659853 Fri Oct 16 03:10:58 -0700 2009 3 26 International 0 5107286 Hi everyone! I'm looking for a good place to eat tonight in the Hague. I've just recently moved here for my Master's and haven't had a chance to explore the food scene. The web is full of sites and blogs about Amsterdam eating, but none so far on one of its smaller (yet still sweet!) little sibling - the Hague. Any ideas you have would be great! Fri Oct 16 03:10:58 -0700 2009 1115230 mcebacal 1 5183454 Hey - Moved here from New York in July, and let me just say... it has been a blow to the culinary senses (and to the wallet, since restaurants are a bit more pricey here, without a corresponding hike in quality). I haven't been here long enough, or eaten at enough places to give a comprehensive report, but I could probably give you one or two options in some of the major cuisine categories. Sorry I was not in time for your dinner on the 16th :) Just FYI, the NL version of Chowhound and Yelp , while not nearly as helpful, is http://www.iens.nl I had surprisingly fabulous Dim Sum just this morning at Long Ting: http://www.longting.nl/page/view/home For French food: Pastis is festive and traditional http://www.pastis.nl/ C'est Ca is tiny and delicious http://www.c-estca.com/ For yummy cafes: Crunch http://www.crunchcafe.nl/ De Grens, and De Overkant. Vegetarian: Baklust - homey, with delicious desserts. http://www.baklust.nl/ Cozy, beautiful wine bar: Wijnlokaal 1900 http://www.wijnlokaal1900.nl "Brown" cafe (i.e. bar with good food and music): Paraplu http://www.paraplu-eetcafe.nl I could go on, but this is a start. Just allow a lot of time as the service here is... languid at best. In general, Pancake houses are overrated, and don't bother with any Mexican food. For the best food in the Hague, go to the organic market on Wednesdays (http://www.soeco.nl/duurzame-winkels/Biologische-winkels/Biologische-markt/Biologische-markt-Den-Haag/details.html ), load up on incredible produce, meat and cheese, and cook it yourself. Good luck... Sun Nov 15 12:25:05 -0800 2009 5107286 1124707 monalisa_ny 1 5184946 I've moved out of The Hague about 30 years ago. The only restaurant I really miss is Soeboer, Brouwersgracht 29. Tempo Doeloe style (old school indonesian). Everything is more than wonderful in this comfort food restaurant. Try their satés (skewered grilled meat) - they even got kambing (goat!). Take a rice table first (lots and lots of little dishes) and then come back for the rest of the menu. It is really that good. The restaurant itself isn't really special, but that doesn't really matter once you've finished your first dish. Whenever I need to be cheered up, I travel to Soeboer (from Amsterdam) to get my spirits lifted. They've got a website too at http://www.soeboer.nl Believe me, it's really much better and more affordable than the upmarket places like Garuda. Another place I try to visit whenever I'm in The Hague, is a butcher that sells meatballs from heaven on a bun. And kroketten too! It is located at the Hoogstraat 34. It is a rather posh affair (we always joke that the Queen buys her bacon here) and the employees used to dress in gala style uniforms (think Capt Stubing from the Love Boat). Here you can eat your meatball sandwich in the back of the shop (standing room only). The crowd is wonderful. Ever seen two old ladies, dressed in Burberry trenchcoats, eating with their pinkies up, while they are slobbering away on their kroketten or broodje halfom (half cooked liver, half salted beef/pekelvlees)? This is the place! You won't find a better spot for lunch while you are shopping. Mon Nov 16 06:04:23 -0800 2009 5107286 268078 deepsandwich 2 5188556 I've lived here for about a year, and coming from NYC it took getting used to. First, to set some expectations: 1. The waiters make a living wage, so don't expect the kind of service that warrants good tips. 2. Potatoes, plus some melange of snow peas, carrots, and beans, come standard with almost every main dish I've ever had here, regardless of cuisine. 3. The Hague fine-dining scene is geared for diplomats and employees of Shell Oil. What do they have in common? Expense accounts. 4. "Sceney" places tend to ape Tao to ill-effect. Think excessive New Age Buddhist Imagery. That aside, it's possible to find things that are "decent" from a NYC standpoint: Alexander (Denneweg) - French-leaning cuisine. The chef/owner is Russian so the menu also has borscht. Prix-fixe menu is a good value. Maxime (Denneweg) - have not been there but am looking forward to this one. Ming Dynasty (Spui) - Pretty good Cantonese. Go with someone who speaks Chinese. La Lanterna (various locations) - has excellent thin crust pizza. Service is excellent because it is staffed entirely by Italians. You get a shot of Marsala wine at the end of the meal too. In general, ever since I moved here, I stopped going out to eat when I discovered I could cook better than most of the places here. If I'm in need of a good meal, well, Paris Nord is only 3 hours away. Tue Nov 17 09:19:13 -0800 2009 5184946 1125235 amerikaansburger