A restaurant with a star is always special. Particularly tasty and particularly difficult... For us. Because try telling about those dishes. A cowardly one from this, on a bed of this and well, that. So also at restaurant Ratatouille on the Spaarne in Haarlem. The menu: absolutely impossible to recount. Looking at the photos, a few things come to mind. Mainly that it was absolutely - just lick your plate - exquisite was but what then? Off the top of my head: a mini taco, a soup, fish, cheeses (easy to recognize too) and lots of delicious wine. Become a bit of a friend with the sommelier and the best of the best will be pulled out of the cupboard. Not one glass with a dish, no two and with dessert even three (this man could easily become your new bff). According to Haarlem experts, aka the parents, Ratatouille is the restaurant of the moment. The purest, best food. Can't really be denied. Plus: Ratatouille has a nice spacious outdoor terrace on the water (with sun!).

If the Michelin thing scares you off, don't worry. Firstly, there is a lunch menu (definitely ace moment: there is a lunch deal for three courses, wine included, for 55 euros) and as often mentioned here on the site: lunch is usually much more affordable and where you are normally stuck at a star restaurant, that is not the case during lunch. Relaxed and cozy but... Still a (lunch) point of criticism: in terms of service, they could do with a little extra. Ratatouille