The best Tapas in Breda ... I think!

Advantages: Fantastic food and prices
Disadvantages: Smoky inside (but only until July)

...INTRODUCTION Finally I have the opportunity to review what is widely regarded as the best tapas in these parts. There are five tapas restaurants in Breda and this is by far the most popular of them. It is located in a side street opposite the library just off the main square and this is the first time this year I have managed to eat here, such is the demand for dining there. I only managed to eat here once last year and I was very impressed with it at the time. Can they repeat the trick with my high expectations? Add to this our resident Catalonian tapas expert, Barcelona Boy and his expertise and pickiness with the genre, who was also in attendance. This was promising to be an interesting dinner. A DISCLAIMER At this point, I have to concede that my companions and myself were somewhat well lubricated at the point in...

larsbaby 08.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of FEBO, Breda

Your only choice in central Breda

Advantages: Very well located in the centre of town
Disadvantages: No gym facilities

...INTRODUCTION Being back in Breda, South Netherlands, I find myself staying long term in a hotel, as for some reason my company is unable to secure an apartment. On this plus side, this gives me an ideal opportunity to review the hotel and maybe notice and thing or two that I wouldn't normally on a usual short term stay. What follows is the result of my experience so far. Bear in mind I've been here for about 6 weeks, so no wonder I've noticed so much! LOCATION The Keyser Hotel is located on Keizerstraat, which is fairly close to the centre of Breda. The hotel blurb claims that it's between Rotterdam and Antwerp, which is pretty accurate. Train links to other major Dutch cities such as The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam are pretty good as Breda is on some of the Intercity fast train routes. It's about a ten minute...

larsbaby 17.02.2008 (24.02.2008) · Read review
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Review of Tulip Inn Keyser, Breda

The best restaurant experience in Breda bar none!

Advantages: Superb food, service and atmosphere, easy to get a table
Disadvantages: I'm not there to enjoy it any more

...INTRODUCTION There are only 2 Greek restaurants in the centre of Breda, and I must confess that previously I was no big fan of Greek food. I found it a bit bland to be honest. However, thanks to trying this place out a few times, I have found many dishes to my taste. You can usually get a seat quite easily too here, which is a good sign, as it means the Dutch aren't obsessed with it, and you can't pay any restaurant a higher compliment than that. You can already see this is going to be a favourable review! This will be the last one from Breda for the moment so I hope you know more about the place now! THE RESTAURANT I really like the layout here, as there is a big non smoking section to the left of the entrance, and this consists of several tables for 4. Some floor space separates the 2 sections and so you won't be...

larsbaby 05.08.2008 (12.08.2008) · Read review
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Review of Rhodos, Breda, Netherlands

Peoplewatching from the heart of Breda

Advantages: Great location, great range of beers
Disadvantages: Can get very crowded at weekends

...INTRODUCTION I have spent many a late afternoon and evening at this drinking establishment and so I thought I should have a bash at saying a few words about it. Now here's a interesting fact for you; "t'hart" is an abbreviation of "het hart", so "'t Hart van Breda" means "the heart of Breda". Ooooo! Located on the main square (Grote Markt) of Breda, this is a very popular spot all year round, with a predominately younger crowd. The name of the bar isn't far wrong in terms of location. THE BAR When you walk in, you can see that the entrance is just glass, and so you have a good view both of the square from the inside and the bar from the outside. Handy if you've trying to see if there's anywhere to sit. The front section has several high tables and stools, mostly for 4 people. There is lots of light this area...

larsbaby 20.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of 't Hart van Breda, The Netherlands

Colonial themed dining on Breda's main square

Advantages: Good service, reasonable food and prices
Disadvantages: Quite generic

...INTRODUCTION The main square of Breda, South Netherlands has a plethora of restaurants on it. Being here for a while means that I can try pretty much all of them if I fancy, and so in the interests of consumer research I have started to go to some of the places I have not been before, mainly because I have had low expectations of them. Only one way to find out I guess! THE RESTAURANT Paviljoen de Colonie is a chain of restaurants in The Netherlands, other locations other than Breda being Houten, Maarssen, Utrecht, 's Graveland, Amersfoort and Waardenburg. Nope, I've not heard of most of those either. Not for the first time here, I can almost hear the distant twang of a Deliverance like banjo. The restaurant appears to be done up in a style that is a mix of eras; the overall effect is, I think supposed to be what I...

larsbaby 27.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Paviljoen de Colonie, Breda, The Netherlands

Fine Dining in Breda - at last!

Advantages: An excellent seafood restaurant
Disadvantages: I can't see you coming all the way to Breda for it

...INTRODUCTION Being stuck in a hotel on long business trips isn't nearly as much fun as it might sound. Aside from being stuck in 1 room for the duration, you also have no option to cook for yourself, and often don't even have a fridge to keep some stuff in. And so - the only thing you can do to feed yourself and stop yourself going mad staring at the TV hung up at a height which strains the neck is to eat out. Being located in Breda, which isn't a huge town, I have tried quite a few restaurants, and was on my way to one I knew when I spotted next to it a Mediterranean one with lots of seafood on the menu. On a whim, I went in - here is the result of that action. LOCATION El Corazon is located overlooking the newly rebuilt harbour (to cut a long story short - a stretch of water was once filled in and a car park rested...

larsbaby 13.02.2008 (26.02.2008) · Read review
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Review of El Corazon, Breda, Netherlands

More Belgian beery delights on Breda's main square

Advantages: Decent food, drinks and location
Disadvantages: A bit dark inside

...INTRODUCTION This bar on the main square on Breda is one that I have frequented on several occasions. Here is a quick rundown of it. THE BAR Zeezicht sits on the corner of Grote Markt, the main square full of bars and restaurants, on the other side of the square from Breda cathedral. A bar serving food is quite common in the Netherlands, and there are quite a few dotted around the town. Inside, it's quite dark, and room for about 30 to 40 people sitting, depending on how crowded it is. There is a dark wooden floor and a lot of dark wooden square tables, pushed together to make them bigger. Solid wooden chairs are not the most comfortable but are OK. When I went it was fairly full, with a couple of tables free. You can smoke anywhere (until July anyway); even one of the waitresses was having a surreptitious drag...

larsbaby 24.06.2008 (25.06.2008) · Read review
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Review of Cafe Zeezicht, Breda, Netherlands

Serving the budget market with distinction

Advantages: Cheap, great service, reasonable food
Disadvantages: Aint gonna win any Michelin stars

...INTRODUCTION It was by accident that I ended up at Donatello's. A restaurant a few doors up had told us that the kitchen was closed for the night. Of course it was; it was already 8.15 pm on a Sunday, what a ridiculous idea that the chef wanted to earn a little more business at such a late hour in Breda. I had been to Donatello's before, and I have to confess that my abiding memory was of being given a sachet of dried, grated parmesan cheese (aka sawdust) to accompany a pasta dish. I can't even remember what dish I had. So, in the interest of both fairness and consumer research, here I was again, this time armed with a pen and an open mind. THE RESTAURANT Donatello's is a small chain of restaurants, located in Arnhem, Breda, Nijmegen and Leiden, all fairly big cities in the Netherlands (or to put it another way, I...

larsbaby 24.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Donatello's, Breda

The second best Greek restaurant in town

Advantages: Reasonable food and prices
Disadvantages: Not the best, slightly inpersonal

...INTRODUCTION I'm still on the main square of Breda, South Netherlands, going boldly where I haven't been before in the name of consumer research (and seeing something new). Today were are at Sirtaki, a Greek restaurant I pass almost every time I am in the centre of the city, but which I knew very little about until this dining trip, except that it wasn't supposed to be as good as Rhodos, the Greek restaurant at the other end of the road. I didn't know how big it was, what it looked like inside, what was on the menu, nothing. At all. I have now put this right, as you are about to see. THE RESTAURANT When we arrived the restaurant looked really busy and who I think is the head waiter saw us and pointed 2 fingers at us (in a non offensive way). When we nodded, he pointed us to a table and carried on with whatever he was...

larsbaby 15.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Sirtaki Restaurant, Breda

A carnivore feast from the Pampas

Advantages: Good food, good service
Disadvantages: Good but not outstanding

...INTRODUCTION Here's one for you hardcore meat eaters. In the mood for a steak, I found myself on Breda's main square and considering going to Gauchos. This is a popular steak restaurant on the main square and I thought it was about time that I treated them to a review. I am not sure if my reputation precedes me, but I note a definite improvement in service, attitude and food quality the more I review. Or perhaps I had been unlucky or unkind? Nah! I'm sure I'll experience the normal Dutch service one more time before I leave. In any case, here is my review of Gauchos. THE RESTAURANT Gauchos is a chain of Argentinean restaurants in the Netherlands, with branches in Amsterdam (5 branches), Breda, The Hague, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Rotterdam (3 branches) and Utrecht. Apparently they are in the UK as well. When we...

larsbaby 27.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Gauchos Grill Restaurant, Breda