Matterhorn Restaurant

Beautiful classic fondue in authentic Swiss Chalet setting. This is one of San Francisco's hidden treasures, created by a charming Swiss couple who strive to bring the authentic flavors of Switzerland to their customers. The service is classic European -- very courteous, but not fawning or intrusive. The austere exterior belies the absolutely gorgeous interior decor -- the hand-carved wood panels, booths, and tables were fully constructed in Switzerland then shipped over to SF and reconstructed here. You'll see Swiss masks, the alpenhorns, and cowbells, and delightful stained glass windows.

For your first visit, try the classic cheese fondue, and leave room for dessert -- the Chocolate Fondue is to die for! (Note that it is only served with dinner -- you can't get it as a stand-alone.) The side dishes are worth trying -- especially the sausage and apples. The menu also includes some other standard Swiss/German entrees, and we've tried them with varying results -- all were nice, but the real reason to visit the Matterhorn is for the wonderful fondues. The fondue festival is accompanied by a very nice salad, tossed with a light viniagrette dressing.

We return for special occasions or to surprise our out-of-town guests with a real change of pace. Older children will enjoy the adventure, however, toddlers will likely need lots of entertainment and attention from parents, as the dinners are designed to be engaging and leisurely.

We really enjoy the "Swissness" of this place, which is incorporated from your greeting through the attitudes of the waitstaff, to the menu and decor. It is all the highest quality, and the owners want everything precisely correct. If you appreciate this attention to detail, you'll love the Matterhorn!…