Heidi Swiss Restaurant

Came here for brunch. Surprised that it’s relatively quiet and so good. They have a combined brunch menu with Extra Place. Good combinations and selections. We tried the lamb meatball with couscous from Extra Place and the salmon spinach crêpe from Heidi’s menu, and an apple beignet, a yummy, not too indulgent (hey, there’s fruit) way to finish.

We went to the Heidi swiss Restaurant on the 1^st of August, which happens to be Swiss National Day. I’m Swiss and wanted to celebrate with my friends from many countries all over the world.
The place was crowded, which is predictable for a swiss restaurant on National Day! But it looked like the staff didn’t plan this to happen:
First of all, there were only 2 waiters for the whole restaurant. Of course, this wasn’t enough. It was really hard to catch their attention when we needed something. We ordered our meal (4 fondues for 2, we were 8), and 10 minutes later, we were said that it would take long so they advised us to take an appetizer. We just ordered some bread but it took again a very long time to get it!
Then, 1h40 (!!!) later, the fondues arrived. In Switzerland, a fondue takes 10mn to arrive on the table in any restaurant. I know that we’re in New York City, but this is really TOO slow.
The fondue in itself had a good taste, maybe a little bit too liquid but this really wasn’t the worst thing about this place.
It took again a veeeery long time to get the check and we finally left the restaurant 3h30 after we arrived. I was almost ashamed towards my international friends who agreed to celebrate National Day with me.
I will not come back on my next trip to NYC.
Oh, one of the bands who played during the night, the New Velvet, was really good! Nice surprise during this overall unpleasant evening.

This place is connected to Extra Place on the faux block with artsy drawings in the alleyway behind the former CBGB. I only tried a few things here. The veal ragout with potato and mushrooms was rather good.

This was a while ago so I don’t remember all that we ordered. I do know that we had Appenzeller Mostbröckli, which was very good.
The restaurant is tucked away and a little hard to find, but I kinda liked that. Nice open space and very friendly staff. The menu was a little confusing because we were given two menus that appeared to be from different restaurants.
Love the atmosphere, liked that it wasn’t too loud. The food is unique, which is a nice departure from the common New American /​Asian Fusion that I see a lot. Would definitely come back.

This place is absolutely amazing. I LOVE their mac and cheese and veal. Our server was so nice to us and very helpful with recommendations. The rabbit meatballs were interesting, and I’m glad I tried them but it made me sad I was eating bunnies :(
Please don’t tell too many other people. I’d like to continue being able to get a table!

Whenever I think of Heidi Swiss Restaurant, I think of a little blonde farm girl with pigtails, standing in front of a wind mill, wearing horn rimmed glasses and hair parted imperfectly down the middle. What’s wrong with me?
Maybe the image comes from me personifying Heidi as some charming little rural girl. Charming and little are two words that accurately describe this place though the décor is definitively modern.
I came back here after my first visit a couple of months ago. Apparently they no longer allow you to mix menus with Extra Place next door but they warned us that service was slow that night cuz there was a big group at Extra Place who were ordering from Heidi’s menu. Huh? Color me confused.
We got the chicken lollipop, rabbit meatballs and the pappardelle pasta with crawfish tails, mussels and lemon butter sauce. The rabbit meatballs were dry but the chicken lollipop had a juicy center and went well with the garlic aioli. The crawfish pasta, a clear winner, was perfectly al dente and the lemon butter sauce was creamy and decadent. I would come back for that as well the mac n cheese that I had on my previous visit.
After two visits to Heidi, I’m definitely a fan. The food is generally good and the service both times have been friendly though efficiency depends on how crowded they are. We got lots of apologies from our waitress that night since they were so busy. We’ll definitely be back for more. This cute, intimate spot is perfect for dates. However I only go out on dates with my wife so don’t get too excited ladies.

The service here was horrifically slow on Friday night. We had a group of 6 and it took forever for our food to come out. The waiter never acknowledged the long wait, either. The food was pretty good, but the timing was way off on this night and the place wasn’t even busy.
cold cuts — decent
seafood pasta — actually pretty darn good, although the portion was on the small side

3.5 stars.
Tiny spot n cheese-​stinky, but we sat at the bar overlooking the chef, which was cool.
Rabbit rillettes: tasty.
Chicken lollipops: crunchy fried chicken… ok.
veal sausage: delicious.
Felt bad for the chef bc he was doing all the work by himself. We asked for the sweetbreads but after a 30-​min wait we got the check. He was working no stop very hard, and even apologized, but it’s not him, it’s the owner who should give him some help. Too bad.

This place is hidden away in a small alley on «Extra Place» in the East Village. I had no idea this street existed! There’s really not a lot going on in this street, so don’t get too excited.
We chose this place because we saw a Scoutmob deal for it. We made an early reservation for 5:30 pm and everything went smoothly. The waitress we had was really friendly and enthusiastic about the menu — and since this was connected to the other restaurant (called ‘Extra Place’) we were able to order off that menu too as part of the deal.
Everything on the menu looked reasonably price EXCEPT the fondue. The fondue was priced at $ 39 for cheese fondue with bread. The funny thing was that on my boyfriend’s menu, it said it also included «potatoes OR veggies» and my menu didn’t have that option. When we asked the waitress about it, she said traditional Swiss fondue was only bread. But supposedly, because customers complained (maybe through Unilocal??), they had to add on that «unauthentic» option to please the crowds.
We ended up ordering the fondue (only because we had the Scoutmob deal and we wanted to go authentic Swiss) and an app, chicken lollipops. The chicken lollipops stole the show! It was crispy and tasty! I only wish we had more! The fondue was decent, but definitely not worth the $ 39, in my opinion without the deal.
Speaking of the Scoutmob deal — halfway through our meal, the owner came up to us and asked us if we were using the deal. After we said yes, he looked upset and said, «I told them to take it off in December. They weren’t supposed to keep putting it up.» We just kind of looked at each other not knowing what to say. The owner then said they’d honor it for tonight but made a point to go hunt Scoutmob down again. :-/​ (I just checked Scoutmob again two weeks after my visit… it’s still there!)
PROS: Great chicken lollipops, great décor, ambiance, waitress was very accomodating!
CONS: pricey fondue, Scoutmob-​owner-​sad.

This rating is for the brunch menu as the dinner menu isn’t offered for brunch hours.
Hiding on a promiscuous block, as if trying to hide its presence, yet still need traffic to sustain its financial life, Heidi proclaims itself as a Swiss restaurant, mainly amplified by the fondue service, rosti, appearance of apple in recipes and cheese plate. What’s not Swiss about this place? Crepes, steak and eggs, omelets, hummus and pita on the menu. Although I was intrigued by the Swiss breakfast platter, which has a little bit of everything, from salad, toast, eggs, rosti, to bratwurst. It’s a lot of food to consume, unless, of course, you are up for padding yourself against the winter chill.
Sharing the kitchen with its adjacent sister, Extra Place, they both share the same brunch menu as well. Heidi is like the mannered sibling who likened to have blond tress tied up in a French twist, adorned in a plaited dress, with a gentle, sunny smile on her face. Hypothetically speaking, of course. The décor is modern, minimalistic with its spaced out tables, wooden furnishing, high ceiling, and other objects that reminded me of Ikea. Well, Switzerland IS quite near Sweden. So close that my lack of geography sometimes confused these two northern countries, which I am sure the locals would not accepted such careless missing.
A bottle of tap water landed on our table, much welcomed so we did not have flag our kind waitress all the time. The pork belly egg benedict sounded better on book and at $ 13, it was reasonably priced as well. However, what arrived was two sliced of toasted french baguette, with another layer of ample pieces of pork belly, some stewed mushrooms and two poached eggs. The best element of an egg benedict is of course, the eggs and disjointedly, these came out over cooked. So overdone that the white separated from the round yolk. Epic failure. Epic disappointment. The choice of bread was also not a good selection. The quality of the baguette, when sogged up, becomes chewy, unlike an English muffin. So cutting into the bread took some effort. The side of skinny fries were well salted and not oily-​laden. The plate seemed heavy at first, but each individual ingredient was so dainty that it was just the right portion.
The apple beignets, highly recommended by our waitress was no sleeper. While the appearance isn’t alike New Orleans’ famous beignets, these were three fried doughnuts, stuffed with small pieces of apple. I thought a dusting of powdered sugar would further beautify the plating and the cream anglaise should be served on the side, not under the doughnuts because they soaked up the cream and lost the exterior crusty texture. Otherwise, they were not too sweet and were happily devoured.
The place never got too busy during brunch hours, which I always welcome. It is unlike their neighboring brunch hot spot, where patrons wait for an hour to be seated. Why when you can have more exciting selection of ethnic foods (rosti instead of home fries? Apple beignets instead of cheesecake? Yes, please) just a walking distance away. When twilight arrives, surely the hidden aspect of Heidi just makes this restaurant sexier and more exotic. It is always fun and exciting to play hard to get, right?

Definitely a small hidden gem, it’s almost a shame they don’t get more foot traffic (yes it would mean more of a wait but I want this place to thrive). Wildly friendly service that kept me smiling all night coupled with a great menu of Swiss classics. The rosti, bratwurst, fondue, and mac & cheese were reminiscent of what I had in Zurich but better (I was a poor student backpacker then). The mac and cheese alone has pork belly, apples, and potatoes. My leftovers heated very well and were devoured.
They had a fondue and bottle of wine combo going on and the wine included was Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity can definitely help cut through all the cheese and it was especially tasty with the granny smith apples we ordered for dipping.
Since my fondue pot is at my parents house, this is definitely my top choice for dipping bread in cheese in NYC (though I do have half a dozen other fondue restaurants bookmarked). I can’t wait to go back.

I loved this little, hidden restaurant! Hubby and I came here for a double date after seeing it featured in a Scoutmob deal. Since it shares a kitchen (and front door during the winter) with Extra Place restaurant, you can order off either menu. I made a reservation for a Saturday night and the 4 of us ended up in an adorable little booth near the front window. It’s much more quiet and «homier» than the seating in extra place.
The four of us shared orders of:
— chicken lollipops. Not what I pictured when we ordered. It’s like deep friend chicken wings on sticks. Crispy, juicy, and you can dunk it in a rich aioli sauce. I’d definitely recommend it. It comes in a potato «nest» of deep fried, julienned potato sticks!
— mac and cheese. Very hearty dish. The macaroni pasta is large and there were large chunks of pork belly and braised apple floating around in it.
— Pork ragout with rösti and wild mushroom sauce. This was REALLY unique and hearty. It’s almost like fondue as the pork comes in a saucepan and is completely submerged in the creamy mushroom sauce. On the side is a large potato pancake that you ladle the mushroom sauce and pork over to eat together. You can take their complimentary bread and then dip it in the rest of the mushroom sauce! Delicious.
— Lamb Meatball (off the Extra Place menu). One LARGE meatball over a bed of couscous. Savory and delicious.
We also shared 2 bottles of their excellent and well priced Malbec ($ 21/​bottle). The waitress was sweet and checked up on us often.
Good ambiance, service, food, AND price point. 5 stars.

Its rare to find a Swiss restaurant in the city, but it’s even more rare to discover such a unique cozy restaurant with no wait and no overhyped crowded line out the door. Heidi shares its main door with sister Mediterranean restaurant next door, Extra Place. I’ve been to both restaurants, and the staff were always exceptional & friendly.
The interior of Heidi is small yet cozy & intimate, decorated with hanging red lanterns and wooden shelves/​chairs. Feels just like dinning in a snow cabin somewhere in Switzerland! The menu at Heidi is small with heavy emphasis on Germany– Swiss cuisine.
Chef Selection of cured cold cut ($ 18) — included 5 different kind of meat, Speck, Bundnerfleisch, Capicola, Landjager, Salametti. Everything on this platter had different texture and flavor. Very simple & just fine quality meat.
Fondue Moitie-​Moitie for two ($ 39) — A heavenly melted pot of Appenzeller, Gruyère & Vacherin Fribourgeois, served with a basket of white and wheat bread cubes. This pot was plenty enough for two. The combination of these 3 cheeses was superb. Just enough sweetness, saltness and gooey-​ness.
The owner also recommend the daily special — Mostbrockli ($ 9). An imported swiss specialty cured beef in cider. I am a true fan of this meat, full of powerful flavor with a very sublet hint of sweet from the cider. Paired perfectly with our fondue.
*see my pictures for the food I reviewed here
Wine & Beer were also available at very reasonable prices.
Many items on the menu do not actually required cooking from the kitchen — such as the cured meat selection and the fondue, but do realize this is a Cheese Fondue restaurant… So if you are a fan of simple food & if you just want an awesome & authentic Swiss cheese fondue experience, Heidi is a must in NYC.

Tucked away in a «street» called Extra Pl. you will find a fondue gem called Heidi. It is adjacent to a larger restaurant called Extra Place, which also looked really nice. Heidi has a very cozy, lodge feel. The staff there are all very attentive and very friendly.
The host recommended an excellent bottle of wine at a great price point.
We tried the chicken lollipops as recommended by our server and the capuns to start. The capuns were little swiss chard pockets of cheesy goodness!
Then we had the fondue with veggies, apples, and tons of bread, Topping off the great meal, we ordered the trifle.
As we were leaving, we watched the chef try out some new recipes for the next nights menu and it looked amazing. I definitely need to come back.
This is one of those place that you wish would be kept secret so it doesn’t get overcrowded.

Good experience here! Cozy spot with minimalistic Swiss-​ish decorations. It’s a small place, feels like a hole-​in-​the-​wall. Great service — the waitress was attentive and animated.
We thought the food was well-​made and hearty. Not too greasy and generous portions. The mac and cheese here was pretty special. The chicken lollipops appetizer was decadent with delicious garlic aioli, and this dish in particular was delicate and not too greasy. I really enjoyed the pork ragout with wild mushroom sauce — I saved half of it to eat for lunch tomorrow. One area of improvement is that they could offer chocolate fondue too for dessert (they already offer cheese fondue for entrees) and that would be an A+.
With an open kitchen, it was exciting to see the cooking all in front of you, but it wasn’t so in-​your-​face that it would be disruptive. The one chef and the one waitress did a great job balancing the tables /​orders and making sure everyone was taken care of.

Came here last week with my sister.
She bought a deal on Urbandaddy for wine and cheese fondue, sure why not.
I love that the place is located on a hidden street, makes you feel kind of cool eating there.
This spot is tiny though, I could hear everyone’s convo. The kitchen is also open so you can basically help your chef prepare your meal.
As for the food we shared two apps, chicken lollipop, and a cheese and apple plate. The lollipops were good, and the cheese and apple was pretty good (the cheese is shaped like some sort of lettuce garnish)
We also tried the tradition rosti which was like an unseasoned potato pancake.
The fondue is originally $ 39 which is crazy for fondue that only comes with bread! We also ordered a side dish of apples to pair with the fondue.
If i hadn’t had the urbandaddy deal i would not have gotten the fondue. too overpriced for what you get.
Overall interesting place but nothing to write home about

Cute little Swiss restaurant in a hidden alley. Overall food is decent but not really memorable. We shared the raclette plate served with cornichons, pickled carrots and pickled onions and the fondue for two. I love raclette but when you melt the delicious cheese and put it on a cold plate, it arrives to the table hardened, not melty. The fondue tasted pretty good and came with a generous portion of bread (you can also order vegetables to dip if you want) but they didn’t use the right combination of cheeses to give it the right amount of gooeyness. Overall it was very liquid.
Overall the taste of the food was good, the décor is cute, but there are a few problems with the getting execution right.

Only wanted to go there, because I thought what a cute name for a Swiss restaurant: HEIDI!!!
This restaurant is definitely worth discovering. It features a small but exquisite menu. We had the «Kopfsalat» and the «Tête de Moine» as starters, the «Swiss Mac and Cheese» and the «Kalbsbratwurst» as main course and shared the «Dark-​chocolate mousse». The food was wonderfully presented and everything was just delicious. The staff is warm, welcoming and they all really seem to enjoy working there.
I hope HEIDI will get a fan base, despite its slightly hidden location — it so deserves it! If you love meat, cheese and a nice glass of wine to go with it, this is your place to go to! I will be back for sure.

We gave this a try on a whim, intrigued by the idea of a Swiss restaurant — rare as they are. Not only was the staff very warm and friendly, the food was also delicious and authentic. The chicken lollipops were shockingly tasty, and the fondue for two was easily on par with what we’ve had in Switzerland itself.
Extra Place is a tough spot for any restaurant, but give it a try and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Really great little spot. It’s in Extra Place alley, which is quiet, clean, and romantic. The staff was really friendly and the food was very fresh. Definitely try it!