Eating in Haarlem: this is where you need to be

From the very best fries to a French bistro, this is where you need to be in Haarlem.

Le Mortier
Here, you can eat at the highest level for very little. Three courses cost €32.50, and for forty quid you get four. The à la carte dishes are also very reasonably priced. Crispy sweetbreads with cauliflower and walnut, for example. A nice added bonus: they import all the wines from the Loire on the menu themselves, and you can also buy them in their online wine shop.

La Forca
Classic Italian food. Every day, they serve a menu based on what is available at the market that day and what the Italian suppliers bring in. Black truffles arrive from Italy every week. If you’re not much of a surprise person, the menu offers plenty of choice. Try the black ravioli with crab and shellfish ragù, or orecchiette pasta with wild broccoli, garlic, anchovies, chilies and fried breadcrumbs. Don’t expect a trendy place, but come here for excellent food.

Friethoes
Fries are a delicacy, according to the owners of Friethoes. If you approach fries that way, you’ve won a place in our hearts. They work with the best potatoes available at the time. So your fries aren’t always made from the same type of potato and don’t always taste the same. They are always super fresh, though: within 24 hours, the potato is cut and fried before landing in your cone. Add homemade mayo and leave it at that.

Café Colette
A French bistro where you can imagine yourself in Paris. Start with duck rillettes, oysters or shrimp croquettes. Bavette, confit de canard or a roasted chicken for your main course. Crème brûlée for dessert. As soon as you step outside again, you’re definitely back in Haarlem.

Applause
Another Italian restaurant, but this one also belongs on the list. Relaxed, informal and delicious. Definitely order the chef’s antipasti if you—like us—often suffer from decision fatigue. They also have lots of different pastas, and you can enjoy a good glass of wine there.