27. October 2014: Restaurant Costa Brava
The “shrimp with garlic” (CHF 20.00) are pretty regular – they are frozen and definitely do not come in freshly every day (which, I guess is okay given we are talking about a Spanish restaurant which does obviously not necessarily specialize in sea food) and they have a nice and acceptable garlic taste so you are not too garlicy after having them.
The “US beef filet with herb butter” (CHF 53.00) is quite fine in quality – the meat is tender, aromatic, but just lacks the final level of greatness to be amazing. But no question, definitely good and tasty meat.
The “Risotto Milanese” (CHF 9.00) you have to order separately as a sidedish is quite tasty too as the rice grains have a nice firmness and the risotto is aromatic. But in all fairness, I must say that the price of the dishes is a bit of a stretch in my personal book. The food is good, no question, but it just somehow lacks the level of being special and does not match entirely with the prices.
The prices for the red wine “Condado de Almara Selección” (CHF 8.00 per 1dl) and water (0,5L, San Pellegrino, CHF 6.50) are absolutely okay. but CHF 7.50 for a double espresso is a rip-off! I mean, the coffee costs maybe 2 cents for the water and let it be 25 cents for the coffee itself – and you charge me CHF 7.50? Wow!
The place is atmopsheric, somehow a bit dark, you tend to say typical Spanish and the owner and only waiter seems to be Spanish too. Nice authentic kitchen one would say but on the other hand, if you are making a face like you do not want to have another customer, respectively act incredibly “dry” towards your customers I do not understand how you can run a business. But at least the service was professional – orders were executed within minutes and brought to your table quickly. Just the “friendliness” part was a “not really”.
All in all, the Costa Brava is fine – the food is good, the prices are a bit steep for what you get but still okay. Furthermore, the place is somewhat nice from an atmosphere point of view but the service is really not what one would call friendly or jovial.
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Contact Details:
Restaurant Costa Brava
Limmatstrasse 267
8005 Zürich (CH)
Tel.: +41 44 272 27 71
E-Mail: info@costabrava-zuerich.ch
Homepage: http://www.costabrava-zuerich.ch
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
