ML

High quality cooking

In the heart of Haarlem, right in the historic Hotel ML, we find a restaurant where classic charm meets modern elegance. Inside, it is stylishly decorated while preserving old elements and features an open kitchen that invites guests to watch, while outside, the terrace offers views of the St. Bavo Church. Owner-chef Mark Gratema leads the French cuisine with international accents alongside his team. The menu offers both a regular and a vegetarian Chef’s Menu with five to eight courses. We start with a glass of Belstar Prosecco DOC and four amuse-bouches. Especially the parmesan madeleine with basil cream and the pie tee with pea, lime, mint, and glass noodle salad impress with their flavor and refinement. This is followed by a North Sea crab salad with avocado and passion fruit vinaigrette, nicely fresh but the crab itself remains somewhat bland. The steak tartare on brioche with scallop and caviar tastes fuller, although the bread dominates. The burrata with Amela tomato and basil gel is flavorful. A bit less gel would be desirable. For my dining companion, there is an alternative with duck liver that is perfectly prepared. This course is paired with a refined Chardonnay Mâcon, Domaine de la Chapelle 2023. The pièce de résistance is a rack of lamb in spinach with broad beans, morels, and thyme jus. The meat is tender, the jus sublime, although the bread casing takes away some of the focus. Finca San Martin Crianza 2021 pairs excellently with this dish. The sweet finish is less convincing: the yogurt-honey mousse lacks intensity, and the strawberry dessert with horseradish and dill remains unbalanced, although the friandises and a good coffee save the finale. Service is led by Liane Gratema. Her young team proves friendly, attentive, and professional, with an Italian hostess who brings both warmth and expertise. Everything runs smoothly, from pacing to wine advice. ML demonstrates that both the kitchen and service are of a high standard. Within the hotel walls, hospitality truly shines, and you experience the power of this French cuisine in full glory. Just a few final touches, and you won't hear us complain anymore!

Restaurant ML is part of the historic hotel of the same name and is located on the old courtyard of former printer Johan Enschedé and in the period room of the family's residence. Mark Gratema heads the kitchen, while hostess Liane Gratema leads the young kitchen brigade in black uniforms, who clearly enjoy their work. Mark cooks with fresh daily and exclusive ingredients, maintaining that a good balance between tradition and innovation is essential to him. The rich classic French cuisine blends with contemporary techniques and an international flair. Sommelier Tim Jesse gladly pairs suitable wines with each dish, often presenting many of his own house selections to the guests. Two menus are available: the chef's menu and a vegetarian menu. Dining here feels relaxed in the beautiful dining room, which is luxuriously and modernly furnished while preserving historic elements such as wood paneling and doors. Paired with a harmonious, dry, and lightly saline No. 17 Neuenberg Riesling from Peter Lauer Winery, we enjoy a delightful dish of sea bass with cucumber, wasabi, and ajo blanco. What a feast on the plate. The bouillabaisse with cod, octopus, and fennel is equally delicious. We round off the meal with a cheese selection from KaasKampanje. On sunny days, it is lovely to linger on the wonderful terrace. Adjacent to the restaurant is a bistro where you can enjoy slightly more casual yet equally high-quality dining.

Waar zich voorheen de binnenplaats en oude stijlkamer van drukkerijfamilie Enschedé bevond, is sinds 2018 restaurant ML gevestigd, onderdeel uitmakend van het gelijknamige en historische hotel. We vinden ML midden in het levendige en monumentale hart van Haarlem. Chef Mark en gastvrouw Liane Gratama zijn de eigenaren en de naam ML is een samenvoeging van de eerste letters van hun voornamen. Naast het restaurant is ook een bistro gevestigd die een iets laagdrempeliger keuken voert. Het zit fijn in de luxe en strak ingerichte eetzaal met behoud van mooie oude elementen als lambrisering langs de wanden en oorspronkelijke deuren en stijlen. Er is zicht op de open keuken waar een bevlogen team geconcentreerd aan het werk is. Mark kookt smaakrijk, met dagverse, vaak luxe producten. Hij schuwt niet om verschillende kook- en bereidingstechnieken toe te passen en voegt internationale elementen, vaak oosterse, aan zijn gerechten toe. Er is keuze uit menu van de chef in meerdere gangen en een geheel vegetarisch menu. Vegan is niet mogelijk. De wijnkaart biedt overwegend Europese labels. We proeven van mooi bereide forel met peterselie, yoghurt en mierikswortel. In het glas een fijn bijpassende Hees Riesling Trocken Nahe uit Duitsland. We vervolgen met perfect bereide dry-aged entrecote, die overigens met een meerprijs kan worden aangepast in Wagyu A5, met frispittige chimichurri, artisjok en aubergine. De uitgebreide kaasplank van de KaasKampanje is eveneens met een supplement te bestellen. Sympathiek adres om vaak naar terug te willen.

Restaurant ML is located in the monumental former Johan Enschedé printing press in the heart of Haarlem. ML stands for the initials of the owners, chef Mark and hostess Liane Gratama. The restaurant exudes history in its period room and is luxuriously furnished with ample space around each table. Mark cooks internationally and enjoys blending local ingredients with Asian ones. The wine list is extensive and primarily European in focus. Sommelier Tim Jesse deliberately does not offer a wine pairing menu in order to provide guests with a higher-quality glass of wine tailored to their wishes and preferences. After a selection of spectacular amuse-bouches, including a celery root yakitori and a tomato macaron, we start with a gyoza (Japanese dumpling) featuring mushroom duxelles, paired with a robust Pfalz wine. The gyoza is perfectly crispy and richly earthy in flavor. The beef flank of the main course could have been a bit crispier, but the bouillabaisse is original, featuring a razor clam crafted from wonton. The Austrian Joe wine pairs beautifully with both dishes. Make room for the coffee treats, as the house-made bonbons are delightful. Kudos to the service team, who work professionally, cheerfully, and with great discipline. A wonderful spot!

Since 2018, ML has been housed on the courtyard of former printer Johan Enschedé and in the old period room of his residence. The spaces are atmospherically furnished with a blend of classic and modern touches. In the open kitchen, chef Mark Gratama prepares exquisite dishes. We immediately begin by enjoying an appetizer featuring kingfish served in two variations: as a ceviche with cauliflower rice and paired with raw shrimp. Fresh, briny, and delightful. The scallop with tartare and crispy Amsterdam onion is also a resounding success. For the intermezzo, sea urchin is used to create a 'savory tiramisu', though the coffee flavor happens to be slightly too overpowering. The red mullet in the main course, topped with a crispy sourdough crust, is perfect—so good that we would gladly have had more. As we take our seats at the dining bar for dessert, hostess Liane Gratama explains our final dish: a smoked strawberry and white chocolate mousse. This plate looks stunning as well, but the smoky note is slightly too dominant. We pair a Sylvaner with the various starters and intermezzi, followed by a Pinot Noir from Burgundy with the mullet—both expertly selected by sommelier Tim Jesse. The service staff is young yet highly professional, creating a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. The bill is substantial, but that is hardly unusual in this premium segment. Overnight stays are available! Right on the cusp of the Top 100.

ML, helmed by Mark and Liane Gratama, is housed in a beautifully preserved heritage building on Klokhuisplein in the heart of Haarlem. The restaurant occupies the inner courtyard of former printer Johan Enschedé’s workshop and extends into the original period room of his historic residence. The décor is exceptionally atmospheric and richly detailed, featuring soft green armchairs at linen-covered tables, leather wall benches, dark herringbone floors, contemporary chandeliers, and walls painted in a moody grey-green shade. A long chef’s counter overlooks the open kitchen, allowing diners to watch the brigade, led by Mark and Kevin Blom, work with intense concentration. Their cuisine is elegant yet daring, defined by an exciting marriage of ingredients and diverse flavors where balance is paramount. Hostess Liane leads a young, highly professional service team that clearly delights in pampering guests. The wine list boasts many personal discoveries offered at excellent value. What a wonderful place!

Here you can dine, have drinks, celebrate, hold meetings, and stay overnight. Mark and Liane Gratama's ML is housed in a beautiful historic building situated at Klokhuisplein in the heart of Haarlem. The restaurant area is located in the inner courtyard of former printer Johan Enschedé's building and in the old period room of the former residence. Chefs Mark and Kevin Kion lead a playful kitchen and, as they put it, push the boundaries between tradition and innovation. We start with four amuse-bouches: a beetroot macaron filled with duck liver and smoked eel cream, a crispy brique stuffed with mackerel mousse, a crab bitterballie, and a delicate asparagus soup. An excellent start. We order à la carte and savor succulent roasted langoustines with oyster, celeriac, and beurre blanc, paired by sommelier Tim Jesse with a Cardito Malvasia Puntinata 2016 from Lazio, Italy: a lovely, fresh, mineral-driven wine. This is followed by softly cooked tripe with – quite surprisingly – red curry, which pairs perfectly with it, along with rutabaga, presented alongside an artistically arranged plate of four entrecôte slices, tableside-dressed with a rich jus. The jug remains on the table so we can top up our plates to our liking. Served separately is a dumpling filled with tartare. With the coffee comes a selection of pastries, and the soft pink milk chocolate bonbon with a coffee liqueur filling leaves you wanting more. A wonderful spot!