Restaurant review: Toujours fish & meat

Restaurant review: Toujours fish & meat

Last week my hubby and I tried a for us new restaurant in Haarlem: Toujours, on the Oude Groenmarkt. We had passed by many times but always doubted about entering. A quick view in the entrance gives a good impression, thanks to the modern, stylish but not posh interior. At the entrance a window with lobsters, oysters and crevettes is tempting you. Tempting and at the same time making you doubt, as the association is: (too?) expensive. Besides, the entrance is quite narrow, which gives the impression that the restaurant might be empty. No people = no good food? Expensive and no good food: we pass.

Restaurant Toujours: the entrance (Photo: Arianna Ardia)

Restaurant Toujours: the entrance (Photo: Arianna Ardia)

Couleur locale and good food

But the restaurant week menu (€ 27,50) made us give it a trial. And we were really satisfied. Contrary to the expectations the restaurant is big, but with a cosy and relaxed atmosphere at the same time. The place is nicely decorated, modern and stylish but not posh. With some French details that add couleur locale and warmth. We were professionally welcomed and got immediately some bread with beurre au sel de la Normandie. We had Japanese tuna with a Pinot Grigio, cod also with Pinot Grigio and entrecote of grinding Australian meat with a Shiraz, a cheese board with port and a delicious dessert tasting with dessert wine. The food and its presentation was great.

Restaurant Toujours: starter and main course (Photo: Arianna Ardia)

Restaurant Toujours: starter and main course (Photo: Arianna Ardia)

Restaurant Toujours: cheese plate and dessert (Photo: Arianna Ardia)

Restaurant Toujours: cheese plate and dessert (Photo: Arianna Ardia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A negative detail: a small piece of my entrecote was a bit hard. This surprised me, from the owner of L’Anders I would have expected even better meat quality. I just left it on the plate. The service was great. Despite it was busy, the cooks did maintain eye for detail: a plate with some spilled sauce was returned to the kitchen to be exchanged with a totally proper one.

Conclusion

A nice place with good food. Not for a quick dinner but to pamper yourself from time to time. The Menu du Marché costs € 29 for 3 courses, which is feasible. Nice that in Haarlem there is a great place with good food and wines, nice atmosphere and especially, with a reasonable price-quality offer. Check their website for the menu and reservations.

Arianna & Marco test Toujours

Arianna & Marco test Toujours

Did you try this restaurant as well? What was your experience? Share this below.

Did you try another restaurant recently and wanna share that experience? Please, let us know. If you write something nice, it may end up as an article on expatsHaarlem.