Commerce (bus 3, place du Petit-Saconnex), next door to the more famous Cafe de Soleil. So why then the Commerce and not the Soleil? First, the Fondue in the Commerce is cheaper, often better and the quantity larger. Second, the Commerce is less crowded, catering more to the locals (most just have a drink or one too many, play cards, watch a football game etc.) and friendlier. All very informal.

Favorite Dish: I usually prefer the traditional moitie-moitie type Fondue(half Gruyere and half Vacherin cheese), maybe with bolets (mushrooms). As a starter, share a portion of viande sechee (dried beef) and drink Perlan (dry Geneva Chasselas white wine, about Fr. 25 a litre). Have a look at the Fondue website (in French) with pictures of tools and ingredients. Towards the end, you may want to swallow or dip the fork into a Kirsch (dry cherry brandy). A great atmosphere is quranteed.

We ate at our hotel's restaurant the night we were there. And it was fantastic!

It was a cross between sornething very tacky and something very entertaining. The restaurant was done up to resemble a Swiss chalet. We sat at a balcony table and looked down onto the stage where there were two performer performing traditional swiss songs, playing funny instruments, yoddling and generally having a good time.

Favorite Dish: I had the veal cutlet with mushroom sauce and my husband had the foundue.

We went there a 31 december and we found the people very friendly. We saw incredible prices for Switzerland and I recommend this place to see other systems of living in expensive contries.
The atmosphere is young aand the people is very polite, still if the entrance is not a tipicall swiss clean home ;-)

Favorite Dish: daily menu of 1 dish (6 Euros? ) + crepes in the evening

Bistrots are typical local cafés for every age and social group: a coffee in the morning, the apero before the meal, lunch or dinner, or a chat in the afternoon or later in the evening, a good place to meet locals. The Café de la Limite is one of my favourites, no luxury, clean, lively, good food and drinks at (for us Swiss) very reasonable prices. Carlos, the Spanish owner, and his wife are a friendly couple working hard to keep customers happy. The cheese fondue and the filets de perches (sweetwater fish) are excellent and well served.

Favorite Dish: The Plat de Jour at Fr. 14 changes daily and is served every weekday at lunch and often also in the evening. It is a full meal including meat or fish, veggies and/or salad, at the Limite it also includes a dessert. You might hit a day with fillet steak or fresh fish, another day it might be just Bratwurst or a good stew.
Add a 3dl draft beer or a 1 dl of red Rioja at Fr. 3 plus a coffee at 2.50 at the end of the meal, and you will end up at less than Fr. 20/head, which is most reasonable in Geneva.