Here are some of the places my husband, Ed, and I enjoyed eating at during our April-May ’12 stay in Naarden, the Netherlands.
We had dinner at Brasserie Fine (Marktstraat 66, 1411 EB Naarden-Vesting, NL; phone +31 [0] 35 694 4868), on a corner overlooking one of the town’s canals.
With a fine-dining atmosphere, this newly renovated restaurant offers the standard (for the Netherlands) daily special where you can choose a 3-course meal; here, it cost €29 (near $37).
At Brasserie Fine, however, you choose three items from among five categories: starters, soups, “in betweens,” entrées and desserts. We both chose the starter of thinly sliced salmon over a lightly dressed potato salad, an entrée of local fish with vegetable sauce and, for dessert, a scrumptious terra mousse.
The whole meal was superb. With drinks, it came to €70 ($88) for the two of us — by far the most expensive restaurant in which we dined, but it was worth it.
We had dinner at the charming, old tavern Het Hert (Cattenhagestraat 12, 1411 CT Naarden, NL; phone 035 694 8055). The place was packed, an indication of the quality of the food. Wait staff were very helpful.
We chose to order off the menu, rather than get the set meal, and shared a delightful tomato basil soup, which came in a terrine ample for two people. I had the Chef’s Vegetarian delight, a veggie-stuffed “pocket” with a light creamy tomato sauce, for €14. Ed had roast pork loin for €16, which came, to his surprise, on a skewer with barbecue sauce.
We had our first experience of trying Palm beer, a wonderful dark amber lager with a rich smooth taste and no bitter aftertaste. We enjoyed this beer many times again.
At Restaurant Bordjes Naarden (bordjes means “little plate”) (Cattenhagestraat 9, 1411 CR Naarden-Vesting; phone 035 694 8803), the atmosphere was definitely Dutch. They had a set menu for €25, but, with the help of a darling waitress, we ordered off the menu.
We each chose mushroom soup, which was excellent. Ed’s “small chicken” turned out to be Cornish hen, with vegetables and potatoes. I ordered salmon with slivered peppers and carrots over pasta with an Indonesian sauce. Ed’s “chicken” was more bone than meat and he wished he’d ordered the salmon, which was excellent. With drinks, all this came to €43 ($55) for two.
Bastion Naarden Eetcafé (Turfpoortstraat 52,1411 EH Naarden; phone 035 694 9399). From outside, this looked like a typical bar, but the atmosphere inside was wonderful, very cozy — just six tables in the back.
The two men who own the place each act as chef, waiter and bartender, but their English is very limited. We asked them to choose for us and it turned out well. I had the vegetarian entrée and salad. Ed had a thick filet with potatoes, onions, tomatoes and salad. One of the best meals we have had, with drinks it came to €41 for two.
By far, the best French fries (really, they’re Belgian) in, possibly, the whole world are at Cafeteria de Vesting (Cattenhagestraat 43, 1411 CS Naarden-Vesting, NL; phone 035 694 1413), open every day noon to 8 p.m. Nick and Nel Bianca have operated this mom-and-pop place for close to 25 years. Their daughter, Brenda Bahner, now helps out.
One order of fries and an Orangina soda cost €4.25. These people know how to make Belgian fries! The sliced potatoes are quick-fried in grease, then drained. When you place your order, they are put back in to fry to a crisp. Fantastic! Of course, you must eat them with the special, light Dutch mayonnaise. Unbelievable!
NANCY NORBERG
Mount Pleasant, SC