Chez Max Julen in Zermatt

We went to 9 good restaurants during our vacation in Zermatt at the beginning of March. We liked Chez Max Julen best. Why? The food is always very good, the wines carefully selected, and the atmosphere around the open grill is really cozy. But what really made a lasting impression was the harmonious team led by Armin. The people in the service like and value each other and they work well together. This affects the guests. We will have fond memories of this teamwork!

The deer steak was incredible and the service is second to none. The staff was perfectly friendly, professional, attentive, and generous. This was the best restaurant experience I have ever had.

We received a very friendly welcome, but the tables were very close together, so we were sitting back to back with strangers. The food was very tasty. Unfortunately we were then charged for three more drinks than we drank. Conclusion: I would actually come back because of the exceptionally good food, but the ambience and the rip-off make me very doubtful.

Grilled over a wood fire, impeccable service, a sure value. I recommend the house specialty, the brilliant castle.

We were upstairs and sat next to the breakfast buffet. Unfortunately not very nice

Very tasty Chateaubriand and great service. We felt very comfortable

Really nice food and friendly staff

Very nice full of life restaurants with a wood fired grill in the heart of it , fantastic local dishes , very busy place but smooth and good service :)

A PERFECT restaurant. The service was impeccable. The beef is sublime. The sauces: killer. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this restaurant. Reserve.

A little hidden in the basement, beautifully decorated restaurant with charcoal grill. Very friendly and attentive staff. You feel welcome. Regardless of whether it is fish or meat, everything comes with a platter service. You hardly see this service in this country anymore. The food was very tasty, especially the vegetables were excellent in every course. The wine list is extensive, but the prices are normal. Highly recommended. We will be back.

The female staff here are very unfriendly. I wonder if they are biased against Asians? When you need to order food or help, raise your hand to inform, but the two female waiters on the second floor will not come to assist and make gestures all the time to ask you to wait. It feels very bad and is really a failure! There was only one tall male waiter who was very enthusiastic about ordering food and had a much better service attitude. The male waiter who arranged the seats was also very kind. The grilled lamb chops here are very tender and delicious, a must-try! On the contrary, the steak was not so tender.

A must when you are in Zermatt. Food top. Service top

My partner and I spent our honeymoon in Zermatt and chose this restaurant with a high rating on Google Maps. I've seen reviews saying Armin's team is very friendly. However, we encountered an impatient waiter (both on the second floor) who ignored us because he was too lazy to explain the details on the menu. We wanted to get away for a while, but why? If you don't welcome Asians or don't do Asian business, you can just say so. Eventually someone came over to lighten the mood, but definitely not the attitude a qualified waiter should provide :)

One of the best places in Zermatt. Thanks Armin

We ordered snail as appetizer, it is good. For the main courses, we ordered lamb and veal. For the lamb, it is very juicy and tender. For the veal, it looked like very tough, but it is not. The veal is quite tender, though it is well done. As an Asian, we think the swiss food is very salty, but the food served in this restaurant are good and not salty.

The food and service are top. Meat and fish prepared directly from the grill in the restaurant. P.S. And the irresistible “Schnappsi” on offer is also a delight. A must when you are in Zermatt. !!!

Chateaubriand was excellent. Grilled vegetables and the sauce were very tasty. The only thing I did not enjoy was the bread. They should serve, warm and tasty bread in such a restaurant. Not a bad quality supermarket bread.

A wonderful place in Zermatt to get your money's worth from a culinary perspective. A Chateau Brian as you imagine it, cooking point perfectly, good side dishes, perfect service, and there was even follow-up service, not just side dishes, but also meat! We have already made reservations again, and anyone who follows me knows what that means.

Great service, the patron is a real host where you can feel the passion and transfer it to the employees. I haven't experienced such a good host in Switzerland for a long time.

Excellent service, nothing is forgotten The owner and his team take great care of their customers even with a full room. We highly recommend

Very lovely with great service and tastes. You won’t be disappointed my dear.

Nice, traditionally decorated restaurant right next to the river. We spontaneously called here on Christmas Eve and were able to enjoy dinner. The pumpkin soup is great because the pumpkin comes fresh from the restaurant owner's garden and tastes very good. The service was also very friendly and what we really enjoyed and was pleasantly surprised about was that they also offered to add vegetables and pasta. Really great and exemplary. The meat was prepared on the grill in front of us. A highlight for my friend as a fireplace and meat fan. We'd love to come back!

Superb welcome and top-notch cuisine

Welcome, service, excellent menu, what finesse. Extraordinary quality of meat. Very friendly owner in short, a wonderful evening in a warm setting. I recommend this restaurant but don’t forget to make a reservation. Thank you for everything.

Warm welcome (without reservation) while full! Remarkable cuisine, perfectly grilled meat, attentive service! An unforgettable night! THANKS

A quiet restaurant where you are comfortable. We weren't looking for the cheapest restaurant but one that had authentic cuisine and we were served. The setting, the atmosphere and the staff and especially the chef are top notch. THANKS

The foods, particularly the perfectly cooked steak, were delicious, and the service was impressively impeccable!

Quaint restaurant with lots of charm. Food was delicious and well prepared by the chef in the open fireplace, nice touch. While server was quirky, she couldn’t have been nicer. Would definitely recommend for a gourmet swiss dinner thats more than just fondue.

It is a must try if you love steak. The Chef is excellent and you can see your food cooked in the fire right in the middle of the restautant.

The Lamb was perfect and I can’t find another restaurant with better service. It was a wonderful dinner.

Convenient views, nice staff. Food could have been a little better. Veggies were bland but meat was stellar.

2 x top dinners! Top service! Absolutely recommended again. Thank you very much 😋

Great outdoor dining by a creek, Recommend the sausage or pork chop lunch. Fantastic wait staff.

Armin and his team are the best!! Hopefully for a long time🙏

Gorgeous views, great service, good food. So lovely to our puppy, even brought her a water bowl. Super dog friendly! We had beef carpaccio, veal and fillet mains - all around delicious! Thank you for a wonderful early dinner- definitely recommend. Staff were awesome and incredibly friendly.

Experience for yourself how heavenly it is there ^^

I had dinner with friends on Sunday and it was great 👍😃💪thank you very much‼️ - very well eaten (grilled meat) - very friendly and attentive team HAPPY AGAIN 🍾

Excellent cuisine, top service. We can highly recommend Chateaubriand! A meal at Chez Max Julen is a must when visiting Zermatt (as is the Matterhorn)!

Best lamb ribs ever. Chef cooks the meat for you in the dining room in a traditional charcoal fire oven. Provides additional side dishes and meats free of charge. Highly recommended.

After hiking all day, we had an exceptional experience at Chez Max Julen. First, they were open around 5, when we were ready to eat. Second, we were very warmly greeted and welcomed in. The atmosphere was cozy and quiet. Thirdly, our food was so flavorful and delicious and came pretty soon after ordering. Fourth, the service throughout was attentive and very friendly. It was a wonderful meal.

Probably the best Chateaubriand I've ever had! Also great service! Gladly again!

Incredible four course meal, amazing staff, attentive owner and chef, highly recommended.

Food is above average but portions are super small for the price.

Absolutely recommended. Great food, great service, great value for money. We'll definitely come back

Excellent meal and service. The chef cooks the meat in the middle of the restaurant and it’s quite the experience. Old school service style with an excellent wait staff We had the risotto and deer filet both of which were outstanding.

A real traditional restaurant: tablecloths, cloth napkins, service on a pedestal table, very professional service staff. The boss at the grill - wood fire. Excellent quality meats, generous toppings. A must-see address! Well done !

Friendly, warm, main course in 2 courses so hearty hyoer, quality products, cooking over a wood fire, delicious sauce, a must in Zermatt center

Excellent! We had a wonderful evening!

Delicious meal. Good price performance. The guest is king.😄😄😄 Always happy.😄

Very good food. Very old fashioned way of serving it from covered dishes. This meant small portions were left in the dish and you might or might not get the rest if the waiter remembered. Often by that time it was cold. Good food but service and organisation needs updating.

Super friendly staff and rarely eaten so well! We would love to come back and can recommend the restaurant 100%

Best meal I've had during my 2 week visit to Switzerland. I highly recommend the deer fillet. The servers and chef were so polite. The chef had a wood fire stove in the middle of the restaurant and we were sat right by it which was cool to see. The portions are generous, we didn't know they re-plate your food after you finish your first plate for your entree which was a pleasant surprise. I had the deer fillet was was delicious and tender. My wife had the sea bass which she also enjoyed. Great meal, I highly recommend this restaurant.

I can't praise this restaurant enough. We sat right by the fire where all the food was cooking, which was a little hot but interesting to watch. There was a daily special of deer that came with a warm gravy that was some of the best meat I've had in my life. It was so tender and flavorful, and the sides were great too. The service was great and the chef even came around to check on us. If I am ever back in Zermatt I will definitely go back.

Great food, great service and an excellent host as a boss. We will be back!

The food was delicious and the staff's hospitality was good. Lamb meat is especially recommended. I enjoyed it without the smell. I think reservations are essential as it is crowded.

if I could put more then 5 stars, I would, everything was perfect, the service, the lamb, the deer, the chateaubriand. If you’re not vegan, there’s no way you can be in Zermatt and not come here

A warm welcome, wonderful, humorous hospitality, fantastic food! And then a second helping, that was the cherry on the pearl!1

Food 1A. Very fine and everything tip top. Everything is just right here. Rarely eaten so well. It's rare to find something like this with such good cuisine. Meat 1A. Thanks to the whole team and the boss at the grill. Mega👍😁😊

We had the most wonderful time at this restaurant during our visit to Zermatt. The service was outstanding and everything was made to perfection. This was a unique experience, as the chef prepared the meat in the middle of the dining area.

I dont really write restaurant reviews, in fact I think this is my first. But damn, what a place. Walked past it the night before and decided to give it a miss as I could not find it on any websites recommending restaurants, decided to give it a shot the second night. Everything was spot on from the food to the service. Even the chef comes out and greets you as he grills the meat in the open fire in the restaurant. The bread was great, and I ordered the veal strips with rosti and vegetables. Solid food and it is also served in two servings and you can ask for the second serving to be halved if you are getting full. Pear sorbet for dessert was on point too, the sweetness balanced by the sour fruits garnished. Furthermore once you pay your bill you also get a small dessert tart which is nice. The service from the two waitresses was also impeccable, having once been a waiter myself. Granted, there were only 4 tables in the restaurant including me but I really cannot fault the service, even bringing the vegetables to my table to show me before serving me and for other diners, plating the food infront of them for certain dishes which is a really nice touch. Do not know why I could not find this place anywhere on websites recommending places to eat in Zermatt, but I guess its rating of 4.7/5 stars on google speaks for itself. Must go when visiting Zermatt and next time I’m here I will definitely pay a return visit.

Cozy local restaurant serving delicious Swiss cuisine in a semi-elivated atmosphere. The food was high caliber in line with the price point, the staff was attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere was a perfect refuge from snowy weather. All 3 courses were delicious.

Excellent food especially beef fillet with black pepper sauce. A must try.

Wonderful restaurant, highlight meat deer with the peppercorn sauce, all was spectacular. Highly recommend.

Exceptional. After 3 weeks of traveling throughout Europe this was one of, if not the, bests meals we had. If you’re in Zermatt it’s an absolute must visit. If you’re thinking about coming to Zermatt, dinner here is worth it. 10/10

Service and the food was awesome!

Despite no reservation and the place being full, I received a very friendly welcome and a great place. Food was extremely good and enough.😅 Service was very friendly and accommodating despite all the work. Gastronomy as its best!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service top, food top, gladly again!!

Food were delicious. Soup was alittle salty for me. Service was great and got to see the chef :)

Spontaneous attempt. We got a table for 2 people. Thanks for the spontaneity 👍 Service was very good, as was the food. We can recommend you 👌

The best wienerschnitzel in town. old world vibe and authentic food . Great staff. Awesome memories!!!!!

We ate there 2 evenings. On the first evening the boss personally organized a table for us. The food was excellent and the service was second to none! We then made reservations for the next evening. We'll be back and wish everyone, especially one of the service staff, all the best!

A timeless moment for us as a restaurateur. A real musical score where everyone knows exactly what to do. An unforgettable moment both for the quality of the cuisine and the kindness and professionalism of the servers

good food especially the grilled meat!

Back the truck up on this joint. An amazing amount of food. We were at a different restaurant the night before and asked a couple where to go the next night and they suggested restaurant Chez Max Julen. We showed up for early dinner service and of course as Americans they sat us by the door which seems typical of most european restaurants for Americans. They leave the best seats for Europeans. But I digress. The service was attentive and excellent and helpful. Watching the waitresses, bring the food plate. The food and serve it in front of us was delightful. I really enjoyed how they served me half my dinner and once I finished they serve me the other half priceless. I ate like a king and dollar for dollar or rather Swiss frank for Swiss Franc it was probably my most favorite meal in Switzerland. The restaurant owner grills the steak on an open fire in the middle of the restaurant. The restaurant was filled with seemingly many locals and other older diners which always tells me that they know a good meal when they see it. I would wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to any traveler with a large appetite. My wife had a salad that was okay but my steak was quite delicious.

Just perfect. Go there, it's worth the detour. The whole menu is great. We loved it and were very well served.

Exceptional quality meat in a typical setting, with very friendly and professional service. An address not to be missed in Zermatt.

Personally I think it’s good. The venison and lamb are handled very well and the waiters take special care of you!

Welcome and attentive staff, very nice wine list, the food is perfect. The restaurant concept is a little old, but it's still a Zermatt staple.

On the top, service and food were impeccable. The service should be particularly praised. Meat cooked to perfection and served at the table. The only thing was that it was a bit “too full” for us and the seating was relatively tight, but we were happy to find a place. Reservations recommended.

Our first visit to this restaurant was pretty impressive but a return visit was a disaster. The chef (presumably the owner who is always there) appears to be a caring and conscious person taking pride in his operation. Trouble is that this place is a mass cattle feed. If you are a party of 6 or more, you will get a lot of attention (for obvious reasons) but if it is just you and your spouse, then good luck. My wife's order or sea bass which was supposed to be accompanied with boiled potatoes was piled up with rice. A plate of undercooked, hard and cold potatoes was presented after complaining to the server. Our vegetables were all cold, flavorless and undercooked. Halfway through our meal a table for 12 was setup so close to us that a lady practically sat on my plate trying to get into her chair. She then proceeded to rearrange her long ponytail, shaking hair and dandruff all over our table. At this point all the attention of the servers were concentrated on the thd large table and we sat there like potted plants for 20 minutes before demanding to pay and get out of this place. We will not go back during our stay in zermatt.

Very nice swiss food fare, excellent wine choices and most important knowledgeable wait staff that can guide you in your choice. There is one important detail for non Swiss people, the meat is tougher than in other countries, but just as savory, so one must adjust expectations. 😀 But it was a great experience. Make reservations because like in most Zermatt restaurants, they rarely accept walk inns.

Very tasty food, friendly and courteous service. The ambience is a bit old, but still good

We had a very bad experience at this restaurant. We ordered the same main dish as many other tables around us, which is served in two servings (as stated in the menu), however we only received one serving while the tables around us all received two servings. When we asked why we only got one serving, the waitress told us that they had a small space and had difficulties juggling between the orders, and as a result, they made a decision to give us only one serving. Given that we were the only Asians in the restaurant, I can’t help to think that we were being discriminated against (perhaps they thought that we couldn’t read the menu properly and that we wouldn’t notice the difference in treatment). What they didn’t know was that we did our homework and we went there specifically for that dish. After we raised the issue, they apologized with free desert and two glasses of desert wine.

I was staying in a hotel nearby and it seemed like a cute place to go. Make sure to make a reservation! The service was great from everyone we interacted with that worked there. The courses we selected were great except for the green bean vegetables that came with both of our plates tasted like they came from a can and why I removed a star.

The food was excellent and quality? EXCELLENT! Fantastic service - they were professional and very friendly. Thank you!

This place just oozes old style Swiss class. 2nd service as standard. I challenge you to find a better pepper sauce for your beef.

"Everything was better before….. Yes, if you want to experience how food was valued, prepared and served “back in the day”, then Max Julen is a MUST!!! Thank you very much - always a pleasure

I've been coming to Chez Max Julen since I was a child in the mid-90s. A visit MUST be possible when I'm in Zermatt. I say this is the best grill restaurant in Switzerland! From the service to the schnapps at the end, everything was perfect. Hopefully you'll keep it up for a long time! Lg

The grilled Chateaubriand with potato gratin was great!

First-class food (grilled meat - Chateau Briand), with attentive and charming service. Chef Armin is a top patron!! Return with guarantee! Greetings SV Würenlos

Nice atmosphere and very good vibes from the employees.

Grilled meat on wooden fire by Max himself, a great cook and a very friendly person.

The grilled beef was amazing. Really juicy and cooked to perfection. My wife and I made a last minute reservation on the same day and they were thankfully able to accommodate us. The chef is super cheerful and friendly and takes pride in his work. He personally grills all the meat in an open grill at the Center of the restaurant and then comes to your table to serve it to you. Please try this restaurant if you would like to have some grilled meat in Zermatt!

Once again phenomenal! Super fine food (Chateaubriand), perfectly cooked (or grilled!) Thanks for the special request iced coffee (much appreciated) Super well-coordinated and highly professional team!

Traditional menu but great food and service, really enjoyed the evening

Perfect attentive service and very good food, absolutely recommended!

Best choice in Zermatt! My experience in this restaurant is terrific! I love the lamb and the beef steak! Staffs are extremely friendly. Chef cooked the lamb very well. I will definitely come back again! ❤️❤️❤️

By far best service I’ve ever received, food was amazing and people who work there are wonderful.. recommend!

Great place to eat game. A special highlight is the grill in the restaurant. There are two rounds of the main course. Gladly again!

Get a place without a reservation