De Gaanderij — Restaurant in Leiden

I visited this restaurant based on a friend’s recommendation for their spare ribs, but it turned out to be a complete letdown. From the moment we arrived, everything went downhill, and I feel compelled to share this review to save others from the same frustration. We made a reservation, yet nothing prepared us for the chaos that followed. Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong. Poor Service from the Start • As soon as we entered, the waiter approached us immediately—before we had even sat down—and asked what we wanted to drink, without providing any menus or giving us a moment to settle in. • When we requested menus, she only brought the drinks menu, seemingly to pressure us into ordering quickly and make us feel uncomfortable enough to leave. • Only after we placed a drink order did she finally mention the food menu, revealing that there was only one “unique” daily menu available, exclusive to that day. This felt like a deliberate tactic to rush us and limit our choices. Menu Inconsistencies and Deceptive Practices • Don’t bother checking the menu online—it’s completely fake. They claimed to have a “special menu” for the day, presented on a cheap piece of paper with limited options, which bore no resemblance to what was advertised on their website. • As someone who made a reservation, I expected transparency about what to expect. Instead, we were blindsided, and this inconsistency is unacceptable and misleading. Unacceptable Delays and Portion Sizes • We sat down at 19:30, but the starters didn’t arrive until 20:10—a reasonable wait, but then we waited until 21:00 for the main courses, making the service feel like a total mess. • The portions were shockingly small and disappointing, especially for a place recommended for its meat dishes: • The starter was a joke: just one chicken wing per person. • The main course spare ribs were tasty, but the meat was unacceptably tiny, hidden among cheap vegetables and garnishes that seemed like fillers to mask the lack of substance. • Overall, the food quality didn’t justify the hype or the prices, leaving us hungry and dissatisfied. Additional Frustrations: Hygiene and Small Details • The toilets lacked hand soap, which is a basic hygiene issue that shouldn’t happen in any restaurant. • They even took away my napkin without replacing it, adding to the sense of neglect and poor attention to detail. In summary, the combination of rude and rushed service, deceptive menu practices, tiny portions, and basic oversights like missing soap made this an unforgettable experience—for all the wrong reasons. I’m very disappointed, especially since it was a recommendation from a friend. Never again, and I strongly advise against going here. Save your time and money for somewhere that values...

I read a lot about the friendliness of this lovely restaurant. Unfortunately, that was not for my husband and I. We went there on a busy Friday evening for dinner. We did not make any reservations but why not give it a try? We came inside and ask whether it is possible to have a place for two without reservation. The lady at the bar told the waitress to accompany us upstairs, because there was an empty table available. We climbed to the second floor and found two empty tables. One table next to the window and the other next to the toilet. We asked the waitress to sit on the table next to the window. "Sure." she said, "You can choose." Then we sat there, a waiter came and we order wine and bread. The wine and the bread came. Warm and delicious bread. Things went well. I was eating a piece of bread and my husband enjoyed his wine when suddenly the lady from the bar came to us and asked in a very unfriendly way. "What is your name? You cannot seat here. This place is a special place." We were so confused. We said, "But we have asked and the waitress said it is OK." "I am sorry, this place is reserved." Oh, by the way, when said that, I was still chewing my bread and holding another piece of bread on my left hand. "I will bring these for you." She said while taking my wine glass and our bread plate. Everyone was looking at us. I said to her, "it's not our fault." "Excuser." She answered. Then she brought us to the table next to the toilet. Yes....we understood that we did not make reservation and there was a misunderstanding between her and the waitress. But I hope she could say it nicer and treated us better. We feel humiliated. We came for a nice dinner (and sure we can afford it). Thankfully, other waiters and waitresses were friendly and the food was good. My advice is "make sure" before you start to order anything that the...

first, i'd like to say that i read a few reviews and actually found one that was exTREMEly dissatisfied with their experience. i have no doubt that they're reflecting what really happened...but i'd also like to say that this seems to be an exception, rather than the usual. i've been there three times in the last 6 weeks or so to have the mussels dinner and it seemed better each time... adequate portion...nice combination of vegetables...bread and great fries(frites)... i really like the interior, as well...i'm not sure how old the building is, but i'd guess at LEAST 100 years... and last, but certainly not least, the woman that's greeted me each time is wonderful...true warmth. and attentive. i'm pretty sure these three visits will not be my last...and i wouldn't hesitate to recommend this restaurant, at LEAST, for the mussels, atmosphere...