This is a place you must try! Yes - the menu is different from most other places but that's just one of the reasons for a visit. The Chef, the staff, the setting are some more. Menu items include selections like Squid & Celery, Wine Marinated Herring, Rabbit, Salmon in a Potato & Leek Chowder, "Seafood Waterzooi" as well as Specials. It's only open Friday & Saturday ( other than for special private dinners on other nights) A Byo that is well worth repeat visits. read more

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Very dankbaar that Dankbaar is open and serving dank food, but don't forget to bring your own bar! The menu is similar to Noord's (with some of the same items)- some smaller pickled things and appetizers, but larger plates are the main event. It feels authentic without being intimidating. There's rabbit, escargot, whole fish, and goat for the more adventurous eaters, and sausage and pork options for the more conventional eaters. The menu changes frequently. We loved the escargot (swimming in garlicky butter), rabbit leg (falling off the bone) with flavorful pickled kraut and sausage and carrots, but our favorite was the curried goat stew, which was so tender and delicious. The chocolate bark for dessert and pineapple brioche pudding were the perfect way to end the meal! The vibes are intimate, candlelit, moody, tiny with Philly rowhome, chalkboard menu, just a few servers, perfect for a day night or a nice dinner with a friend or 3 (probably too small for any bigger party). They're only open Friday and Saturday and are available for buyouts for private parties and will be having a small little market as well. Service was excellent and attentive without being overbearing. Don't miss the cute bathroom with a bunch of tiny drawers to open with a different surprise in each! Danke for a great dinner! We'll be baack! read more

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They set a new standard compared to what I expected. The personnel attention breaks the mold of typical service. Tasty dishes and pleasant servers here. The additional entrees I've sampled were reasonably good. The workers showed genuine interest in us. read more

The food was excellent started with the bread, escargot and shrimp dishes The main course was salmon and trout For dessert, bread pudding, and the chocolate bar everything was excellent. Make sure you bring a wonderful bottle of wine. read more

Dankbaar - Salmon special - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For some bizarre reason, the Resy app does not allow a diner to make a reservation for one person. In this day and age of 37.8 million single person households, I find that absolutely confounding as well as archaic. When Joncarl, the chef/owner, learned that I was unable to make a reservation to dine via Resy, he reached out to me personally. Warmth, kindness and genuine caring are the best seasonings that a restaurant can offer a guest and Dankbaar delivers all three generously and abundantly. A tasty meal stays on the tongue briefly; generosity of spirit lingers in the heart and mind for a long, long time. P.S.-Check out the drawers in the restroom! read more

Thank Dutch Jesus Joncarl is back in South Philly. This new spot is brimming with warmth and charm, and Lord have mercy the food is absolutely heavenly. My eyes rolled in the back of my head so many times I thought I'd go cross-eyed. Every bite was just that good. For dinner, I had the seafood stew, which is like a Dutch variation of a bouillabaisse. It was loaded with clams, shrimp and calamari in a creamy white sauce that I sopped up with bread and slurped by the spoonfuls. My two table mates had the rabbit dish and a sea bass special, both of which were heartily devoured. We brought two bottles of red that paired perfectly with everything. Though a bubbly or dry white would have been decadent with my white sauce-based stew. Next time! There are strong essences of Noord here -- especially on the menu -- but Dankbaar is somehow cozier, more comfortable and familiar; like dining in a living room. You almost want to look up and greet every new diner coming in to join you. Joncarl works furiously in the kitchen, by the light of a lamp. He personally brings out each dish, many of which come in unique, homey bowls and pots. The waitstaff is absolutely charming. And a cabinet of drawers in the bathroom reveals all kinds of fun little surprises. This is a true neighborhood gem. Bring an appetite and a little patience to linger over your lovingly made food and a bottle of whatever you choose. You'll be made to feel right at home. Recommendations: The fish stew; whatever whole fish is on special; spring for the bread -- the garlicky butter is worth every penny on its own; the rabbit stew on a chilly night; the chocolate bark for dessert; and the homemade pickles if they have them! read more

Dankbaar - The shellfish waterzooi would be great with a dry bubbly or white wine. - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We've been wanting to try this place for a while since we heard Joncarl opened up shop again on East Passyunk. Really loved the intimate, candle-lit vibe of the dining room, and the fact that it's BYO is always a plus in my book. We started with the housemade pickles (various vegetables pickled in different and interesting ways; I understand the particulars change on a regular basis) and the meatball special, which was delicious. I had the rainbow trout, which was very simply but skillfully prepared and flavorful, and my husband had a prawn terrine special that he said was out of this world (I would have tasted it but didn't want to go to the hospital). The buttercake (boterkoek) with advocaat cream was the perfect way to finish off the meal. All in all, I can't wait to take others here - I'm just sad they're only open on Friday and Saturday! read more

Dankbaar - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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looooved dankbaar and i really dont know why. i think it just makes you feel super comfy to sit inside and eat + drink (it's BYOB). the food is delicious, sure, but really it's about the comfort in the service + atmosphere escargot - delicious, buttery, not too many but honestly a good thing for ur ascvd score rabbit rillettes - this was so good, sour, mustardy, all the weird flavors i love rabbit leg - good, but nothing special. would not order again tbh waterzooi - really liked this, a lot of seafood, big portion, delicious broth quail - a bit on the sweeter side, but very tender if you run out of bread, you can ask for more with the soup. like would buy the mighty bread anyways if you wanna try that corn bread, but if you just need bread to sop up the broth you can ask for it for free $48 pp after tax and tip, felt very full and satisfied afterwards. read more

Delicious food in an intimate, quiet setting. Service was attentive and friendly. Make sure to make a reservation. read more

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This review is hard to write because I'm afraid I won't get it right. I won't accurately describe how sweet and intimate the place is, I won't be able to describe how beautiful the food was, I will not be able to accurately convey the hospitality, the spectacular service, or how one feels spending such a lovely weekend night here and all of what is right that happens when one enters the door. Yeah. I'm afraid I won't get it right. But you know who gets it right? Chef Joncarl Lochman. Every. Damn. Time. I've followed him around the city, dining at his beautiful restaurants, marveling at his food and definitely his hospitality. Care and love is the foundation of every one of his establishments. Dankbaar (which means "grateful" in Dutch) should not be missed. It's only open on Friday and Saturday nights which makes a weekend reservation that much more anticipatory. Always start with the pickles. He's famous for them and they are a delight! Cinnamon on beets? Delicious! Remember when brussel sprouts started showing up on menus? And ordering them meant fishing them out of the oil that they were fried in? Not. Here. They were roasted and so tender and I could actually taste all of the sweet, nutty flavor of the brussel sprout. They are served with caraway creme fraiche, carrots and sweet cranberry. I ordered the sea bass for the entree. A whole fish... DEBONED. All of the tender, moist, buttery fish with a bevy of fresh roasted vegetables on top. Just putting each meaty bite into my mouth without having to worry about navigating a mouthful of fish bone was such a treat! I will be dreaming about this for days. Chef Lachman remembered me which made me feel all verklempt but I managed to calm down and carry on a conversation with him as he even pulled up a chair for a second to ask US questions and imbue our experience with even more intimacy and the feeling of showing up at the best dinner party ever. Liz, who is the server at this intimate place is kind and efficient and of course conveys just as much care as Chef Lachman's counter part. The white table cloths, warm glow of candles and the big window that opens up to Passyunk are all beautiful touches that immediately center one around the most lovely evening. And check out the bathroom! Open the little drawers and find necessary items, treats and so much more as hidden little gifts. Then leave them a note on the chalk board. And definitely tell them that the night you just had was spectacular. I sure did. read more

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The menu is truly unique, but definitely not inaccessibly so. We loved all of it - house made pickles, rabbit appetizer, herring appetizer, rabbit entree, duck entree, and delicious apple bread pudding dessert! The service was quick, but not rushed at all, and very informative and friendly. The atmosphere is very European, but also cozy, comfortable and welcoming. It's not overpriced, and the portions are perfect. Also, there's an affordable parking lot with meters very close by. We cannot wait to return! read more

I like to hit restaurants in the Passyunk neighborhood of Philadelphia when I am down. I was delighted to learn that Joncarl, former chef-owner of Noord, had opened a new place near his old one but about half the size. Candlelit with white table cloths, intimate but festive, one could easily think they were at a dinner celebration in the large dining room of a private home, with warm hosts and a truly great person cooking in the kitchen. There were 4 of us so we got to share quite a few of the menu options. To start, smoked trout that was just wonderful, beets with strawberries as a surprisingly great accompaniment and goat cheese, beautiful and tasty prawns, and house made pickled vegetables in many varieties. Then we had an impressive whole bass and a perfect salmon filet (both with lots of vegetables), rabbit (with cabbage and sausage) and (more) prawns, served over an abundance of mussels). Finally, we managed 3 excellent desserts, a blueberry brioche, peaches poached in wine, and the best chocolate bark (and close to the best chocolate) I have ever tasted. Plus the wine and champagne we brought, which added to the festivities. Service was above and beyond: not only charming and friendly, but also exceptionally knowledgeable. Pacing of the meal was just as one would want, neither too quick nor too slow. Dankbaar means grateful in Dutch. We were certainly grateful for such a wonderful dining experience, and everyone at the restaurant, from chef to servers, evoked a sense of gratitude that we had joined them for dinner in their "home." Oh. When (not if) you go, don't miss the restroom. You've never seen anything like it. read more

Dankbaar - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Quaint little BYO place. If you liked Noord, you're going to love this. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy. The food is comforting, refined, and filling. Liz, the server, was really sweet, kind, and attentive. She coursed out the meal perfectly. So happy to have Joncarl's food again and to have something like this in the neighborhood. read more

Dankbaar - Crushed this Waterzooie & pickle plate. - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After closing Noord a couple years into the pandemic, Dankbaar is Chef Joncarl's new restaurant. While Noord was billed as "Northern European" and had a more generic feel to it, Dankbaar feels more overtly Dutch, at least in its name and decor. The space is also significantly smaller and has a more intimate feel (it is the space formerly occupied by Will BYOB, and then June BYOB). The dishes served when we were there during opening week were reminiscent of what was available at Noord, and didn't disappoint. When the pork I ordered arrived, it looked humongous, but turned out not to be overwhelming. It was cooked falling-off-the-bone tender. The tomato soup was delicious, and made me want a grilled cheese to go with it (except that would have possibly filled me up too quickly, before I had a chance to savor what came next). I topped the meal off with the apple cinnamon brioche pudding, which was served warm, and was also very good. read more

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Dankbaar is a love letter to the Netherlands! Not familiar with Dutch cuisine? Then let chef/owner Joncarl take your tastebuds on an adventure. Before Dankbaar there was Noord and what a loss to Philly when that closed! So it's wonderful this place brings us the waterzooi, konijn in het zuur and other dishes this tiny country is known for. Looking forward to many more meals here but don't forget your bottle because its byob. And definitely leave room for the chocolate at the end. You won't be sorry! read more

OK! Wow! As good as I thought Noord was, Dankbaar is even better. We were so sad when Joncarl and Bob closed Noord during pandemic. But now, OMG, they have re-thought it and reopened as Dankbaar in a new location, a bit further down E. Passyunk. And the food is even better. The tomato and basil bisque was delicious - thick and velvety. The salmon, presented in a gorgeous cast iron pots, was spectacular. And the rabbit leg - well - my absolute favorite. (And don't miss the chocolate bark!!!). Only open on Friday and Saturday, this is a very very special place!!! read more

All u need is one bite to know that Dankbaar will be your new favorite restaurant. Our crab appetizer was so tender and the broth was addicting. The whole fish was amazing. It was paired with summer veggies - the following day I contemplated going back for the same meal again. The decor is cute and inviting. Go try it. U won't regret it. read more

Everything was perfect from start to finish without a whiff of pretense. The rabbit rillette with pear, mustard, and pickles was so satisfying, especially when served up on piping hot baguette. I want to eat that herring with cream cheese and pickled red onions atop savory gingerbread (an incredible loaf with this caraway undercurrent that reminds of the best soda bread you've tasted!) every day. I can't wait to visit Winkel and see how Chef Joncarl uses the sweeter version in his brunch menu. Also, I'm a pickle purist, and have been wronged by so many Philly spots that try to get fancy with a cuke, and take it in all sorts of overpowering directions. Not the case here. I might have to stop in during the pre-dinner market hours to buy a few jars. Mains. The braised rabbit fell from the bone and the beer broth with chunks of sausage and cabbage was slurp-worthy. My quail was beautifully seasoned and perfect next to the semolina pudding, fennel and collards, and bright pops of citrus and raisin. I don't have a Dutch grandmother, but if I did, I imagine these are the dishes she would make for me. They're homey, but not heavy. Exciting, yet accessible. Add to that the warmth, hospitality, and conversation offered up by Chef Joncarl, Betty, Janelle, and Elvis, and we're just, well, grateful for such an unforgettable experience. This is what dining out should taste and feel like! read more

Cozy, comfortable, beautiful space. Excellent service and very tasty food. Tried a few dishes and all delicious. The mushroom soup stood out as my favorite and I'm looking forward to returning just for that. read more

Amazing! The food, service and ambiance are all excellent. The pickled herring and the vinegar braised rabbit leg are among the best dishes I've ever had anywhere. The restaurant itself is nice and cozy and the service is great. The owner, chef and waitstaff were all very pleasant and friendly. As others have mentioned, this restaurant is by the same people who previously ran Noord, which we also loved. Dankbaar has a great menu with a lot of unique dishes that you won't find at other restaurants. 10/10. Highly recommend! read more

This restaurant is now an Indonesian restaurant called Rice and Something. However the Dankbaar sign is still up outside the restaurant, and the Dankbaar website is still active as of this writing. When we made the reservation we used the phone number that was on the Dankbaar website. We had no way of knowing that Dankbaar was out of business until we walked inside and the place was just about empty on a Saturday night. We were further surprised to find out that there is no menu, and that there is only one item that they serve which is a large platter enough for more than 2 persons, filled with meats, fruits, fish, and other Indonesian foods. We were told when we asked for a check that our credit card had already been charged $100 for each of us. However, when we made the reservation they only told us a credit card is required to hold the reservation--they did not inform us that it's no longer Dankbaar, nor that we were pre-paying $100 per person. We would suggest that they establish their own website and inform in advance as to menu and cost policy. It would also be helpful if they took down the Dankbaar sign at the door, and put up their own signage. read more

Loved Dankbaar! Food was wonderful, staff is so friendly and ambience was perfect - comfortable and intimate. JohnCarl makes you feel so welcome! The friends that we brought with us to dinner loved it too! We can't wait to go back! read more

Excellent service and fish was great as well. Sea bass had great broth with mussels. Pickled veggies were great. Chocolate dessert was excellent. read more

What an amazing foodie experience. This is your must go place if you are a foodie and looking for fine dining, bring your bottle of wine and be ready to be amazed with the wonderful service and food. read more