QU’IMPORTE – TAPAS BAR AND RESTAURANT IN CAROUGE
by Chené Koscielny
Summer is for sipping a designer gin, cocktails or rosé on a terrace, while sharing some delicious tapas or dishes with friends or colleagues.
Geneva has many terraces, but surprisingly few offer tapas – beyond olives or a sorry plate of Swiss cheese and ham.
THE AMBIANCE
That is why we always find ourselves heading back to Qu’importe in Carouge. Not only is the huge terrace easily accessible on public transport and by car with parking nearby, but it is inviting and always buzzing with a trendy crowd.
Situated on a street corner, you’re in the heart of the ancient Sardinian city and the terrace feels secluded and very upmarket. The restaurant itself is big with huge doors that open up onto the terrace.
You can only book a table for bigger groups, but we’ve never had a problem finding a table.
AN EXTENSIVE GIN MENU
We’re having a bit of a gin moment and Qu’importe has one of the best local gin menus in our opinion – offering no less than 24 different gin varieties. My latest favourite is the Generous with Jasmin, red pepper and sureau for CHF17.
If you should ever tire of gin, there is a selection of other delicious cocktails, a big variety of authentic craft beers, as well as some excellent Swiss and Genevan wines from the wine cellar.
SMALL BITES AND SHARING DISHES
For us the main attraction, as usual, is the food.
You won’t get better tapas than the selection of ‘house snacks’ and sharing dishes prepped under the watchful eye of Michelin starred chef Yoann Caloué.
Start light with something from the house “snack menu” such as an assortment of mini-bruschetta or black olive tapenade and toasts (CHF10) or salmon rillettes and toast (CHF12), before moving onto some of the tasting sharing dishes in town.
We think their beef tartar is the best in town served with creamy burrata – CHF16.
The chicken nems with salad and mint (CHF22) are to die for, as are the mozzarella and tomato stuffed rice balls (arancini) – 5 pieces (CHF12).
A nice surf and turf option is the calamarettis and Iberian chorizo – very yummy.
(CHF12).
OUR VERDICT
We keep banging on about Qu’importe restaurant and tapas bar – but this is because we think it is one of the few places in town where you find an excellent choice of wine, beer and cocktails with outstanding sharing dishes and great service.
See you on the terrace soon.
