NACIONAL — Restaurant in Nijmegen

My husband and I had an incredible dining experience at Nacional! Everything—from the food and atmosphere to the service—was exceptional. We were visiting Nijmegen for my husband's business trip, and on our last night in town, we wanted to enjoy a special meal. The menu immediately caught my attention, and that sealed the deal for us.

Located right on the water, Nacional offers a beautiful setting. We were initially seated outside, but when it got too windy, the staff kindly accommodated us indoors without any hassle.

We shared a bottle of rosé and later treated ourselves to coffee cocktails (I had an espresso martini). Our meal was a true feast—we started with a shared appetizer, followed by individual starters, entrees, and desserts. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor.

What made the evening especially lovely was the relaxed, leisurely pace of the meal. It gave us space to truly enjoy the food, the ambiance, and each other’s company—something we don’t often get back home.

Originally from South Carolina and New Jersey, we moved to Wisconsin in 2021—and to put it gently, the food scene there doesn’t quite compare. So this meal felt like an absolute gift. During dessert, we had the pleasure of chatting with the owner, whose warmth and genuine passion for food, wine, and even Christmas decorations really shone through.

As we left, both of us agreed: Nacional wasn’t just the best meal we had in Nijmegen—it was one of the best meals we've ever had, period. If we’re ever back in town, a return visit...

What started as a search for a restaurant with a nice view of the water turned into a wonderful four course chef’s tasting menu. I walked in with no reservation and was lucky to be seated on the most comfortable banquette with a view of the Waal River. Unsure of what I was hungry for I rolled the dice on the tasting menu. It is the first time I’ve had a tasting menu where every course had a surprise element of flavor and I would order each of them individually if given the chance. The presentation was over the top and the suggested wine pairings were spot on. I was given the option to taste first, which I appreciated. The timing of the courses allowed time to enjoy each dish with just enough time in between to digest and not feel stuffed or rushed. Service was impeccable. I have already recommended to colleagues and will return again when I am in the area. I wouldn’t risk it without a reservation. I think I...

Loved the view, ambience! Lunch menu was a simple fixed choice. Loved the salmon starter, the truffle pasta had great sauce (but I would have liked more of the sauce and mushrooms) and dessert was beautiful with profiterole like offering with Yuzu ans strawberry flavor cream and sorbet. Highly recommend to go their to...