My wife and I were somewhat surprisingly able to get a last-minute reservation here on a Saturday night. From the look of it, we lucked out.
The restaurant is in a cozy and very attractive space in a lively part of town quite close to the Grote Kerk. First impressions were very positive - it's modern and elegant but comfortable. My eyes first went to a blackboard above the window to the kitchen showing their nice list of wines by the glass - four reds and four whites, I believe, all nicely priced at €5. I quite liked the Montepulciano; I always appreciate having more than just a 'house wine' available by the glass.
Service was very good. The wait staff of two (one of whom I believe was one of the owners) were genuinely nice without being cloying and attentive without being annoying. It would be a great experience anywhere, but it really stood out from the "do I need to blow a whistle or something to get somebody's attention?" service that I found to be more or less the standard in the Netherlands.
Food is served in small courses, but it's not a tapas-style share-with-the-table experience. Instead, it's a way to try more things rather than having a large 'main' course. They recommend about four dishes per person, but you're free to go with fewer or more. You can choose items a la carte, or you can go with a 4, 5, or 6 course 'Chef's Choice' option, which involves dishes not on the a la carte menu. The chef's choice option is somewhat less expensive than ordering a la carte would typically be, presumably due to economies of scale. My wife and I both went with the 4 course 'surprise' menu, which seemed to be a popular choice. Happily, even when choosing that option they are willing to accommodate dietary limitations - my wife does not eat red meat, so they brought her seafood-based options instead.
All courses were delicious. The first course of cured scallops (following an amuse bouche and some bread) might have been my favorite, but I would happily have any of them again. The final course was a sweet dessert, though they offered to provide a cheese plate instead for a small surcharge. Presentation was excellent.
Even the four course meal was around a three hour affair. It's nice not to be rushed and to have time to enjoy each course thoroughly, though it might not be possible to speed up the meal if you wanted to: the small kitchen staff seemed to be working at full capacity, as each plate is detailed enough to take some time to prepare. Simply be aware that it's not likely to be a quick meal.
We were very happy to have had this meal at Mr. & Mrs. as a capstone to our time in the Netherlands, and would certainly return if back in Haarlem. read more