Bar Bowie

Restaurant owners Jan Willem van der Zee and Bas van der Elst have an uncanny knack for knowing exactly how to delight their guests. Bar Bowie boasts an inviting interior, a blend of modern and vintage that resembles a French grand café with its distinctive allure. The atmosphere is relaxed, and despite the crowds (mostly thirtysomethings and fortysomethings), the acoustics are perfect. The young staff are friendly, attentive, and highly skilled—most are studying at a higher hospitality institute—and last but not least: the food is simply to die for. As soon as the menu and wine list are presented, a bottle of chilled tap water is placed on the table, which we don't see reflected on the bill later. The selection is extensive, and the Mediterranean cuisine offers bites, starters, main courses, sides, and desserts. The wine list deserves special mention, featuring excellent selections across various price ranges. Paired with a sparkling crémant, we indulge in a small bowl of tender green Italian olives, followed by a generously filled plate of langoustines swimming in delicious bone marrow butter and lemon. The skate wing from the main course is pan-fried until the skin is crispy and comes accompanied by parsley butter sauce, chunks of firm-cooked Opperdoes, pied de mouton mushrooms, and mussels in the shell. In the glass, a floral and fruity 2022 Domaine Piaugier Sablet Blanc. The pace of service is pleasant, and the bill, after deducting a deposit, is entirely in line with the quality of the food served. The Hague has added an exceptionally pleasant new address to its dining scene. Welcome to Delicious!