Celebrated table

LIMES aan den Rijn

LIMES aan den Rijn in Leiden: French cooking in an open kitchen, a waterside terrace on the Oude Rijn, and Gault&Millau 13 for 2026.

The story

LIMES aan den Rijn in Leiden: French open-kitchen dining with Gault&Millau 13 (2026)

LIMES aan den Rijn is a French-leaning restaurant in Leiden, at Voorschoterweg 23G, 2235 SE Valkenburg, and holds a Gault&Millau score of 13 for 2026. The kitchen sits at the centre of the dining room, so guests can watch the French cooking up close while they eat.

From the open kitchen

Owner-chef Daan Reijngoudt and host Dennis de Prie opened the restaurant on 6 September 2019. The central kitchen has made dozens of chef's tables possible, and diners see the pass from their seats. The cooking is French at its core, with an Asian twist and a focus on sustainability and local produce.

What is on the plate

The menu offers a surprise tasting menu, à la carte dishes, and lunch courses from three to five servings. Dinner menus run from four to seven courses, and all of them can be ordered vegetarian. Past dishes include gebakken zeebaars with tomato risotto and red curry, kalfshaas with haricot vert, and gamba ravioli with courgette and lime. Reviewers have singled out fresh scallops with snap peas and bacon foam, and sous-vide monkfish in red curry sauce.

Room and terrace

The dining room has high ceilings, large windows, and a warm, modern look. A large terrace borders the Oude Rijn, with space for boats to moor. Upstairs, a private space above the kitchen seats up to 24, and the ground-floor rooms each suit groups of 24 to 50. Michelin lists the restaurant as Recommended for 2026.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
Gault&Millau
13
13
2026
Lekker500
Top 500
2026
Michelin
Recomended
Recomended

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

Gault&Millau 2026 — 13
Lekker500 2026 — Top 500
Michelin 2026 — Recomended
Cuisines French, International, Modern Cuisine
Services Bar, Catering, Chef's Table, Culinary Classes, Dinner, Events, Fine Dining, Gluten-Free, Lunch, Open Kitchen, Outdoor Seating, Parking, Private Parties, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegetarian, Waterside View, Wheelchair Access

History

On the record

2026
Lekker500 — Top 500

In a modern office building directly adjacent to the Oude Rijn, we visit restaurant LIMES. The warm interior, featuring high ceilings and large windows, as well as a centrally located open kitchen, creates a relaxed atmosphere. There is a beautiful waterside terrace where it is pleasant to linger in good weather. The kitchen is characterized by a French signature, with a focus on sustainability and local produce. Guests can choose from à la carte or various multi-course menus, including a surprise menu that can also be ordered vegetarian or as an all-inclusive package. Our lunch begins with a glass of Muga Blanco 2023 from Rioja, a fresh wine with apple and citrus notes. Soon after, a series of amuse-bouches arrive at the table. The tortilla with brava sauce is well-seasoned, while the crouton topped with smoked chicken liver and celeriac mousse is nicely balanced. The bread, an excellently baked sourdough served with butter and olive oil, deserves praise. For the starters, we try leng, a type of cod. It is accompanied by duck liver, ragout, and a celeriac mousse. Everything is spot on here. The mackerel, on the other hand, lacks tension and freshness. The main course consists of bavette steak with pickled fennel, potato purée with Gruyère, peas, and oyster mushrooms. Well executed, but the overall presentation feels a bit plain. The Grenache Noir 2023 from Jean-Claude Mas pairs well with it thanks to its soft tannins. The dessert, a composition of white chocolate mousse, cherries, and brown sugar ice cream, is delicious and beautifully presented. To finish, a good espresso with homemade pastries. The service, led by Dennis de Prie, is friendly but could show a bit more interaction. All in all, LIMES offers a solid culinary experience in a lovely setting with a pleasant atmosphere.

2026
Gault&Millau — 13

With a mooring on the Oude Rijn, a terrace, and views of the water, Limes aan den Rijn boasts a special location on the ground floor of the tax advisory firm Limes. From the centrally positioned open kitchen, c...

2025
Lekker500 — Top 500

The restaurant, opened in 2019 by owner-chef Daan Reijngoudt and host Dennis de Prie, is located on the ground floor of an office complex in Valkenburg, South Holland. The terrace borders the Rhine River and is therefore also easily accessible by boat. The dining room has a warm ambiance with high ceilings and a centrally located open kitchen. Here, French dishes are prepared with an Asian twist, right in front of the guests. We sit very comfortably and feel welcome. The amuse-bouches begin with a small tart filled with dried sausage mousse and mustard seeds, which taste very promising. The menu offers a surprise tasting menu alongside à la carte choices and an all-in menu. The wine list features a very extensive selection of wines, available both by the glass and by the bottle at reasonable prices. The scallops for the starter are incredibly fresh and perfectly cooked, accompanied by snap peas, baked Parma ham, and bacon foam. The latter adds an extra delicious flavor. The marbled beef sausage and duck liver pâté may seem intense, but the accompaniments of sweet-and-sour Amsterdam onion sorbet, apricot cream, and crispy hazelnuts provide the necessary balance. The main course is sous-vide monkfish with red curry sauce, bimi broccoli, and fried rice balls. A colorful spectacle that is wonderfully balanced in flavor. The staff provides seamless, informal service. We finish off with coffee, accompanied by homemade sweets. I must say, the white chocolate bonbon filled with a liquid 'Cosmopolitan cocktail' is excellent. We wholeheartedly say: welcome to Lekker!

Location

Find us

Voorschoterweg 23G, 2235 SE Valkenburg
Leiden, Netherlands
071 200 16 80
info@limesaandenrijn.nl
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