The listings are in alphabetical order by location name.
The title of each listing is also a link to the external website with more information.
Goch (Asperden) - Swan - Good ol' traditional German food
Traditional German food, hearty and generous, sums up the Swan. My favorites are the Haxe which looks like something Astrix and Obelix would feast on and the Holzfeller steak. For those of you not familiar with German food, Haxe is roasted ham hock, the lower part of a pig leg, just above the ankle. Because the haxe is roasted, the inside is tender meat and the outside crispy crackling. Typically this appears on the menu at the time of the October Fest season. The other favorite, the Holzfeller steak, literally is the lumber jack steak. It’s a tasty pork chop topped off with a mountain of fried crispy onions. If this is not what you fancy, no worries. What German village restaurant would not have schnitzel? And of course there a several choices for seafood lovers as well as salads.
2023 update - They have ditched their menu and now they only have a buffet. All the favorite dishes from the menu are in the buffet so you have a better chance of trying out more than one dish.
Goch - Terschlusen - Schnitzels, spareribs and more
This family establishment has been around for decades. Friends of mine who grew up in Goch who are now in their fifties remember eating here when they were kids. The place itself is like a seventies time capsule with furnishings which seriously date back to that era.
Never mind the interior, what strikes you on most days is how full and bustling the place is. The entrance area is usually packed with people waiting at the counter for their takeaway meals with more waiting at the bar for a table to free up. Sometimes the wait for a table can be as long as half an hour. And that is not surprising when you see the assortment of mouth-watering schnitzels they have with every imaginable topping. Every time I come here for a quick meal, I am torn between ordering their tasty spare ribs and one of their schnitzels, like the wild mushroom cream sauce schnitzel which is a personal favourite. A serving of spareribs goes for just around 10 euros and the schnitzels range from 8 to 10 euros for the small ones. And believe me, their small-size schnitzel would be considered large elsewhere. I never had the courage to take on one of their large schnitzels. Fries, potatoes and a side salad or cooked vegetables all cost extra but only a few more euros. Even when it's busy, the meal you eventually get is very much worth the wait.
Kalkar - Ratskeller - Fine dining in a vaulted souterrain
I've always enjoyed fine dining here. My favorite is the roast lamb with herb crust and port wine sauce. They have a great selection of fish, meat, vegetarian and seasonal dishes.
Note: For those who don't understand German, 'Rats' has nothing to do with rats. The name is referring to the fact that the restaurant is situated in the cellar of the monumental town hall (Ratshaus).
Kevelaer - Thai Rin Raum – Freshly prepared Thai curries and more
Sometimes authentic Asian food can be found in the weirdest location. Just outside the Edeka parking lot in Kevelaer, there’s a small mobile restaurant with fresh Thai curries and noodles. Yes, literally in the middle of nowhere by the road. And yet, people flock to this place from far and near to get their Thai dinner take out. There’s some seating next to the caravan with protection from the elements but most customers go for the take out. On a sunny summer day, we sat down for a Thai road side picnic. I usually alternate between Pad Thai noodles and a Thai curry. They also have a mean tamarind sauce stir fry. Everything is prepared on the spot as you wait. And for all this quality fresh Thai home cooking, they don’t charge an arm and a leg. Seriously is there anywhere else where you can have a generous serving of steaming hot Thai curry with rice for around 8 euros? I’m not kidding. Check out their online menu.
Kleve - Comce - Turkish delight
This is Turkish cuisine freshly prepared right before your eyes. The extensive menu features a variety of meat grilled on skewers as well as special dishes such as tender pieces of lamb smothered in cream and fresh mushrooms. The special starter plate is a great way to kick off dinner. For those who are not familiar with Turkish food, the plate offers a nice palette of dips as well as goat cheese fried in crispy filo pastry as well as rice wrapped in grape leaves. Prices are very reasonable for the great quality that is served. They also offer a lunch special on weekdays as well as Turkish pizza for those in need of a quick snack.
Kleve - Wissing - Schnitzel paradise
They call themselves 'schnell restaurant'. However I wouldn't quite place them in the same category as the big M. Sure, when you enter the restaurant, there's the takeaway counter and the fragrance of French fries. But step in further and you see the back of the restaurant is a modern large seated-dining area. And there are over 30 flavors of schnitzel on the menu with every imaginable sauce and topping. Some days, that is the ultimate comfort food. The perfect schnitzel and a serving from their salad bar. A bit of responsible-choice greenery goes a long way towards balancing the meal.
Goch - Terschlusen - Schnitzels, spareribs and more
This family establishment has been around for decades. Friends of mine who grew up in Goch who are now in their fifties remember eating here when they were kids. The place itself is like a seventies time capsule with furnishings which seriously date back to that era.
Never mind the interior, what strikes you on most days is how full and bustling the place is. The entrance area is usually packed with people waiting at the counter for their takeaway meals with more waiting at the bar for a table to free up. Sometimes the wait for a table can be as long as half an hour. And that is not surprising when you see the assortment of mouth-watering schnitzels they have with every imaginable topping. Every time I come here for a quick meal, I am torn between ordering their tasty spare ribs and one of their schnitzels, like the wild mushroom cream sauce schnitzel which is a personal favourite. A serving of spareribs goes for just around 10 euros and the schnitzels range from 8 to 10 euros for the small ones. And believe me, their small-size schnitzel would be considered large elsewhere. I never had the courage to take on one of their large schnitzels. Fries, potatoes and a side salad or cooked vegetables all cost extra but only a few more euros. Even when it's busy, the meal you eventually get is very much worth the wait.
Kalkar - Ratskeller - Fine dining in a vaulted souterrain
I've always enjoyed fine dining here. My favorite is the roast lamb with herb crust and port wine sauce. They have a great selection of fish, meat, vegetarian and seasonal dishes.
Note: For those who don't understand German, 'Rats' has nothing to do with rats. The name is referring to the fact that the restaurant is situated in the cellar of the monumental town hall (Ratshaus).
Kevelaer - Thai Rin Raum – Freshly prepared Thai curries and more
Sometimes authentic Asian food can be found in the weirdest location. Just outside the Edeka parking lot in Kevelaer, there’s a small mobile restaurant with fresh Thai curries and noodles. Yes, literally in the middle of nowhere by the road. And yet, people flock to this place from far and near to get their Thai dinner take out. There’s some seating next to the caravan with protection from the elements but most customers go for the take out. On a sunny summer day, we sat down for a Thai road side picnic. I usually alternate between Pad Thai noodles and a Thai curry. They also have a mean tamarind sauce stir fry. Everything is prepared on the spot as you wait. And for all this quality fresh Thai home cooking, they don’t charge an arm and a leg. Seriously is there anywhere else where you can have a generous serving of steaming hot Thai curry with rice for around 8 euros? I’m not kidding. Check out their online menu.
2024 update - It is no longer possible to eat there. It is strictly take-out only.
Kleve - Comce - Turkish delight
This is Turkish cuisine freshly prepared right before your eyes. The extensive menu features a variety of meat grilled on skewers as well as special dishes such as tender pieces of lamb smothered in cream and fresh mushrooms. The special starter plate is a great way to kick off dinner. For those who are not familiar with Turkish food, the plate offers a nice palette of dips as well as goat cheese fried in crispy filo pastry as well as rice wrapped in grape leaves. Prices are very reasonable for the great quality that is served. They also offer a lunch special on weekdays as well as Turkish pizza for those in need of a quick snack.
Kleve - Wissing - Schnitzel paradise
They call themselves 'schnell restaurant'. However I wouldn't quite place them in the same category as the big M. Sure, when you enter the restaurant, there's the takeaway counter and the fragrance of French fries. But step in further and you see the back of the restaurant is a modern large seated-dining area. And there are over 30 flavors of schnitzel on the menu with every imaginable sauce and topping. Some days, that is the ultimate comfort food. The perfect schnitzel and a serving from their salad bar. A bit of responsible-choice greenery goes a long way towards balancing the meal.
Great family-run Italian ice cream café. They actually close down for the winter season and go back to Italy. I don’t blame them considering how miserable and cold the winters are in this region. And every spring they open their doors to serve great ice cream. In summer, long lines are proof of their quality. My favorites are a very dark chocolate ice cream combined with a raspberry sorbet. Both are incredibly rich in flavor and proof of all the good ingredients that go into the making of their ice creams.
