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.
Eat:
Another serendipitous find indeed! I dined at Batavia with my Canadian friend on the rare occasion she was able to cross the pond. Due to my ill health, I couldn't make it out to Amsterdam so we met half way in Arnhem. The reason I selected Batavia was their 'rice table' aka 'rijsttafel' in Dutch. That is a special Indonesian feast of consisting of multiple small dishes. I think we had 20 including the multiple dishes served as starters. This was the perfect tasting experience and introduction to Indonesian cuisine for my Canadian friend. It was so good to see her again after one year of being restricted to WhatsApp! Sorting out my health will take some time but I'm hoping one day to visit her in her home town in Canada. Together we do tend to have great food adventures. See also Brasserie Bruis in Haarlem on my Amsterdam page.
Nonna Sara is a small Italian restaurant that feels like it's bursting with Sicilian sunshine. This is the place where I had my first Arancini! And I was so happy because most Italian restaurants I know in the Netherlands don't venture far beyond the standard pizzas and pastas. To start your dinner, we recommend the Antipasto della Nonna for two persons. This gives you a taste of all their antipasti. As for pizzas and pastas, I find it difficult to name a favorite since they are all very good.
Nonna Sara: Rijksweg 132a
Also a cozy Italian tucked away in the small town (village?) of Molenhoek, Da Angelo is where you can expect more creative Italian dishes. Also I now know I shouldn't get too attached to certain favorites because they will change the menu. To illustrate what I mean about the creativity, a look at the menu that was current at the time of writing this, my favorite carbonara is missing but this is made up for by creations such as girasoli with mascarpone and nuts, fiocchetti filled with pear with a sauce of gorgonzola and rucola, and saltimbocca not of veal but of salmon.
Da Angelo: Prinsenweg 3a
This place is an interesting fusion of many kitchens all rolled into one. I found this thanks to my former doctor and good friend. They have delicious crunchy sticky Korean fried chicken and various versions of Chinese dumplings, Chinese and Japanese noodle dishes, Japanese street food and Indonesian dishes like Rendang. This is a great choice if you want it all and don't want to limit yourself to one kitchen.
I love their crispy gyoza, spicy dumplings and Korean fried chicken. The end of this month, I'm looking forward to surprising my husband by taking him out to this place for his birthday.
Aya: Dommer van Poldersveldtweg 71
Situated on the corner of the Houtstraat and the Lange Hezelstraat, the Blonde Pater (blond priest) is my favorite spot for lunch on a busy shopping day in the center of Nijmegen. They excel in sandwiches with a variety of breads ranging from toasted cornbread to crisp ciabatta. The fillings range from goat cheese vegetarian concoctions to a mean mouthwatering pastrami. One favorite of mine is their club sandwich which is guaranteed to fill you up. On a paleo diet? Then go for their sumptuous salads. I recommend the Sydney salad which is generously topped with large shrimp and prepared with an Asian dressing. If you are feeling adventurous, order the Pinchos plate with 10 surprise bites.
In accompaniment to the great dishes, the Blonde Pater has an excellent range of coffees, teas and thirst quenching fresh beverages. Personally I almost always go for their homemade fresh ginger tea in the winter and homemade ginger ale in the summer.
Years ago I was in the area of Nijmegen and wandered into this place by chance. As usual, I avoided the first obvious establishments near the station since they tend to be tourist traps. Then I wandered into a side street and saw De Bok. Initially it looked like a crowded bar so I thought 'Hard pass!' But then two ladies standing outside smoking said, 'Their steaks are really good!' So I entered and had the best medium rare ribeye steak I had in ages. Later when I told this to friends from Nijmegen, they said I was lucky to have just wandered into this place, a locally famous restaurant in an obscure alleyway. I apologize for dark photos. They show a starter of coquilles and my ribeye steak with melted garlic butter on top. I will take better ones next time.
Bistro de Bok: In de Betouwstraat 14
The name ‘De Hemel’ translates as ‘Heaven’ or ‘the sky’. Religious connotations aside, I prefer to think of this name refers to the space this brewery occupies, so near to the bustling central square of Nijmegen yet tucked just a street away in a cocoon of peace. And of course, there’s the beer and food that graces this heavenly sanctuary. My first visit was for a coffee with a colleague in the evening under the blooming cherry trees. The cherry blossoms lit up by the party lights strung in the trees gave the terrace a lovely dreamy quality. Then returning on the King’s birthday with a friend, we sat down in the sun for a lunch comprising of a grilled cheese sandwich, jalapeno burger sans bread and steak fries. The rich juicy burger is shown here without the bun because I personally need to avoid bread. So I missed out on testing the quality of their bread. However, my friend who had the grilled cheese sandwich testifies that the bread they serve is excellent. He also enjoyed the glass of ‘Luna’, one of the De Hemel beers. Not being a beer drinker myself, the brews are lost on me. However, beer-drinking friends all appreciate the various brews which are listed on a dedicated menu page. It is also possible to book special beer tastings and tours of the brewery. Note: the brewery building actually houses another restaurant that hosts lazy weekend brunches as well as serving lunch and dinner. When the terrace is open and you have a preference for the one restaurant or the other, make sure you are sitting in the correct section of the garden. The terrain is divided between the two establishments and the boundaries are not that clear.
Nijmegen - Fresca and the Lobby - Perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch
Nijmegen - Fresca and the Lobby - Perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch
A bit confusing, but Fresca and the Lobby are two cafes next to each other, sharing the same kitchen and the same menu. All day breakfast options and sandwiches beyond breakfast are all great choices. They have classics like egg benedict with smoked salmon but also interesting choices inspired by Indian Tikka Masala and the Japanese Okonomiyaki. From the baked goods section, my absolute favorite is their scone with creamy yoghurt and jam.
Fresca and the Lobby: van Broeckhuysenstraat 16
Nijmegen - Wally - They care about burgers
Wally is not kidding about how serious they are about their burgers. ‘We care about burgers’ is stated prominently on their web page. And more importantly their obsession about burgers is what you taste. Some people might balk at the price tag. A typical burger here was going for 9.50 euros when I was last there. And that’s without their delicious fries, the side salad and the proverbial ‘five-dollar milkshake’. That adds up to around 20 euros for the complete meal. So it’s not the type of place you should go to if you’re nursing your last bit of cash at the end of the month. And yet in their defense, they don’t make any compromises when it comes to quality. And quality can only be had with a price tag.
I have never been let down by them. Just the first bite in the succulent juicy burger oozing with their mustard-mayonnaise and melted cheese is such a treat.
Nijmegen - Wally - They care about burgers
Wally is not kidding about how serious they are about their burgers. ‘We care about burgers’ is stated prominently on their web page. And more importantly their obsession about burgers is what you taste. Some people might balk at the price tag. A typical burger here was going for 9.50 euros when I was last there. And that’s without their delicious fries, the side salad and the proverbial ‘five-dollar milkshake’. That adds up to around 20 euros for the complete meal. So it’s not the type of place you should go to if you’re nursing your last bit of cash at the end of the month. And yet in their defense, they don’t make any compromises when it comes to quality. And quality can only be had with a price tag.
I have never been let down by them. Just the first bite in the succulent juicy burger oozing with their mustard-mayonnaise and melted cheese is such a treat.
