The story
The Counter sits at Bahnhofplatz 15 in Zürich, inside Zurich Main Station, and holds two Michelin stars for excellent cooking (2026). The modern cuisine here is built around a wooden counter where guests watch each course being finished.
Chef Mitja Birlo, a German cook in his forties, was named Cook of the Year 2022 by Gault&Millau. His plates combine tweezer-precise work with open flame. Breton lobster is grilled and set on a crisp potato rösti, and Japanese milk bread comes warm from the oven with pumpkin seed spread. Thai notes appear in several dishes, including a dashi sauce with fermented chili and a zander served with Thai curry oil.
The room seats up to 23 guests, either at the counter or at a private table for six. The tasting menu costs 320 CHF per guest at dinner, with a drinks pairing at 195 CHF and a non-alcoholic pairing at 170 CHF. Vegetarian and pescatarian menus are available on request. Other dietary requirements, such as lactose-free or gluten-free, cannot be accommodated.
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