Guel - Zuerich

Reservations not possible because “everyone is in service”. Went there on Sunday at 9:05 p.m., the place was half full at best. It closes at 10 p.m. I didn't get anything to eat even though I was alone. Been there several times. Bought the book, tried the recipe. If everyone is overworked, I can understand that. Then just take a break. I found it really weak. Where is the hospitality?

The food was excellent, but the amount on the plate was too small...for the price...we thought the Surprise Menu would be too much, so we decided against it. But when I saw the plates, a la carte menu, I was disappointed. In the end, we should have chosen the surprise menu... the selection was also very difficult because there were no pictures on the menu... and if you don't know the specialties, what comes is a surprise either way . Then the time pressure, I felt stressed, as did our friends... and the hectic pace... was tiring... on a Saturday evening, you want to eat in peace and discuss... in peace... and not constantly being up have to look at the clock. There should be different surprise menus, price-wise... the aperitif was loveless... decoration... the eye drinks... well it was worth an experience...

Unfortunately, the Gül is completely overrated. My wife and I embarked on the culinary journey. The taste was delicious, but after the round of appetizers, we waited almost 40 minutes for the next round. A piece of meat is served for 2. I had to order 2 ml more. and then we barely had time to finish eating before we were put under pressure that they had to close the terrace.. it's a shame, I was hoping for a lot more. It was a good experience, but my path will not lead to Gül again, far too expensive in my opinion for the price/performance ratio...

Last weekend we 've been to this location with a couple of friends. It was my first visit to this outlet. I had not heard any opinions on this place before so I wanted to make up my own mind. The restaurant appears to be hidden in a back yard of a building with indoor but also outdoor seating. The interior is pretty nicely decorated with decent Turkish items on the walls, not too much but when you look exactly you can recognise the traditional background. When entering I was told by one of my colleagues, that the staff welcomes you in Turkish and they even speak in Turkish while ordering, which is interesting as this normally does not happen often at other Turkish places in Switzerland. Until this moment my impression was great. The staff, as already informed, welcomed us in Turkish and showed us our table based on our reservation. We just were about to sit and were informed how we can see the online menue on our phones, when a different staff member asked us politely to change the table, with the justification that a larger group would come and we, quote: owe him since we changed our reservation from 5 to 4 people . Seemed to me very strange as I do not owe anybody anything, especially not, when I am the customer. You might need to re-arrange your tables, but you need to do this prior to our arrival, and not after we sat down. Anyways, mistakes can happen. As I said, it was my first time in this restaurant, and people who read my comments would have noticed that such a conversation has never been mentioned in my reviews before. I think it was a one off faux-pas. Anyways, we accepted the table shifting and moved to a different table. The explanation of the dishes and also the service was great. The food was outstanding and really delicious. A big thanks to the kitchen team and to the chef. However, the staff serving the table needs to understand, or someone has to teach them that when there is still food in the meze plates, you do not ask whether we are done. A raki table is not a fast food table and people enjoy the meal, the raki and the conversation. Hence, whoever has been at a raki table before, would know that food usually is enjoyed along with the raki. But unfortunately the young guy was coming and going several times to ask whether we are done and whether he could take the meze plates. Maybe it 's not his fault, but definitely the fault of his manager not telling how to treat a raki table. Hoping that this was the worst mistake, I must say, I was surprised when the same boy asked us whether we would like to have the bill! This was the moment when I wanted to speak up, but I was at the table with colleagues who I met that very evening and I did not want to leave a bad taste for our first dinner. If the closing hour has not reached, the host does not, under no circumstances ask the guests whether they want to have the bill. The guest requests the bill when he wants to leave, not the other way around. At least not in Turkish nor in Swiss culture. But the peak of the amateur-like behaviour was when the same boy explained, that he has to give the table to the next customers and we would have to leave within 20 minutes. Something like this happened to me once in my whole life, which is nearly half a century, and that was in a McDonalds outlet when I was sitting too long at a table with friends without consuming anything, but we were teenagers and were told by the floor manager that we have to leave as it is a fast-food chain. To my understanding, Gul is not a fast-food restaurant and we ordered dishes for 600 CHF. Value for money is not given, due to the small portions. It is pricey but at least it should have been a good experience for the rest of the evening, which was unfortunately a dissapointment. To treat customers this way, while enjoying the evening is rude, respectless and not the industry standard. Would I go again? For the taste yes, but because of my respect to myself I won 't. As one of my senior managers once said, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

We have been there with a group of around 20 people. We had multiple courses with food to share. Every piece was delicious and vegetarians as well as meat eaters enjoyed the food. I can highly recommend the place.