La Cheminée : Rue de la Charrière 91, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds

La Cheminée is, in my opinion, okay compared to the other options in La Chau’s-de-Fonds. For the price, it is a bit pricier but without additional merit. The Food: Cassolette de champignons was an excellent start - creamy and filled with umami, however I thought the bread it was paired with lacked structure, considering the bread they serve with the meal is absolutely divine. Assiette de barbecue was a good way of trying what they have to offer - my favorite was the veal liver. My critique would be the sides - I asked for only vegetables and I felt like there could have been more; my colleagues that had vegetables and pomme frites had substantially more. It would have been nice to have been offered roasted potatoes instead of fried - even more so considering the giant fire pit to cook the meat; imagine potatoes cooking in the meat juices! The dessert was a disappointment - crème brûlée. The custard was a disaster - an eggy texture and an eggy taste. The burnt sugar on the top was barely there - usually when you hit your spoon on the top you should hear a nice crack. This one was more of a whimper and I couldn’t taste the burnt/caramelized sugar. The Service: Friendly but at times inattentive - not the best I’ve had and not the worst. The Atmosphere: There is some charm to the large stone structure and the massive pit where they cook the meat. Our room was private and almost too cozy - a slightly narrower table would be better for the space. Would I come back, sure, if someone invited.

La Cheminee served one of the best steak I've ever had in Switzerland. The restaurant has a very rustic ambience with the woodfired chimney being centrepiece. We started with some fresh salad and had a platter of beef, roasted vegetables and potatoes as main. The steak was barbecued on a wood fired special chimney. It gives the steak that succulent smoky flavour. The sauce accompanied it was mouth watering. I believe we had a mushroom sauce. For dessert I had a chocolate lava cake which is always a favorite. Service was beyond excellent. The staff are just so welcoming and friendly. They even offered to take photos of us which is really kind. I would not hesitate to drop by again if I'm in the area.

Nice cosy location, lobster bisque alittle too salty. Prawns are good, tomahawk can be better