The story
Landgasthof Sternen in Pfungen serves Swiss cooking at Weiacherstrasse 38, just outside Winterthur, and earned 15 points from Gault&Millau in 2026. The restaurant is a family inn, and its multi-course menu is built around that kitchen.
The inn has been run by the same family for four generations. Max Gut and his son Raphael now work the stove together, blending tradition with a modern streak. Gault&Millau notes that the son is beginning to develop his own style within the expansive menu, while guests still notice little change.
Menus run from three to seven courses. The duck liver mousse with port wine jelly and iced Granny Smith chutney stood out in the 2026 review, and so did the black tiger prawn with avocado cream, caviar and apricot. The Black Angus fillet with bear's garlic potato purée and a deep jus is a reliable main. The Verdauerli, a cinnamon and apple sorbet with a splash of Röteli, closes the meal.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
The Sternen in Bühler is a quintessential Appenzeller country inn and a genuine family-run establishment. Yvonne Frischknecht manages the refined service, while Chef Ralph serves hearty, traditional cuisine made with market-fresh ingredients that perfectly complement the surrounding landscape. Starters include an endive salad topped with a fried, soft-boiled egg and house dressing, or a flawless consommé with Swiss pancake ribbons. For a heartier option, there is a fried veal breast praline resting on a lavish salad of carrots, celery, and parsnips with herb crème fraîche. A Sternen classic features cognac-flambéed veal liver with sage, onions, garlic, and crispy rösti. Another excellent choice is the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth veal schnitzel in a mushroom cream sauce, served with winter vegetables and butter spaetzle. The pan-seared Atlantic cod wrapped in bacon, paired with saffron sauce, seasonal vegetables, and tarragon tagliatelli, is also highly recommended. To finish, guests typically order the Möschterli-Teller, which includes Toblerone mousse, cornelian cherry sorbet, apple gratin, crème brûlée, almond parfait, and brownie. The wine list is curated with a focus on Swiss and European labels.
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