De Knip

This well-run restaurant on the Vliet has been around for a long time and is a well-known institution. The terrace is truly fantastic, but it is also very pleasant inside. A lovely blend of old and new, perfectly in line with what owner-chef Marcel van Teij...

Newly added to this guide last year and once again earning high praise this year. Owner-chef Marcel van Teijlingen runs, alongside his wife and hostess Irene and daughter Renske, a solid restaurant where fine dining takes center stage. De Knip enjoys a unique location along the De Vliet canal, offering sweeping views across the water. In good weather, it is delightful to linger on the spacious terrace. The dining experience is highly comfortable within an impeccably curated ambiance featuring spotlessly white linen-draped tables, plush chairs, and gleaming crockery. The menu offers a selection of dishes from which you can assemble your own tasting menu. Paired with a sparkling Crémant d’Alsace Brut by Gustave Lorentz, we make our selections. We start with a roulade served at the ideal temperature, consisting of two slices of veal pastrami and poultry pâté in a mild parsley vinaigrette, finished with crisp radish. Lusciously soft and deeply flavorful. The sweetbreads glazed with apple syrup, served on stewed lentils and hazelnut vinaigrette with madeira, are equally outstanding. Cooked to perfection, the sweetbreads are crispy on the outside and velvety soft on the inside. After the main course of corn-fed chicken breast with a bitterballen, mushrooms, olives, and poultry jus, we still give in to dessert. And we have no regrets. The pear mousse dessert with vanilla, compote, white chocolate ganache, and cardamom ice cream is truly worth the trip. A special shout-out to the Teijlingen ladies, whose dedication and expertise ensure guests are pampered to the highest degree. A fantastic address.

Nestled idyllically along the De Vliet, it offers expansive views of the gently rippling water from its spacious terrace on summer days, where numerous pleasure boats glide past. Since 2006, Marcel van Teijlingen has been the owner and head chef, and together with his wife and hostess Irene and daughter Renske, he runs a welcoming fine-dining restaurant where delivering top quality is paramount. Let's get straight to the point: everything here is spot on. The welcome is warm and heartfelt, the atmosphere relaxed, and last but not least: the kitchen delivers balanced dishes that are pure, bursting with flavor, creative, and generously presented. Teijlingen shies away from unnecessary gimmicks, and every element on the plate serves a purpose and maintains perfect balance. Paired with a refreshing Spanish cava Segura Viudas Reserva comes a plate of handmade potato chips with an avocado and black olive crunch dip, followed by an elegant bite of dashi egg topped with a sharply seasoned tomato tartare and crowned with pear foam. The tone is set. The menu offers set menus with multiple choices alongside à la carte options. We begin with marinated spiced salmon surrounded by an aromatic dashi sauce dotted with watercress oil, finished with marinated melon slices, cucumber balls, and herring roe. Beautifully plated and packed with umami. We pair it with a glass of the pleasant 2020 Douro La Rosa. This is followed by a melt-in-the-mouth lamb roulade accompanied by a perfectly cooked cutlet, al dente asparagus, and sweet-and-sour leeks, with vin rouge sauce poured tableside. The service pace is pleasant, and the bill is entirely commensurate with the quality served. Welcome to Lekker!