Brasserie de Poort — Restaurant in Leiden

I started not trusting Google review too much after the experience with this restaurant.

The only good thing about this place is the atmosphere. The round table we sat was spacious so it was good for a family with a baby. BUT the food and the service were bad and not worth the price.

Food: I see they tried to serve gastronomy type of dishes but they are just oily and too salty. We ordered what were recommended by the waiter; Pork cheeks and burgers and 3 other things. Pork cheeks were just oily but tasteless. The (mini) burger had a gamba and meat and a piece of some citrusy fruit. They are not harmonizing and again it was just oily and tasteless. The asparagus was also covered with oil. Gambas tartar didn’t taste like gamba and just salty with lots of mayonnaise. Fried seafood was salty and has small amount of seafood with lots of scraps.

Service: We ordered a course menu to pick 4 dishes. 2 came and then we waited for almost an hour. The place wasn’t even full yet it seems they didn’t have enough chefs. The waiters were not particularity nice either. We wanted to try dessert to find something nice about the food here but we again waited so long for something that were ready made that we cancelled...

I’m giving one star because there is no lower option. The service was Terrible. They ask you to choose ‘bites’. 3 or 4. (For a total of 34 to 38 €) But then, they don’t bring them at the same time for everyone (for a group of six) For more than an hour and a half, 2 persons from our group had nothing. Very uncomfortable for everyone. Asked for bread 3 times to get it finally. Dessert : ordered 3 cheese cakes. They came back with 2, and told us the third piece is ´defrosting’ and we have to wait. We waited for 20min, and finally asked for ‘any’ pie they have ready, so that we can start eating our dessert.

There were candles on the table, but no one came to turn them on.

Would never go back. When you pay that price, you expect a decent service.

The place is nice, but you are not...

Brasserie de Poort is a stylish and modern, yet warmly inviting restaurant nestled in the edge of the binnenstad of Leiden. Its youthful staff is as vibrant as the city itself. Diners can enjoy the charming terrace on sunny days, enhancing the overall dining experience, watching the boats go by in the canal. The tapas-style servings promote shared enjoyment, allowing you to sample a variety of dishes. The standout performers were undoubtedly the tender pig's cheek and the succulent bavette. The slow serving pace is a deliberate choice, fostering an atmosphere of leisurely conversation. With a choice of 3 or 4 tapas dishes per menu, there's something for everyone. It's a place that left me thoroughly impressed and...