1. Diga €€ - Damstraat 10, 2011 HA Haarlem
4,3/5,0 Google Reviews
Diga is an Italian restaurant with a touch of luxury. The menu consists of Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, and Dolci, just like you would find in Italy. Despite the delicious dishes on the menu, I would recommend trying the Menù Dello Chef (Menu by the Chef). You can choose between a 4, 5, or 6-course dinner. The last time I dined there, I opted for the 6-course dinner. I am a big eater, but after the 5th course, I started to feel quite full. Therefore, I would suggest going for a 5-course dinner, even if you have a big appetite.
At the Menù Dello Chef, you receive 2 appetizers in addition to all the courses. As appetizers, we were served fried lasagna. This may sound a bit unusual, but it was truly delicious. We enjoyed a sea bass ceviche with zucchini spaghetti and a delightful tomato sauce with black salt. Another dish featured octopus with polenta, followed by risotto with a piece of veal cheek. We were then served a wonderfully tender piece of guinea fowl, and to conclude, a dessert consisting of a pastry base with hazelnut cream and elderflower ice cream.
2 appetizers, including fried lasagna
Guinea fowl
2. In 't Goede Uur €€ - Korte Houtstraat 1, 2011 ZN Haarlem
4,7/5,0 Google Reviews
"In 't Goede Uur" is the perfect restaurant for the tastiest cheese fondue. The restaurant is located in the center of Haarlem, just outside the busy area, in a charming green street. The interior has an old-fashioned/authentic look with many wooden details.
It is a popular choice among cheese fondue enthusiasts, so it is recommended to make a reservation well in advance.
It is advisable to choose various pots of cheese fondue if you are dining with a group, allowing you to enjoy different flavors. I would definitely go for the original cheese fondue, "Kaasfondue in 't Goede Uur", as they have become known for it. Alongside the cheese fondue, you will be served bread and salad. Bread is replenished upon request, and additional vegetables for dipping can be ordered for a small price of around 4 euros.
3. La Plume €€ - Lange Veerstraat 1, 2011 DA Haarlem
4,3/5,0 Google Reviews
La Plume is a bistro located in the lively center of Haarlem. The restaurant is elegantly decorated, with cozy seating areas. La Plume is always busy, so I recommend making a reservation.
The menu is very extensive, offering something for everyone. From simple dishes like Saté van de Haas, marinated pork meat on a stick, to Gegrilde Pulpo, grilled octopus. My recommendations are the Saint-Marcellin as a starter, a spicy melted cheese with truffle and honey to dip in bread, and the Tournedos as a main course. But, of course, the Sambal steak is also delightful, although I find it slightly better at Table 24.
4. Table 24 €€ - Oude Groenmarkt 24, 2011 HL Haarlem
4,5/5,0 Google Reviews
Table 24 is a cozy restaurant located in the vibrant heart of Haarlem. This restaurant is the perfect location for a good diner or drink. The inside of the restaurant is not really big, but it provides enough seating places. If you prefer dining indoors, I recommend making a reservation, particularly on Fridays or Saturdays. The restaurant also features a spacious outdoor terrace for dining, equipped with heaters to keep it warm during the winter.
The menu is very diverse, making it challenging to decide what to order. For starters, you can opt for oysters or dishes from the small bites menu. I typically start with one Oriental oyster and around 4 or 5 small bites. If you find it difficult to decide which small bites you want, you can choose the Plateau 24, which includes 10 chef-selected small bites (to share). My favorite small bites are: Steak tartaar, Gamba, Nduja arancini and the Thom kha kai soep.
For the main course, I always choose the Steak sambal—a perfectly tender piece of steak in a spicy, thin gravy. The meat is paired with a sweet pumpkin cream, featuring pieces of carrot and baby corn. Making it the perfect sweet and savory combination.
If you enjoy truffle mayo, parmesan cheese, and french fries, you should definitely try the Friet Parmezaan.
The Scroppino Pornstar is the ideal dessert to end your dinner. It is essentially the same as a regular Scroppino but enhanced with passion fruit.
If you're only going for a drink, be sure to check the cocktail menu. My personal favorites are the Pornstar Martini and the Amaretto sour.
Small bites @table24
5. Mano restaurant €€€ - Bakenessergracht 109, 2011 JV Haarlem
5,0/5,0 Google Reviews
A visit to restaurant Mano is truly an extraordinary experience. It's a small restaurant located in the quiet part of the center of Haarlem, and the food is absolutely amazing! The staff is very attentive and refills your drink when your glass is almost empty, making you feel truly pampered.
During your visit, you have the choice between an à la carte menu or a Chef's menu, where you can choose from a 5, 6, or 7-course dinner. We opted for the 6-course dinner, where we ordered lobster and Wagyu as an extra dish.
The evening starts with 4 appetizers,
each with its own distinct flavor.
For example, we received an appetizer
with steak tartare, as well as one with
salmon. In addition to the appetizers,
we each ordered an oyster, which was
absolutely delicious.
The dishes were served at a nice pace, so you didn't have to wait too long or too short for your food. Below, I'll describe some of my favorite dishes from that evening.
The first dish of the evening was raw tuna in a mandarin and sanbaizu dressing, which made the dish incredibly tasty. The plate was also beautifully presented, almost too beautiful to eat. In addition to this dish, a kind of savory churro was served with raw tuna and herring eggs on top. This dish was perfect to start with—a light dish with explosive flavor combinations and perfectly tender tuna.
The second dish was a scallop with
sea banana (!) and a bacon crumble
on top. The scallop was perfectly cooked
and a perfect combination with the salty
flavor of the bacon. I had never eaten sea
banana before, so I was curious how it
would taste. It was a juicy, salty vegetable
that added the perfect crunch to the dish.
The second-to-last dish we were served was
a tender piece of beef tenderloin with a core
of foie gras. This dish had the deepest and
richest flavor of the evening. The tender piece
of beef, resting on a jus of beef with port,
combined with the fatty foie gras, made it truly
exceptional.
Lastly, we were served a refreshing dessert, which was a perfect end to the dinner. The dessert consisted of a kind of firm sweet coconut cream with a sour filling with the flavor of lime leaf. Additionally, ice cream was served which really completed the whole dish.
6. Fishbar Monk - Turfmarkt 20, 2011 CB Haarlem
Coming soon