6. November 2009: Restaurant Bel-Air in the Grand Hotel Bad Ragaz
The restaurant Bel-Air is one of seven restaurants located in the Grand Hotel Bad Ragaz. It is awarded with 15 Gault Millau points and exists in two versions: Bel-Air Red (open during midday) and Bel-Air Blue (open in the evenings). I’ve been eating at Bel-Air Red.
When you enter the room you feel like in a huge dining room in the 1970s. The difference to the 1970s is that it only looks a bit old but as a matter of fact it isn’t. Everything is at the top of modernity and it matches with the ambiente it creates through the look. Supposedly, the Bel-Air Red is called like that because the carpet is red. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the Bel-Air Blue yet, so I can’t comment on that.
The personnel is very helpful and assisting in any belongings. If you’re entering the room you’re warmly welcomed and somebody is taking care of your jackets while another person acompanies you to your table. The interplay of several waiters and waitresses taking care of you fits perfectly and there are no confusions or overlaps. Service: That’s the way to do it!
The dishes were quite good but somehow the novelty and interesting taste-combinations are missing. There is nothing to complain about the way the dishes are prepared, it’s just that there is nothing special about them, meaning: It’s really enjoyable but you won’t be surprised by any taste coming across your gustative nerves. The only thing which teased the gustative nerves a bit was the risotto with apple balls which was served aside the second course (on my own wish as I don’t like ordinary potatoes).
1st course: Cream of pumpkin with Giant Prawns
2nd course: Beef filet tips on a savoy bed in a horseradish bouillon with risotto with apple balls
3rd course: Mokka pyramid with damson plums
All in all, the Restaurant Bel-Air is a great place to go, first of all because the atmosphere is absolutely great (if you like feeling like dining in a castle where only the nobleness forgathers), the service is outstanding, the dishes are very good (and assumably better when you choose à la carte instead of a given menu) and the price-performance ratio quite good at this level of pleasurable food.
Rating:
| Atmosphere: |  |
|
| Service: |  |
|
| Dishes: |  |
|
| Price-Performance Ratio: | |
|
| Overall Rating: | |
Contact Details:
Grand Hotels Bad Ragaz – Restaurant Bel-Air
Resort
7310 Bad Ragaz (CH)
Tel.: +41 81 303 30 30
Fax: +41 81 303 30 33
Homepage: http://www.resortragaz.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. 
