The Zur Linde restaurant has re-opened after a six-month intermission

Life is returning to the Zur Linde restaurant in Rotkreuz after a six-month closure. The new tenants, Johannes Bühler and Leonard Prenaj, have reopened the restaurant.
 

A new chapter has begun at the Zur Linde restaurant in Rotkreuz: after the previous tenants, Karin and Daniel Mätzener, closed the restaurant in October 2024 due to rising costs and difficulties in recruiting staff, life has returned to the restaurant at the Linden roundabout.
After around six months of searching, new tenants have been found: Leonard Prenaj and Johannes Bühler re-opened the restaurant on the 1^st May.

50-year-old Leonard Prenaj lives with his family in Alpnachstad in the canton of Obwalden. He’s been at home in the Swiss catering industry for more than 20 years, and has already owned two restaurants as a host, chef and entrepreneur: he was the owner of Piccadilly by Leonardo in Buochs and worked at Restaurant Lopper in Hergiswil. His business partner Johannes Bühler, who comes from Germany, lives in Küssnacht am Rigi and studied media design. The 27-year-old has had a passion for gastronomy ‘since forever’.

The combination of ‘Leo’ – as he calls his business partner – and himself is ideal, says Johannes Bühler: ‘He brings extensive experience in the restaurant industry, and I am very knowledgeable about marketing and the digital world, which has become increasingly important, especially after the pandemic.’

Leonard Prenaj is the uncle of Johannes Bühler's girlfriend. ‘We've known each other for ten years, and we've had the idea of working together for a long time. We wanted to open a business that is family-oriented and friendly, as this is particularly important to us – especially when dealing with guests,’ continues Johannes Bühler.

‘We couldn't imagine a better canton than Zug for the opening of our restaurant. We were very interested when we first saw the advertisement, and were immediately impressed by the atmosphere in the restaurant when we visited it for the first time,’ says the former professional athlete.

Johannes Bühler recalls: ‘When we visited the Zur Linde restaurant for the first time, it quickly became clear to us that we wanted and that we had to seize this opportunity.’ They encountered a friendly neighbourhood here – ‘with a strong sense of community and closeness’. ‘The restaurant had beautiful décor, and is a place that already has significance in the region,’ says the German-born restaurateur.

The new faces behind the Zur Linde restaurant in Rotkreuz: Leonard Prenaj (left) and Johannes Bühler. They are delighted with the reopening of the Linde                         Photo: Matthias Jurt
How the Zur Linde restaurant looks from the outside. The previous tenants were there for seven years, before closing in October 2024                                                   Photo: Stefan Kaiser
Leonard Prenaj on the opening day of the new Zur Linde.      
The outdoor area of the restaurant invites guests to linger        Photos: zvg / pulsenova.ch

The new Zur Linde has been well received by guests, say the restaurateurs, and they have already had a few repeat visitors and have been able to integrate a few regulars. ‘The atmosphere is great, the guests are having fun and we have already been able to create a place where guests can sit for a while after their meal and enjoy the atmosphere,’ says Johannes Bühler, who is delighted with the start.

Leonard Prenaj is responsible for the operational work at Zur Linde, including the kitchen, purchasing, storage and day-to-day organisation. He is also in charge of team management in the kitchen. Johannes Bühler, on the other hand, is primarily responsible for everything related to communication, planning and system control – ‘from the website and menu to the interface with tax advice, the reservation system and cash register technology,’ he explains. As the direct contact person, he also coordinates the service staff, external enquiries, the shift planning and all the guest communication.

Guests can expect seasonal Italian and French cuisine in the new ‘Linde’. ‘Complemented by the best of Swiss cuisine,’ says Johannes Bühler. Inside, the new “Linde” looks similar to the old one: the style has been retained: ‘It is a place with a warm, stylish atmosphere – with plenty of natural light and an ambience that radiates tranquillity and hospitality.’ The interior design combines natural tones, clean lines and loving details – ‘from hand-folded napkin stars to the soft light of the table lamps.’

‘The opening on 1 May attracted far more guests than initially expected. Even the first few days showed that the Linde is welcomed as a place to meet,’ says Johannes Bühler, looking back on the day of the reopening. ‘We had a few teething problems, but we've already improved the processes somewhat. Every beginning is difficult, but we're on the right track,’ he continues.

‘Rotkreuz already feels a bit like home,’ say the new tenants after their first four weeks at their new place of work. With a ‘completely new team,’ the tenants saw a large influx of guests in the first few days. ‘We had to optimise our processes and minimise waiting times for guests in the first two days,’ says Johannes Bühler, ‘But otherwise, we were really very satisfied and had a great start.’ And: ‘We have already received a lot of good and friendly feedback from guests who were very happy with their meals.’

The new menu ranges from homemade pasta and truffle dishes to classic meat and fish dishes and vegetarian creations. ‘Everything is made with love for the product and is seasonal,’ says Johannes Bühler. The two have leased the restaurant for five years, with the option to extend for another five years.

Opening hours:
Wednesday to Saturday:         11 am to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 11 pm
Sunday:                                      11.30 am to 9 pm

Closed on Monday/Tuesday.

For more information, reservations and the menu (in German):
https://www.linde-rotkreuz.ch/