This restaurant is known throughout Maastricht for its ribs - and the ribs are justly famous.
Although the food in this establishment is first rate -
think of this place as a bar with food - to get more of a feel for what the experience is really like.
This is one of a long line of brasseries that line the east side of the Vrijthof, one of the two main squares of Maastricht.
The entire East Side of the Vrijthof is one extended "hang-out". There are maybe ten maybe twenty brasseries all right next to each other -
and nothing but brasseries on the strip.
the entire sidewalk is lined maybe eight deep with rows of tables under canopies and umbrellas - and pedestrians wend their ways through the tables to get to the brasserie of their choice.
about 3/4 of the places have heaters - so people sit outside in droves - even when it is freezing cold.
inside the decoration of most places is "english pub gone dutch".
the menus tend to be dutch dutch and dutch with pizza and pasta options since the dutch love pizza and pasta.
you are here to drink more than eat -although the food will be copious -
and while dutch beer is neither belgian beer nor german beer - the nation that gave the world heineken ain't bad with a brewery.
because this is a hangout for spending all night - service is slow. Slow by design.
So as the other reviews note - you WILL wait for your food - which is being painstakingly prepared.
You are supposed to be getting drunk and talking to your friends.
When the food comes, you will die and go to heaven.
(or at least you won't need to eat again until you die and go to heaven because servings are ENORMOUS)
We started with a tomato red pepper soup for which I would KILL to get the recipe.
It was made with the red peppers for which the Dutch are famous but with more red pepper flavor than you get even in a tube of Hungarian red pepper concentrate.
The ribs were an unusual take on ribs. They were grilled over a fire rather than smoked - but with the lightest of light of sauces. No thick heavy red stuff with catsup and sugar US-style. No dominant meat-masking Memphis rub. No cloying Chinese pure syrup. The sauce was transparent and put an barely discernible amount of sweet touch on to the ribs -subtle but most assuredly there. The dominant flavor was that of really good grilled meat - but with the glaze making it more suave - giving it a child-like flavor of dessert.
I was OMG raving about the ribs all night.
And the quantity was HUGE. Lots of places in the US will give you the full rack of ribs - and this was a full rack of rigs.
A full rack of ribs from one very very big Dutch pig.
I can polish off a US rack and not think twice about it . This was more rib meat than I have had in a meal since I don't know when -
Sides easily of the quality - of the soup and the mains.
The standard French Fries in the standard wire Belgian French Fry Basket.
But their angle? Give you a dipping bowl of standard Belgian mayonnaise - AND give you a dipping bowl of their own house improved kickier mayonnaise.
The house improved kickier mayonnaise is tarter than plain old mayo (even good homemade mayo) and was a clearly superior accompaniment for ribs.
A cabbage salad is also there - freshly made - not pickled like a kraut but vinegary enough thank you very much.
Plus the decorating inside the pub is completely nice with fine wainscoting and beautiful tulip light fixtures.
If I am ever back in Maastricht - this is my one clear return-to destination. read more
