Miscellaneous
Eat & drink

Eat like a chef

There are so many great places to eat in Utrecht. But where do the local chefs go if they fancy fine dining or a quick snack?

Hendra Subandrio, restaurant Blauw
€ Moksi & Tandoori, Oudegracht: ‘A quick tasty bara – a deep-fried dumpling with beef, served with sambal made from Madame Jeanette chillis.’
€€ Tai Soen, Hoog Catharijne: ‘Delicious, authentic dim sum dishes with spicy chilli oil.’
€€€ Ponzu, Oudegracht: ‘Nice decors with an all-you-can-eat concept: it might sound strange, but the dishes are fine dining and beautifully presented.’

Daniel Lansbergen, restaurant Venster
€ Broodje Martin, Willemstraat: ‘A traditional, reliable spot, nothing fancy, totally unpretentious, nice wholesome food and no unpleasant surprises.’
€€ Bij de Fortwachter, Nieuwegein: ‘What a location! The perfect place to sit outside in the sun, watching the hares race past, while enjoying a well-cooked, familiar dish! And if the weather lets you down, you can stay in the B&B and enjoy a cappuccino in the restaurant.’
€€€ Pand33, Nieuwegracht: ‘A fantastic place, where I’m always amazed by the dishes, combinations and pairings. Whether you’re there for drinks with snacks or a full-blown dinner, their love of cooking really stands out.’

Josephien Blom, Héron
€ Sultan Bakery, Amsterdamsestraatweg: ‘Fabulous bakery, everything’s home-made. Their su böregi (Turkish börek with white cheese) with an ayran (savoury yoghurt drink) is to die for.’
€€ Sea Salt Saloon, Wed: ‘Always a great place to eat. Good food, friendly staff, no frills and you can do exactly as you want. Have a quick bite to eat or spend a whole evening sitting at the table.’
€€€ Karel V, Geertebolwerk: ‘Obviously the best hotel in Utrecht, but the kitchen’s great too. The food’s fairly classic, but not at all predictable. They surprise you with unconventional combinations and ingredients.’

Jac Rijks, Restobar Rosie
€ Dodici, Wittevrouwenstraat: ‘They’ve been here on the corner next to Rosie for a year now. We often go there for sandwiches for the team. We’re always happy with what we get. Tasty meat, fresh bread and friendly staff. Delicious – pure and simple!’
€€ Jasmijn & ik, Kanaalstraat: ‘There aren’t many places in Utrecht where you can eat well without paying a small fortune. You usually pay about €100 for two here. Nice dishes, good wines and professional, friendly staff. You always feel welcome and indulged.’
€€€ Dinner at Six, Houten: ‘Great basic product cuisine, with natural flavours, nothing excessive. Their food is exactly as it should be. Jules and Bas are professionals with both feet on the ground. They’re taking things slowly and continually perfecting what they do.’

Leon Mazairac, Karel V
€ Cafetaria Ten Beste, Predikherenstraat: ‘Best place for a durum alec, a Turkish pizza with a kipcorn in the middle.’
€€ Da Francesca, Bunnik: ‘A hidden gem. Go there and order anything except pizza. Delicious!’
€€€ Madeleine, Wed: ‘Utrecht’s living room, today’s Le Garage. Just go for the full monty, let the chefs (Rik or Ruben) cook you something up. Good wine menu, followed by an espresso with Chartreuse.’

Naresh Ramdjas, Nomono
€ Little World Kitchen, Vondelstraat: ‘Nice place for a quick lunch with a good price/quality ratio. They conjure up lovely flavours, and it’s good to be able to get a bowl of soup at 11 o’clock in the morning without having to wait until lunchtime.’
€€ Soek Thai, Wolff en Dekenplein: ‘It’s just a superb Thai take-away.’
€€€ Héron, Schalkwijkstraat: ‘I’m always happy when I can stay home and cook for myself, so I hardly ever eat out. That said, I was recently blown away by Héron. It was so good! I want to go back ASAP and try some of the other dishes.’

Niels van Zijl, Heimat
€ Namaskar, Vredenburg: ‘Fabulous traditional Indian food and very friendly staff. It’s a household name in Utrecht.’
€€ Bar Bet, Wed: ‘A great place to go for drinks or a bite to eat with a good glass of wine, either outside on the terrace or inside the restaurant. A great view of one of the best and prettiest spots in the city.’
€€€ Héron, Schalkwijkstraat: ‘A nice place with friendly staff who know about food and wine. Comfortable, but highly creative with surprisingly good food. An evening here simply flies by (unfortunately)!’

 

 

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