Le Vieux Jean

good quality, good value cooking

For over fifty years now, the charming Le Vieux Jean has stood firm on Delft’s oldest square, at the foot of the leaning church tower (known as De Oude Jan). Classic French cuisine reigns supreme here, and as early as the 1970s, Rob and Cokky Polman—parents of the current owner-chef Robert Jan Polman—traveled to France to source ingredients that were hardly available in the Netherlands at the time. Robert Jan and his partner and maître d’hôtel, Désiré, have been running the establishment since 2006, and the offerings maintain their consistently high standard. Diners settle comfortably in the historic, intimate room, which features linen-covered tables, silver cutlery, and meticulously polished wine glasses. Nothing is left to chance. Guests can choose from an à la carte menu or opt for a multi-course tasting menu. We sample freshly prepared sea bass tartare with tomato and delicate briny herbs. Served at the perfect temperature and artfully presented. Succulent roasted Dutch veal loin, served with braised brisket hachee and summer chanterelles, is paired with a 2019 red Burgundy from Michel Goubard et Fils, Givry La Grande Berge Premier Cru. It’s a full-flavored experience, much like the wine itself: round, smooth, and rich in tannins. The bill is remarkably reasonable given the exquisite dishes served. Vive la vie at Le Vieux Jean!

A wonderful restaurant for those who love classic cuisine, bursting with flavor and made with top-quality ingredients. The restaurant has been around for fifty years! The atmosphere is warm and intimate, the service attentive and professional. Almost twenty ...

A small but delightful eatery at the foot of the Old Church, in the historic heart of Delft. A favorite stop for lovers of French cuisine. Owner and chef Robert Jan Polman originally came to temporarily help his parents run the restaurant in the late 1980s and never left. For years now, he has been running a solid establishment together with his wife Désiré and, more recently, their daughter, where you are treated to beautiful classics without frills, yet full of quality and expert preparation. We sample radish cups filled with langoustines and orzo, along with a citrus vinaigrette, finished with roasted hazelnuts. Beautiful textures, well-balanced between soft sweetness and light acidity. In the glass, a 2022 white Burgundy Viré-Clessé from Domaine Montbarbon. Roasted North Sea turbot follows, served with sea purslane, summer chanterelles, and a grape must sauce. Damn, that's good. The main course earns a medal: roast veal top round is served with braised veal breast, matching green beans, mustard, and chanterelles. French cuisine at its absolute finest. We finish off with a perfectly executed pavlova, crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, accompanied by hung curd, fresh blackberries, a blackberry sorbet, and a fresh, frothy sabayon. Le Vieux Jean stands rock solid.

This charming French eatery run by the Polman family, located at the foot of the Oude Kerk in the center of Delft, has been a delightful place to dine for years. Robert Jan prepares the French-classical cuisine, and you can certainly come with a hearty appetite, as they don't serve tiny portions. His specialties, duck liver terrine and veal sweetbreads with lobster sauce, have graced the concise menu for years. There is an abundance of wine choices, mostly from Old World countries with France leading the way. Accompanying the house aperitif of gin with strawberry liqueur and syrup topped with sparkling wine comes a small glass of asparagus velouté and a parmesan cracker with romanesco. The first course consists of thinly sliced marinated scallop pieces with celeriac, endive, toasted pine nuts, drizzled with a buttermilk and green herb dressing. And of course, we indulge in a succulent slice of duck liver terrine with pear compote and grilled spiced cake. In the glass, a Spanish lightly sweet Enate Gewürztraminer. The main course features buttery tender roasted Dutch lamb leg in its own jus with thyme, asparagus, pea cream, and zucchini, served alongside seasoned minced lamb with slightly too much pepper. The poured Santenay ‘Beaurepaire’ 1er cru 2018 from Domaine C. Sorine proves to be a perfect match. To finish, sweet Lambada strawberries on meringue with yogurt and lemon ice cream. Not groundbreaking, but delicious. Le Vieux Jean remains a wonderful spot where you can enjoy classic French cuisine in its finest form. And all at a very reasonable price. Hats off.

No tiny portions here, just full plates. The pleasantly classic cuisine of owner-chef Robert Jan Polman has been satisfying passersby and regulars for years in this picturesque restaurant, situated directly across from the leaning (two meters off plumb!) St. John’s Tower and the Prinsenhof. It is a historic, cozy little room that could easily have served as a set for a Vermeer painting. His wife, Désiré Polman, is on service tonight and proves to be a skilled and cheerful hostess. Sommelier Fabrice Marchandot, “a Dutch Frenchman,” pours a delicious Santenay ‘En Charron’ 2021, a full, round Burgundy that holds its own throughout the entire dinner. We begin with a beautiful vegetarian dish: onion tarte tatin with onion cream, shiitake mushrooms, and pata negra. An elegant flavor bomb. Next comes beluga lentils with grilled scallops, crispy baked belly pork, and sesame: another one of those irresistible gourmet plates. The partridge takes center stage as the main course, perfectly roasted and served with roasted May potatoes, melon onions, and tarragon sauce. On the other plate is a house classic: chunks of roasted monkfish alongside a carrot-and-onion mash and a spicy jus with Sichuan pepper. Simply delicious! To finish, a carefully prepared dessert featuring five French cheese selections with accompaniments, paired with a glass of PX sherry. And an old-fashioned, wonderfully tasty Pavlova topped with white chocolate, strawberries, and a light strawberry-lemon mousse. An excellent, and above all affordable, dining spot.

A staple in this guide for years. This small and delightful French bistro run by the Polman family is an indispensable fixture in Delft's city center. Meanwhile, son Robert-Jan and his wife Desiré have been running the establishment for a number of years now. He wields the culinary scepter in the kitchen, while she ensures with her team that the guests lack nothing. Fabrice Marchandot is the sommelier, and he boasts a wonderful wine list, predominantly featuring French wines that are largely self-imported. As usual, it is cozy and bustling. This time we skip the house specialty – the delicious duck liver terrine – and start with a vegetarian dish: tomato tarte tatin with goat cheese, seeds and kernels, a hint of cardamom, and a cherry-based sauce. Beautifully presented, it is an imaginative and flavorful dish. In the glass, a beautifully matching white Côtes du Rhône Délicatesse 2016 from the Mas de Sainte Croix estate. The cannelloni with crab and pata negra ham contains a generous amount of herb oil and is consequently too rich for our liking. Fortunately, the roasted sea bass with Southern French accents arrives perfectly cooked, as does the Dutch lamb chop in its own jus with creamy legumes and polenta. The value for money is excellent here. Merci!

An indispensable fixture in Delft’s city center. For years, the Polman family has operated this extremely welcoming and intimate pizzeria opposite the leaning St. John’s Church, and since the pandemic, they have opened a summer terrace at the foot of this historic building. Son Robert Jan and his wife Désiré have been at the helm for a few years now. He has taken over the head chef position from his father, who now dedicates himself fully to wine sourcing and sales. Robert Jan adores France and knows its classics inside out. He cooks with the seasons, producing flavorful dishes that reflect both culinary expertise and a true passion for good food. A large portion of the wines on the menu are imported by Mr. Polman senior, and his love for France shines through in the extensive French selections, particularly from Burgundy. Compliments to hostess Désiré and sommelier Fabrice Marchandot, who charmingly and with a keen eye for refinement pamper guests from arrival to departure. Merci!

For years, the Polman family has run the picturesque restaurant opposite the leaning St. John’s Tower, and nowadays it is son Robert-Jan and his wife Desiré who delight guests in this historic, cozily furnished Pijpenlaatje. Blessed with a kitchen that exudes craftsmanship and presents pleasant classics alongside a few vegetarian dishes. Robert-Jan has taken over the chef’s role from his father – who now devotes himself entirely to the sourcing and sales of excellent wines – and he immediately spoils us with a duck liver dish. A thick slice of terrine, well-textured and superbly flavored, accompanied by pickled grapes and a slice of grilled spiced bread. That’s exactly how liver should taste. The table companion has a similar dish: a pressed salad of smoked Barykov salmon and crab, served with potato, wakame, garden cress, and vadouvan mayonnaise. Beautifully paired with glasses of Santenay from the estate’s own vineyard in Burgundy: elegant and tasting of vanilla and toasted oak. We continue with monkfish, perfectly roasted and served with risotto, pumpkin, lobster jus, and purslane. And on the other plate, a crispy round of phyllo pastry topped with tuna tartare, radish, and flavorings such as mayonnaise with wasabi and sesame seeds. Delicacies that gain extra dimension from the beautiful white wine. Finally, an indulgent tartelette of lemon, Italian meringue, and blood orange compote. A wonderful establishment!

You can hardly imagine it, but Johannes Vermeer used to stroll past here regularly in his day, his hat splattered with paint. The little building that houses Le Vieux Jean has remained unchanged ever since, as has the backdrop—the leaning tower of the Oude Kerk. That is why you will mostly hear English here, whether from tourists or bright university students who love dining at this spot. After all, the kitchen run by owner-chef Robert-Jan Polman is excellent, as is the service provided by his wife, Désiré. Their dining room is small but utterly captivating, featuring wood paneling, exposed ceiling beams, a natural stone floor, Delft blue tiles, and tables dressed in crisp white linens with silver cutlery. We begin with panna cotta topped with Pata Negra ham and a pea soup, paired with an excellent glass of Santenay El Charron 2014, imported by Robert-Jan’s parents. The crab starter is generous and flavorful: hand-picked sweet-and-salty meat served with quinoa, lime, and a warm crab cake, alongside ham rillettes with horseradish and gherkin. Delicious. Sommelier Fabrice Marchandot complements it with a beautifully ripe 2014 Saint-Joseph from Domaine du Chêne. For the main course, hostess Danielle Jansen serves pollock baked in brown butter, accompanied by braised cauliflower rosettes and shredded beef. It is just as much a beautiful classic as asparagus with rich cream and butter sauce. To finish, we enjoy blood orange with chocolate, basil, and sabayon, along with a glass of sweet Jurançon from Cauhapé. Simply outstanding!