Bistro LouLou

At Bistro LouLou, you'd swear you were in a hidden gem in France. Cozy, filled with cheerful guests and good food, yet simply situated in a monumental white corner building in the heart of Groningen. Owner and chef Claire van den Bosch doesn't just work in the kitchen; she also keeps a close watch on the guests in the dining room. Together with her young, enthusiastic service team, she ensures that her guests have everything they need. The tables dressed in white linen provide ample privacy, while the authentic zinc bar right in the middle of the restaurant immediately draws the eye. While enjoying a glass of Mont Marçal Extremarium Cava Brut Organic, we look over the menu, which is packed with classic French dishes at surprisingly reasonable prices. The wine list features not only many French labels but also other European selections. For a starter, fresh lobster bisque. Beautifully dark in color, very robust and full of flavor. My table companion tries a duck liver crème brûlée served with brioche. The crispy sugar layer contrasts nicely with the creamy liver mousse. As a glass of Montes Malbec Reserva from Colchagua, Chile is poured for us, the entrecôte with fries, green salad, and herb butter arrives at the table. It is just as delicious. For dessert, a moelleux au chocolat: unfortunately, this lacks a molten center and tastes a bit dry. But the lemon tart with almond and Italian meringue makes up for it: fresh, full-bodied, and elegant, as if it came straight from a French pâtisserie. Absolutely delightful. We can only conclude that the cooking here is truly 'bien'. Finally, the bill. It proves that it's possible: top quality at a highly reasonable price.

LouLou Bistro has quickly become a hotspot in the city center of Groningen. It is located in a monumental white corner building on the Schuitendiep canal. Forget any pretentious atmosphere here; it's simply good food at a fair price in a relaxed setting. The service staff consists mainly of students from local student associations who enjoy working here as a side job, but that doesn't mean there's a lack of passion. After all, owner-chef Claire van den Bosch makes sure of that. Like an eagle, she keeps a close eye on what's happening on the dining floor from the kitchen. Here you can taste perfectly prepared French bistro classics such as entrecôte, pot roast, coq au vin, and salmon. But all with a distinctive LouLou twist. The wine list offers a fine selection of French wines. If you can't decide, Claire is happy to help you choose and will sometimes recommend an even more affordable option than expected. How lovely. The wine list also features a few classics from Spain and Italy. But then there's the menu. Because let's be honest, where can you find a restaurant these days where you can dine à la carte and have so many choices that you almost can't decide? It almost seems un-Dutch. Starters include various dishes to share. The duck liver crème brûlée is definitely worth mentioning. The thick turbot served in beurre noisette with green salad and fries is a tempting main course. As is the perfectly cooked lobster. Many diners from the Randstad region come specifically for the delicious oysters and fresh lobsters that seem to sell out instantly. And then there's the MonChou tart with peach (served with cherries in winter), classic and simple but oh so delicious. And you know, it's great in a vibrant place that's always packed. And the price-to-quality ratio? It's very well balanced. Just leave it to Claire! And when the weather is nice? You can sit on the terrace in front of the restaurant overlooking the canal on a lively street, where you can happily watch people go by. Or – if there's space – you can dine super romantically in the hidden inner courtyard, where it feels as though you've suddenly landed abroad. Highly recommended! Welcome to Lekker.