THE LUXURY LUNCH YOU CAN AFFORD
Boca, Champel CEVA
by Chené Koscielny
Some Geneva restaurants have earned themselves a bad name for their pretentiousness and inflated prices, so it’s refreshing to encounter a new café with a very different approach:
Superior quality fast food at a price everyone can afford.
“Honesty and a return to the simple pleasures in life. No frills, but superior quality.”
The words are like music to my ears and they also capture the philosophy behind a quirky new street café called Boca in Champel, Geneva.
FOOD FOR THE GODS
Boca serves a foodie’s dream sandwich: A Spanish-style bocata (sandwich) made on the spot with the best quality Spanish ham, as well as sardines or grilled veggies.
The ham is the finest Ibérico, Pattanegra or Serrano ham made from pigs fed mostly on acorns in the mountains in Spain – hence the acorn logo with a cheeky little pig’s tail added to it.
The Ibérique bocata with Ibérico ham and homemade mayo costs CHF19 and the Serrano bocata will set you back CHF11.
The other fresh and quality fillings include roasted veggies such as sundried tomatoes from Greece and homemade hummus (CHF9) and sardines, sun-dried tomatoes, as well as a home-made mayonnaise. (CHF12).
The white buns are baked fresh daily from a local bakery.
Voila! That’s it – you won’t find fancy cutlery or designer plates, only simple good food.
Add to that a bottle (CHF28 – 88) or glass (CHF10) of the finest organic Champagne from their cellar below the restaurant and you’re in heaven.
QUALITY DRINKS
CLAIM TO FAME
Don’t ask for a Diet Coke – here you can get WAT Water or apple juice (CHF3), filter coffee or a ginger shot – your choice. A coffee costs CHF3 – must be one of the cheapest coffees in Geneva, no?
And then of course, the bio Champagne!
Visit their cave downstairs to see the impressive collection of local organic champagnes, which can be enjoyed at every day prices – not only at New Year!
THE AMBIENCE
You can grab your sandwich to go in a paper bag to enjoy at your desk, but personally we recommend sitting on their lovely terrace on the plateau de Champel with your classy bocata and half a bottle champagne.
Watch Geneva happen around you while indulging in this simple, yet sensual experience.
You’ll go back to the office refreshed and inspired.
The café is quirky matching the creativity of the chefs – with interesting art and a menu which doesn’t feature any photographs of their food, but artistic sketches by a local artist Tina Schwizgebel instead – a nice touch!
THE PRICES
No need to rob a bank first, this fast food lunch fit for the gods, will not set you back more than CHF20.
BRINGING GASTRONOMY TO THE PEOPLE
Meet the two chefs and owners of Boca, Pierre and Eric, both Geneva hotel school graduates, who are passionate about gastronomy.
They are determined to democratise quality food in Geneva.
Pierre, a renowned local chef used to head up a gastronomic restaurant L’Epicentre in Geneva until 2019 and rumour has it he will open another one in the future.
