Café Romand

Café Romand is known for their fondue and honestly, it is really really good. I’ve had a few different fondues and this is so far the best yet. I always make a reservation when going here because it fills up fast and you will be kicked out of your table if the table is reserved for a later time.
The atmosphere is bustling… they pack everyone in and you sit very close to other people. It can be a bit loud when it is full, but overall I would recommend it as a spot to hit for good fondue.
The one thing I will comment on is the service. I’ve been here 2 – 3 times and sometimes the service is good and the waiter is friendly. This past time we had the worst service. The waitress was almost rude to us and it almost felt like she was taking the piss and being rude to us just because we weren’t native French speakers. And we were even speaking French to her! She tried to kick us off our table even though we had made a reservation, tried to make us purchase water even though table water was available, and wasn’t super efficient.
So yes I recommend this place to get fondue when you are in Lausanne. However, do not go with high expectations for service. It is still worth it for great fondue.

Une bonne adresse au centre — ville. Réputé pour fondue au fromage et papet vaudois. Bruyant toutedois

La Fondue est trop bonne ici. Mais le steak est très épicé.

J’aime bien cette brasserie /​pinte vaudoise. C’est toujours plein et assez bruyant, mais j’y ai toujours bien mangé et j’ai toujours bien été servie. C’est un endroit qui a son charme.

Le Café Romand est une institution lausannoise. Dans une salle animée, meublée en bois avec simplicité, on sert une cuisine de brasserie de bonne qualité. On peut particulièrement recommander le pot au feu, qui est certainement un des meilleurs à Lausanne, ou le papet avec sa saucisse aux choux. C’est aussi un bon lieu pour apprécier une fondue. Les plats du jour sont généralement très corrects, pour 18 francs 50 au moment ou j’écris ces lignes.
Au delà de la qualité — dans un style simple et un peu suranné — de la cuisine, c’est la clientèle qui fait le charme des lieux. On y voit des habitués dans des costumes élimés et des personnes de passage. Le syndic y mange, ainsi que d’autres têtes connues de la place. Les lieux sont bruyants de conversations.
Le service a toujours été d’une grande rusticité. Une bonne partie de la clientèle apprécie cette franchise qui est assortie au lieu, mais ça peut surprendre — voir à ce sujet les critiques en anglais du «Romand» sur Unilocal.Ceci dit, les choses changent et l’établissement se normalise progressivement sur ce point.

I ate here tonight with two colleagues and the food was good but the service was downright surly. One fellow tried to order the osso-​bucco plat du jour and, when his salad didn’t come, it became clear the waiter assumed he had ordered the meat dish by itself. When he immediately asked the waiter to get the plat du jour instead, the waiter’s first response was «No, you cannot!». Asking in different ways, it eventually changed to «There are no more». But, of course there was still enough to serve the more expensive osso-​bucco without the sides. When the final bill came, the waiter came to our table, observed that we had 3 credit cards out, and then promptly left and returned with the bill split 3 ways. Of course, we weren’t planning an even split because we had differently priced entries and not all had wine. Of course, the waiter’s english immediately got worse, he claimed it was impossible, and he actually started trying to be intimidating and harassing. I was appalled. Were it not for my companions, I probably would started yelling at the guy.

Café Romand is well known in Lausanne as being the place for the best fondue at a decent price. I had my very first fondue at this establishment, since then, I have definitely found better places, but this one still rates A-​OK. The environment is a typical Swiss Brasserie. The smell definitely fromage (cheese). You definitely have to make reservations on the weekend in order to get a spot at this place. It is loud, and you are jam packed in tight. There are many other items to select on the menu, but you can tell, most people go here for the fondue. You need to be patient, there are many people, and only a few servers. They usually look tired and overworked, but I have never experienced them to be rude.

Une institution à Lausanne. Les serveuses sont d’humeur variable. Les plats de brasserie sont honnêtement bons. L’endroit où manger afin de goûter des spécialités locales.

Enfin une vrai brasserie ! Les grands classiques sont là et très bons. Leur choucroute n’a vraiment rien à envier aux Brasseurs ;-)

Among the most typical café style bistros in Lausanne. Wood décor, famous for its fondues and seemingly unfriendly staff (the latter more myth than reality). The clientele often bohemian. Go for the atmosphere as much as the typical café fare.

Quite nice. Highly suggest a visit. Children friendly.

One of the best places in Lausanne to have a fondue. Very good desserts as well.

Café mythique. Effectivement l’accueil est souvent mauvais, surtout le soir lorsque le lieu est bondé. Plats de brasserie typiques. Lieu populaire, chargé d’histoire (s).

Un bistro mythique. La fondue y est excellente, l’ambiance décontractée. Très, très enfumé. Les serveuses né sont pas toujours très sympathiques, mais ça fait partie du charme du lieu. Un endroit où j’aime aller avec des amis pour l’apéro ou pour la FONDUE!!!

Nice and cosy place, very friendly staff who WOULD speak English to you (not typical in French Switzerland) and assist you in any way. Large selection of food, very reasonable prices. Not too crowded, and not filled with smoke (unlike many other brasseries). Good choice for a family dinner.