We’ve been in the Southern Germany/ Netherlands area called Limburg for about a month now. During our time here, we’ve had the opportunity to try many restaurants through the advice of new friends and sometimes just a good old Google search. The following is a little taste of what we’ve tried. Bon appetit!
Schrieversheide
Located in Brunssumerheide, a nature preserve with flowers, woods, and lakes, sits a pretty restaurant with classic Dutch delicacies. This was one of the first restaurants we visited when we arrived in August. Here you can find “pannekoeken,” a sort of savory pancake usually with meats and cheeses. However you can also find sweet pannekoken with toppings like vanilla ice cream and fruit. The menu is quite large and offers breakfast items, soup, sandwiches, salads, and more. I got their version of a croque madame while the kids got pancakes which were more like crepes. It was a peaceful place with yummy food, literally off the beaten path.
Dadawan
Dadawan is a chain restaurant with a few locations in the Netherlands. It’s an Asian-fusion place with a futuristic feel, including robots that serve your food. (We missed out on this because we sat outside and the robots only work indoors.) I ordered one of their many “stone bowls,” a granite bowl with rice, protein and veggies, heated to 250 degrees. The kids had gyoza and ramen and our friends ordered poke bowls. The food was fresh and delicious- a great meal with new colleagues.
Coffee Lovers
After opening our new bank accounts in Maastricht, the big city of our area, we wandered down the street to a place called Coffee Lovers. There was a bit of a chill in the air and halfway through our meal, sitting outside, it started raining. It felt very quintessential Netherlands. Luckily it didn’t last long and my tomato soup, a very common menu item I’ve found around here, wasn’t too watered down. I don’t think this place was anything to write home about; just one of the many cafes on the street. However, I am including it because Ted said it was his favorite meal he’d had since arriving. Both kids got “American pancakes” (thicker than their usual crepe-like ones) with hot chocolate and fresh whipped cream. Not the healthiest choice, but after their patience at the bank, they earned a treat.
Sunndays
The Netherlands is full of cute terraces to enjoy your coffee or your lunch, but this one in Valkenburg was my favorite- just so beautiful with flowers and outlooking cobblestone paths. It just made me feel like I was really in Europe. Ted ordered a giant hamburger while I opted for the caprese sandwich. It had fresh mozzarella, a crusty baguette, and a drizzle of balsamic. The perfect simple sandwich.
Good People
Heerlen is a larger area near us with more shops and restaurants. On our visit to Heerlen, we visited a restaurant called Good People. It’s a hip little place with friendly waitstaff and a cool ambiance. I ordered the risotto with spinach and it was perfectly cooked, creamy, and full of flavor. Plus the plating was perfection! Penny ordered the spaghetti bolognese and loved it as well. Justin ordered spare ribs and Ted ordered steak. I think we all loved this meal and would definitely come back again.
IJssalon Oberije
One spot we’ve been to a handful of times is IJssalon Oberjie in Brunssum, Netherlands. This is a cute little ice cream shop close to our school and our future house. They are known for their giant sundaes with fresh fruit and whipped cream in pretty glasses. You can also get ice cream spaghetti. Penny got mango icecream in spaghetti form with strawberry sauce and whipped cream. My favorite thing I’ve ordered is the “Coupe Amarena” – vanilla ice cream with black cherries and sauce.
Dafne
Dafne is a Greek restaurant with a few locations in Germany and the Netherlands. We are lucky enough to be about a 4-minute drive to one on the German side and have eaten there a couple times now. When you arrive, you are greeted with a customary shot of ouzo, pretty typical here but new to us Americans. The other night, Justin had the mixed grill and had some of the best lamb he’s ever had. I found myself missing my old Greek place in Lawrence, The Mad Greek, and their lemon chicken soup. To my surprise, I found the same soup on Dafne’s menu and it was just as good! Plus, they have a chocolate souffle for dessert that is to die for!
So there you have it, a glimpse at the food we’ve been eating here. It’s been a mixed bag with some dishes better than others. I just feel lucky to have the time and opportunity to eat dinner out quite a bit. It’s fun to explore new places, even if the kids just order pasta, hamburgers, or pancakes everywhere we go. Reading menus in Dutch and German has been a bit of a challenge, but thankfully Google Translate works about 80% of the time. The other 20% is a fun guessing game. We’ll continue eating on quaint terraces, rain or shine, and hopefully find some new favorites.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 