Bistrot du Bac

Located in the heart of Katendrecht is Bistrot du Bac. Small, intimate, nostalgic, and authentically French. The open kitchen guarantees a cozy atmosphere. The cuisine is classically French, with a nod to Italy or Spain. The rotating menu offers a three-course set menu or à la carte options. We start with a Crémant de Bourgogne, accompanied by a soft-boiled egg with creamy homemade mayonnaise. Clearly a tradition. The starter consists of fried frog legs with garlic butter, curry, and lemon, paired with a juicy Green Zebra tomato, fresh cucumber vinaigrette, and goat cheese mousse. Both are accompanied by Domaine Giacometti 2021 Patrimonio, a red Corsican wine poured throughout the evening. For the main courses, a quail arrives with braised pepper sauce and roasted eggplant. The skin could have been a bit crispier and the legs not fully cooked, which causes the dish to lose some of its impact. On the other hand, the turbot fillet is perfectly executed and served with mussels, fresh herbs, and a crémant foam. French fries with homemade mayonnaise are naturally served alongside. To finish, a classic cheese selection featuring Pierre Robert, Époisses, Comté, and Roquefort follows, beautifully balanced with a barrel-aged Mâcon-Chardonnay from Domaine Talmard. This is followed by peach ice cream with poached peach, raspberry compote, and crumble, then an espresso with a madeleine. The latter could have been a bit softer. Service is led by Joost van den Braak, who, together with his team, fosters a warm, informal, and knowledgeable atmosphere. Attentive, knowledgeable, and possessing a relaxed charm that fits this French setting perfectly. Bistrot du Bac breathes Paris: simple yet flavorful dishes, an unpretentious atmosphere, and friendly hospitality. A place where everything clicks and where you can momentarily feel like you're in France.

Find Bistrot du Bac on the cozy Deliplein in Rotterdam Katendrecht. You'll find an authentic French bistro. And this applies not only to the nice interior, but also to the menu. You can choose a starter from a three-course set menu...

Maartje and Joost van de Braak have been running their intimate Bistro du Bac on Deliplein in Rotterdam with enthusiasm and expertise since 2019. French cuisine takes center stage here in a charming atmosphere featuring a black-and-white tiled floor, small linen-covered tables, leather wall benches, and wooden Thonet chairs. At the back is a mezzanine with an open kitchen and two additional tables where you can watch the chefs work. The menu is presented in both French and Dutch and offers a selection of authentic French classics. We fall for the French onion soup with Gruyère toast, rich and aromatic in flavor, and are full of praise for the roasted langoustines served with creamy tarragon butter and garlic broth foam. We pair this with a glass of Marsanne Première Note from Cave de Tain. One slight downside is that due to the busy service, we have to wait quite a while for the subsequent courses, and the wines are already poured generously in advance. After a generous portion of well-cooked turbot accompanied by a plentiful butter sauce with parsley, capers, and lemon, we wrap up with coffee and a warm chocolate tart with vanilla ice cream. A pleasant spot.

Bistrot du Bac, run by Maartje and Joost van de Braak, is situated on Rotterdam’s culinary square, aptly named Deliplein. Everything in this little restaurant breathes French. The interior features small, crisp linen-covered tables, Thonet chairs you’d hardly want to sit on for more than an hour, glazed wall tiles, a checkered stone floor, and, of course, the kitchen tucked away at the back on the landing, where, under chef Nils van den Dool’s direction, only traditional French dishes are served. It’s packed during our lunch, filled with guests coming to soak up the French ambiance over a good glass and a tasty bite. The Brut Nature Lacroix-Triaulaire champagne puts us in high spirits for the meal ahead. On the bilingual menu, we order œuf et mayonnaise with house-made mayonnaise. Simple, yet excellent. This is followed by a slightly bland foie gras terrine served with red onion compote and brioche. The lamb rack is somewhat disappointing, as it was cooked too rare without consulting us and leans toward the fatty side. On a subsequent visit, we enjoy an excellent sole fillet pan-fried skin-side down, served with a sauce of paprika, cavolo nero, and lotus root. We also indulge in a Basque cheesecake loaded with fresh forest fruits. There you have it: don’t expect artistically plated dishes or chic crockery here. Instead, you’ll find a genuinely lovely French cuisine served without unnecessary fuss.

Since 2019, Maartje and Joost van de Braak have owned this authentic little gem on Sumatraweg in Katendrecht. Everything exudes French flair. From the Thonet chairs to the tiny tables covered with linen, the black-and-white checkered stone floor, the mezzanine with an open kitchen, and last but not least, a menu and wine list featuring French cuisine and drinks at their finest. The young and talented sommelier Zappa Spruit promptly pours generous glasses of Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve and serves the now staple amuse-bouche, 'oeuf mayonnaise', which remains as irresistibly delicious as ever. We opt for the three-course menu and savor hand-cut steak tartare from Gasconne beef, lightly seasoned, served with a soft egg yolk and toasted baguette, alongside a bowl of tender mussels that have been given a zesty kick by a generous splash of mustard stirred into the cooking liquid. Simply delicious. The main course features a sea bass fillet with a sauce of roasted peppers and cherry tomatoes, pointed cabbage, corn, and Provençal herbs. Served on the side are French fries and homemade mayonnaise. You won't hear us complain. We pair it with an elegant Domaine Rimauresq Côtes de Provence Cru Classé. An outstanding wine. We finish up with excellent strong coffee and a crisp madeleine, and we are très content.

Intimate, cozy, pleasant chatter. All tables are occupied. In the snug Bistrot Du Bac run by Maartje and Joost van de Braak, you are pampered with tongue-pleasing classics from French cuisine. There’s no excessive garnish or fuss, just excellent dishes made with super-fresh ingredients and prepared with love. The staff, who are both relaxed and professional, as well as an excellent wine list, also score points. The standard amuse-bouche is the crowd-pleaser 'Oeuf Mayonnaise' (spelled with a double 'n', French-style!), and naturally, the tangy mayonnaise is homemade. For the starter, there's steak tartare from Gascon cattle topped with a raw egg yolk. We are not disappointed: quality meat that isn't cut too coarsely by hand, plenty of texture, not too spicy and/or sour, and certainly not bland. Kudos. Paired with a soft, lightly chilled Pinot Noir, the meat really shines. We also thoroughly enjoy the rich duck rillette, brightened by pearl onions and tangy cornichons. The accompanying characteristic pale Côtes de Provence rosé is surprisingly full-bodied and herbaceous. Quail with savoy cabbage, roseval potatoes, and mushroom sauce is the pièce de résistance. The bird boasts a crispy exterior and flawless cooking. The separately served mushroom sauce is packed with flavor. We wipe it up with bread until the very last drop. Nothing to complain about, then? The only drawback is having just one vegetarian (starter) on the menu. That's so outdated.

Joost van de Braak, the host and unmistakable face of this authentic French bistro for many years, has been co-owner of Bistro du Bac alongside his wife, Maartje, since November 2019. Under Joost and Maartje’s inspiring leadership, their passion for French cuisine remains unchanged. Everything about this charming spot exudes joie de vivre, located in what is now the trendy and bustling culinary hub of Katendrecht. The menu is graced with French classics ranging from garlic-butter-stuffed snails and onglet de bœuf served with shallot compote, potato mousseline, and marrow sauce, to crackling crème brûlée or a mildly sweet and sour lemon tartlet. They take pride in using produce from their own kitchen garden, including edible flowers. Like the menu, the wine list reveals a love for French pleasures, offering excellent French wines across various price ranges—from small family vineyards to major estate producers. Carefully crafted wine-pairing recommendations are also available. Despite—or perhaps because of—the pandemic, Joost says the team is stronger than ever. So, if you’re a Francophile, there’s only one place to go: Bistro du Bac. All thanks to its warm hospitality and reasonable prices. Bravo!

In several respects, this is one of the most French restaurants in the Netherlands. First and foremost, that super-French business name, meaning “bistrot” with a “t”. Inside, the Parisian atmosphere has been carried through down to the smallest detail, from framed posters, Thonet chairs, and glazed wall tiles, to the mezzanine, photographs of Serge Gainsbourg, and sugar cubes wrapped in paper from Cafés Richard. Finally, there’s the menu on an A4 sheet, packed with tried-and-true French delicacies that are impossible to choose from because you basically want to order everything. Owners Remco (chef) and Magdalena (hostess) van de Lagemaat opened their little restaurant in 2013, and since then it has been a hit in Rotterdam. Reservations must be made well in advance, and the shifts follow each other at a rapid pace. We enjoy the poached duck egg with crispy belly bacon, peas, and summer truffle. And the fried boudin noir on lukewarm apple and endive compote. Delicious starters, served without any fuss. Next comes the duck breast. Perfectly cooked, sliced, and fanned out over a savory jus with green beans and morels. Another delightful, hearty dish is pan-fried longloin, served with caramelized shallots, thin French fries, and sauce bordelaise made from broth, red wine, shallots, herbs, and butter. Plus glasses of Pouilly-Fuissé (de la Croix Senaillet, 2017), a rich Chardonnay with elegant oak notes. To finish off, cheese, coffee, and warm madeleines. A wonderful place!

For French cuisine and a genuine joie de vivre atmosphere, Bistrot du Bac is the place to be. The bistro chairs, white tablecloths, small paintings on the walls, the mezzanine overlooking the open kitchen, along with the cozy and informal service, all contribute to a pleasant, no-nonsense atmosphere. We are greeted by owner-chef Remco van de Lagemaat on the small terrace and begin with oysters and a Crémant de Bourgogne. A fine way to start, indeed. We move indoors for the rest of the meal and savor briefly pan-fried cuttlefish served with crispy pork jowl, lightly bound with pecorino and egg yolk. We also try the 'farmer’s dish': crispy pork belly, fried blood sausage, sautéed oyster mushrooms, fresh garden peas, and chunks of smoked bacon, all served alongside a generous pour of rich jus. Simply delicious. The house wine, a Trois Terres Le Saut du Diable 2016 from Languedoc-Roussillon, pairs beautifully. The fish dishes are equally delightful, such as perfectly cooked-on-the-bone grey mullet served with asparagus, samphire, lamb’s ears, caper berries, and its own jus. Do not expect artistically plated presentations, but rather come ready to enjoy a solid, satisfying plate of food. We wrap up with crème brûlée and a poached egg-white soufflé served in vanilla sauce with salted caramel and hazelnut praline. And all of this comes at a price you could only dream of in Paris—right here in Rotterdam.