All the other places on the water looked a bit cheesy and touristy, except for this one. This is…read moredefinitely the go to place if you want a water view. Ambiance is very nice (feels like upscale French inside), but the prices are reasonable. The croques take about 30 minutes to make (they do the béchamel from scratch). But they are totally worth the wait (and only around 5 or 6 euros each). The wine is reasonably priced (4 to 5 euros for most glasses). Great place for lunch (probably dinner too).

The white wines here are very good and inexpensive. Also enjoyed a very good salad nicoise and a…read morefabulous cheese plate. There was ample outdoor seating to gaze out at the canal or to just watch folks wander by. Worth a visit if in Leiden.

I had wine and dessert here. It was good - the dessert was a warm raspberry compote, reminiscent…read moreof jam (in a good way), topped with meringue and served with a slice of cake and lemon sorbet. The prices seemed pretty high. The noise level was reasonable, but the temperature was quite hot. It's open from 17:30 onward, with no specific closing time... which was good, since they certainly took their time serving us. From ordering dessert to arrival of dessert was at least half an hour.

Very good food, but the impressive part was that we had a party of 28 people, and everyone's meal…read morewas correct (including special requirements like gluten-free and no MSG) and on time. The cheesy starter was gooey and delicious as I would have expected in the Netherlands. My fish was cooked just right. The gluten-free dessert was amazingly creative. The mango ice cream was first class and the caramel mousse was light and not too sweet.

Great restaurant. They don't have a menu. All you have to do is tell them how many courses you want…read more(3-5) and if you have any dietary restrictions. This is honestly the best fine dining restaurant in Leiden. It is French cuisine as you can tell by the name and we ended up getting 4 courses. They start you off with a complimentary appetizer. The real appetizer was steak tartare.The next course was a baked sole. The penultimate course (the main) was this exquisite duck breast and it was topped off with a gin and tonic dessert (fruity and creamy). I haven't been in Leiden for long but hands down this is the best restaurant here if you are willing to spend 40 euros or so on a meal!

I came here with a group of friends to celebrate some graduations. We each had the four-course…read moremenu. It's a lovely and laid-back little restaurant, and it is very very very French. It's quiet but with just enough ambient noise that you can have a proper (not hushed) long conversation. The waiters are patient and attentive. The menu is interesting and clearly put together with attention. However, keep in mind the plus/minus already mentioned here: IT IS EXTREMELY SLOW. We got to the restaurant at 8. We left at 11:45. There were no unforeseen delays - that's just how they roll. It can be nice if you're prepared for it. I also found the food, while excellent and high-quality, was sometimes a bit too experimental. It seemed more as though the chef was interested in trying out new texture and taste combinations rather than worrying about how the whole thing tastes. But that's just personal preference, I guess. On the whole it was a wonderful place and a great meal, and this is definitely one of (if not the) best restaurant(s) in Leiden.

Terrible service, very arrogant and racist waitresses who look down at you and roll with their eyes…read moreif you ask for a table. A friend and I wanted to try out their desserts long after busy dinner times, only two tables were taken, the rest of the restaurant was empty. But when we asked where we could sit down, the waitress simply told us we couldn't occupy a table just for dessert (btw, nowhere on the website did it say that there was such a rule) and when we told we wanted to drink something as well, she took her time to only say 'fine'. She then did not show us a table, but simply walked off to other customers. Of course we left that horrible place immediately, wishing her a good evening. She couldn't even bring herself to wish us a good evening back when we left.

Superb! We were a party of four. All our starters and entrees were sublime. They graciously…read moreaccommodated my gluten sensitivity by replacing the rye crumbles on my pork tenderloin with a spot of herbed risotto. Hard as it to imagine, the beet(root) entree was imaginative and light. The cheese course is just the right size and variety served with a brightening balsamic reduction.

From the owner: Al ruim dertig jaar gevestigd in een van de mooiste en gezelligste buurtjes van de Leidse…read morebinnenstad. Als je ons historische pand binnenkomt proef je meteen sfeer: een gezellige open keuken, een warm interieur en een gemoedelijke ambiance. Voor €17,50 heb je een heerlijk keuzemenu en voor de dagschotel betaal je slechts €7,50. Daarnaast bieden wij ruime keuze aan groepen t/m 115 personen. En wat je aan de voorkant niet ziet: Malle Jan beschikt over een echt Leids patio-terras!

Great late lunch on the camel. Was able to set a dry seat on the barge that holds a lot of their…read moretables. I had the toasted ham and cheese and my husband had the chicken club. We went back later that night for a hot night cap.

Right on a canal that has ice skating rink in front, the De Stadthouder in Leiden is worth the…read morestop. We were looking for a cozy place that welcomed us in for lunch, when we stumbled upon this place. Plenty of seating with a very small upstairs. The wait staff is efficient and friendly....for European standards. We walked in and grabbed a high top and was served almost instantly. We ordered the Salmon toast, the Goulash with spring rolls with a couple Brands. The toast was a little hard to cut but overall the Salmon was great and full of taste. Food was superb! The Goulash was exactly what you expect; beef, potatoes, tomatoes, and paprika. So yummy! Sided with brown bread and a side of veggie spring rolls. Lunch was a hit! Really enjoyed the surrounding area as we had a great meal to set us out for the day. If you are ever in Leiden Netherlands....give The Stadhouder a try!

Incredible Dutch-tinged French food. Lots of perfect details in the food and the service. Unique…read moredishes served with creative presentation. Loved it.

We came for dinner as we were staying right across the road at Best Western. We both had the…read morepre-fixe menu and enjoyed ourselves, the meal was tasty and innovative but we weren't fans of the preparation type.

Just take a look at the pictures... need to say more??? Service, food, ambiance : awesome! !read more

I actually have never given one star before BUT. Loud loud atmosphere. Overpriced. Too long a wait…read morebetween meals for too little food. Rude Waiters pretentious clumsy menu with too many conflicting flavors. Best thing was desert. Too bad we had to wait almost three hours to get to it. Really !! Don't go and if you do don't go on a Saturday night. Way too noisy and not enough help.