Taveerne De Twaalf Balcken — Restaurant in Texel

I recently visited this restaurant on Texel Island in the Netherlands for dinner on a Friday night. Having made a reservation in advance, we were pleased to find our table already prepared upon arrival. The reception we received was warm and welcoming, setting a positive tone for the evening.

As we settled in, we were promptly served with two beers and handed menus in English, which was greatly appreciated. The initial bar area had a lively ambiance with a wide selection of tap beers available. At the far end of the bar, there was a charming lighthouse that served as the restaurant area, adding a unique touch to the setting.

For our meal, we opted for the marinated and smoked mix of spare ribs and the lamb stew. The spare ribs were decent but fell short of the exceptional quality praised by other reviewers. I would personally rate them at 3 stars. On the other hand, the lamb stew was enjoyable, with tender meat and pleasing flavors, deserving of 4 stars.

To conclude our dining experience, we indulged in a delightful strawberry cheesecake for dessert, which I would easily give a well-deserved 5-star rating.

Overall, the gastronomic experience at this restaurant was average. While the food didn't surpass expectations, the exceptional service provided by the staff and the pleasant vibe of the place elevated the...

Food was good, but simply just not excellent. I took both ribs (smoked/bbq) a bit on the dry side. And the sauces were a bit standard. My partner took the fish (I think halibut) same a bit dryish missing a sauce altogether. Very good degrated/boning. Service was exquisite, amicable and friendly also attentive. The front of the house is very atmospheric and well thought out or lived. The rear part feels a bit like an after thought and has very disappointing and below mediocre cheap Hollywood movie themed art. I’m not asking for Texel themed art, there is enough of that. Just better thought out and skilled art. I’m thinking it’s a temporary gallery type thing so hopefully next time something new and...

Great restaurant with a huge selection of beers and a delicious selection of meals.

We decided to spontaneously visit De Twaalf Balcken at around 18h without reservations and the staff still managed to get us a table for 4 person until 20h. Staff was really friendly and made us feel welcome. We ordered some onion and tomato soups, as well as the delicious ribs (smoked & marinaded) and lamb stew. It was truly delicious and an explosion for our taste buds.

We can highly recommend to visit De Twaalf Balcken and will be coming back the next time we're visiting Texel. This time with reservations......