La Torre - Basel

This is a beautiful place that could be so much more. Huge outdoor setting on top of Bruderholz in a cosy green surrounding. Unfortunately it is spoiled by a bu... read more This is a beautiful place that could be so much more. Huge outdoor setting on top of Bruderholz in a cosy green surrounding. Unfortunately it is spoiled by a bunch of uncoordinated amateurs that have no clue how to run a restaurant. Step it up!

Went here for lunch with family on our last day in Switzerland. Very quiet so staff rather too attentive! Menu good we all had nice green salads to start then p... read more Went here for lunch with family on our last day in Switzerland. Very quiet so staff rather too attentive! Menu good we all had nice green salads to start then pork schnitzel which was delicious as was the apple strudel. Wine was reasonable.Pleasant restaurant and location

What was good: - friendly waitress, gave our daughter a sheet of paper and couple of pens Average: - 3 pizzas Not so good: - "italian" dressing tastes like some... read more What was good: - friendly waitress, gave our daughter a sheet of paper and couple of pens Average: - 3 pizzas Not so good: - "italian" dressing tastes like something bought cheaply in large quantities (lower end supermarket quality) - olive oil (no taste)

So the Torre used to be a lovely place - NOT I hasten to add because of the food.The location is great, you can sit outside, lovely garden. That is still the sa... read more So the Torre used to be a lovely place - NOT I hasten to add because of the food.The location is great, you can sit outside, lovely garden. That is still the same.The food was never above average - the pizzas were good, the waiters and waitresses knew their jobs - they were fast, friendly, made you feel welcome and were customer focused.So while I never went for anything but the pizza, which they couldnt really get wrong, although once they brought me a pizza prosciutto crudo and rucola and forgot the prosciutto on the pizza overall it was a nice experience of an evening and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. Also the old Torre used to source their meat from Jenzer in Arlesheim and Reinach. Wonderful meat, organically produced, from the region. Not in-expensive but if you care about what you eat then this is the shop to frequent.Since the management has changed - the name has stayed the same, no doubt for intelligent brand recognition, the menu has stayed almost unchanged also for intelligent marketing reasons, and the quality of the food has improved - based only on 3 pizzas we ordered and 2x visit to eat their chocolate cake on a sunday afternoon. HOWEVER - the meat is now sourced from who knows where, the prices per dish have increased by around 3Chf per dish and the service is so bad you need to stand up and follow the waiter round when you want to leave so you can pay. We visited one Sunday the whole place was empty and when we asked if we can have a tea and cake the waiter couldnt decide where he would be willing to seat us - in the main dining hall or hidden on the left of the door. Grudgingly we were given a table, served two teas, ok black tea at least and divine chocolate cake. Once I had finished my plate and tea cup were whisked away, which no self-respecting waiter would do and my colleague and I felt that we should leave. Both of us would have been open to being convinced to have dinner, a glass of wine, something else, but nothing was offered to us. Indeed our waiter didn't come back to see if we wanted anything else after bringing the cake.My feeling is that the new owners are hotel/restaurant professionals, unlike the last owners who just liked running a restaurant, were charming but not good with the food. My second feeling is that the new owners are into mining maximal profit which is why the meat is now cheaper quality, the waiters don't give you the impression of ever having been waiters before, there is a hectic atmosphere that reminds you more of a cantine than of a place you really want to stay and eat. Also first time I was there it seemed like two of the managers, probably the owners, were monitoring guests and the staff constantly, there were too many people hovering around and as a guest it was a bit like being in a zoo. The waiters have changed since the first time I was there, within 2 weeks, and none of the old Torre team, which consisted of a great team, has been kept on. One of the torre waitresses has moved down the road to the Restaurant Wasserturm. Looks nice inside, havent eaten there though.It's a great shame as it was lovely going there before, but if you feel like you are doing the hosts a favour by eating in their establishment and then paying them for it, that doesn't feel right.If you want a nice place with great meat, very freshly prepared food, and a team that is in it for the love of the restaurant business try the Wanderruh.

Any time i am in Basel i am going there... excellent location especially during summer and nice classic food. Scnithzel is a must.... but not only that. read more Any time i am in Basel i am going there... excellent location especially during summer and nice classic food. Scnithzel is a must.... but not only that.