Best/Worst Reviews of 2017
Restaurant critics eat a lot. The scores flew around our ears, but these were definitely the most notable reviews. We present: the peaks and valleys of the Dutch hospitality industry.
The Best
Stimulating, flavorful, good service… all words that lyrical critics used to describe their evening. These were the best reviews of the past year.
De Librije
Score: 10
It is not terribly surprising, but the three-star restaurant De Librije scored the best this year. Joël Broekaert thinks that Jonnie and Thérèse Boer simply run the best restaurant in the Netherlands. He was excited, stimulated and transported by the ‘intimate performance’ he experienced. His ode therefore inevitably ended with a solid ten.
Rijnzicht
Score: 9+
This year, Mac van Dinther had his best meal outside the Randstad, namely at Rijnzicht in Doorneburg. From the spectacular amuse-bouches (river stones filled with Reypenaer) to farm duck. Mac best describes his experience as ‘The latest Scandinavian trends, with a touch of Italian avant-garde and Gelderland daring.’ Every course had him sitting on the edge of his seat. In his review, he rated this new top restaurant a 9+.
Vroesenpaviljoen
Score: 8.4
Lot Piscaer was full of praise for Vroesenpaviljoen in the green surroundings of Vroesenpark in Rotterdam. The attentive service and the vegetarian barbecue dish proved surprisingly delicious. As they say at AD: ‘If only every park had such a pavilion’. This successful evening was crowned with a delightful review with a final score of 8.4.
The Worst
And as much praise as there was this year, there was just as much misery. These are the most dismal reviews of 2017.
Spingaren
Score: 3
At Spingaren, you assemble your own charcuterie board. Unfortunately, this did not go down well. Hiske Versprille cannot approve of this ‘hipster concept sketched out at the table’. The result? A scathing review. The sausages were extremely salty and stringy, and the mussels rubbery like deflated balloons.The restaurant did take the review well, by the way. From now on, guests pay whatever they think their meal was worth and are given the chance to leave feedback.
Eatmosfera
Score: 4.5
Okay, this is not the worst Italian restaurant in the Netherlands, but the chef at Eatmosfera did lie about the origin of the meat, and that is unforgivable. That is why Hiske punishes this restaurant with a 4.5 in her review. Instead of Italian pork, she was casually served Dutch pork. Despite the restaurant management denying the accusations, Hiske discovered through some excellent detective work that the meat really did come from the Netherlands. Ouch, that must hurt.
‘t Land van Wale
Score: 5.3
‘t Land van Wale in Heinenoord was a restaurant worth driving out of your way for years ago, but that is no longer the case. From weak soup to spoiled fish. The only bright spot was the homemade coconut macaroon, but that only highlighted how deplorable the rest of the dinner was. The result? A scathing review from Lot Piscaer, with a final verdict of 5.3.
Cucina del Mondo
Score: 6-
Mac van Dinther generally does not give scores below five, because ‘that is bad enough already’. This year, the 6- for Cucina del Mondo stood out to us the most, especially because this restaurant holds a Michelin star. First of all, the service threw sand into what could have been a well-oiled machine. Unfortunately, the food did not make up for much. In his review, Mac concludes that he had a bad evening or that someone at Michelin had a great one instead.
Kartoffel
Score: none
And then there was the most dismal restaurant experience of the year. Joël Broekaert had that at Kartoffel in Utrecht. Although, dismal is not quite the word. He could not actually give it a score. ‘What is taking place there tonight is nothing less than a small culinary drama. We end the evening sobbing softly in the fetal position under the shower, in a futile attempt to wash this assault with currywurst off us.’ Well, that says enough, surely, but Joel nevertheless finds the German gemütlichkeit and sympathetic atmosphere endearing. At the end of his argument, Joel leaves the final verdict to the readers, because he cannot make any statements about this evening.
