Eating well in Bern is expensive by most standards — Switzerland is. But the city has a solid dining culture, with good places for Swiss classics like rösti, fondue, and Bernese Platte (a heavy plate of cured meats and sausages that is the local speciality). The best strategy is to look for restaurants under the arcades in the Old Town and check the weekday lunch menus (Tagesmenu), which typically offer two courses for around CHF 20–25 — considerably less than evening prices.
For a genuine Swiss experience, look for venues serving Berner Platte with aged beef, smoked pork, dried beans, and sauerkraut. In summer, market stalls around Münsterplatz and Bundesplatz sell good prepared food.