Enschede: this is where you need to be

From Michelin-starred restaurants to bistros and from Arabic to Japanese. These are the places you want to go to in Enschede.

Alsaraya
This place is open seven days a week, and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays even until 2 a.m. You can eat Arabic food here. Go for fattoush (the Lebanese version of panzanella), kebbeh trabulsye (a pastry filled with ground meat, onion and pine nuts), and get labneh (yogurt dip with cumin, fresh herbs and olive oil) to dip your pita in. They also have good kebab and traditionally seasoned rack of lamb.

Bistro het Koetshuis
At this bistro, you can make it as crazy as you like. They have a low-level ‘monthly menu’: five courses for just € 29.50, but also a more exclusive chef’s menu: three, four or five courses with a wine pairing cost € 56, € 71 or € 86. Prefer to choose for yourself? You can do that too. They have a versatile menu. Go for kid goat, confit de canard or tagliatelle aglio olio with herbs from their own garden and fresh sheep’s cheese. Chef John Spruit previously cooked for Herman den Blijker and took part in the Topchef Academy program. Het Koetshuis is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. On Sundays, you can also have brunch there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yuzu
Yuzu’s cuisine is a mix of different Asian cuisines. They call themselves an ‘Asian Grand Café’. You can eat Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese food here. So sushi and teppanyaki tuna, but also char siu, Thai fish cakes and Goi Cuon (Vietnamese salad rolls). They are open every day, including for lunch. The place is large, beautifully decorated and has a lovely terrace.

‘t Lansink
Okay, this restaurant isn’t actually in Enschede, but in Hengelo. I’m discussing it anyway, because you can eat incredibly well there and it’s only 20 minutes from 053 by car or public transport. By bike, it takes half an hour from the center of Enschede.

Here, you can eat at Michelin-starred level in an old tea house dating from 1916. A changing five-course seasonal menu costs €70. Not in the mood for surprises? No problem, you can also eat à la carte. For example, start with veal cheek with sweetbreads, potato, garlic and Madeira, followed by skate wing with cauliflower, capers and beurre noisette. Yum. Don’t live in Enschede but just visiting for the day? You can also stay overnight there.

Images: Yuzu, ‘t Lansink, Bistro het Koetshuis, Alsaraya.