In a bit of a refeshing change to the restuarants that I visit whilst on tour and at work, this restaurant is one that is in my town of Den Haag (The Hague) in the Netherlands.

It is also a place of special significance to me, as it is the place where I locked my child in the car... along with the keys.... and she was fast asleep, so asleep that shaking the car and banging on the window didn't wake her. Needless to say, I started to gather quite a crowd, plus a "what the hell?" lecture from my wife later on....

The Space

This restaurant also doubles as a well frequented fish shop. When you walk in, you are met with the best selection of fresh fish in Den Haag, along with a whole store of fish related cooking ingredients as well as a several deep freezers of frozen fish and soups.

The fresh fish is always a great basis for a fish and chips restaurant, but the added bonus is that there is a great selection of Egyptian and other Middle Eastern salads and side dishes. All of it is incredibly tasty, as I've tried most of it over the years that we have been living here.

Okay... the decor is a touch on the kitsch side... there's no real way around that, but full marks for character!

... and under the glass of the tabletops, they have made these cute designs in sand and shells. To go with the beach theming of the whole shop! Keep in mind that the seating area is pretty limited, probably about 20 people can sit at one time... however, most of the people stop by for take-away or for fish purchases, so there is often tables and seats free.

The Menu

The menu is pretty much a standard fare for a fish and chip shop. In that you are going to get a fish of some sort (fried or grilled) with a healthy (size wise) serving of chips and a side of some sort.

However, if you ask nicely, they will pretty much cook up anything that you buy! Or if they have run out of something, they will substitute it with something else from the fresh section.

Speaking of which, all the dishes are made from the fish in the fresh section anyway!

The Food

So, the standard Fish and Chip plate. The chips are some of the best that I know, and in a country that prides itself on the quality of it's chips, that is a pretty big call! Likewise, the battered and fried fish is really quite amazing. I have no idea of how they do the batter, but it is really very tasty... and probably a closely held family secret.

This was my daughter's dish... with a puzzled, why are you taking a photo of my food?

I got the battered Calamari with a Paella side. Well, a side would be underselling it a bit! Again, the same batter was used, and the fish was cooked just right... often they can be either too oily or overcooked... neither was the case in either of these dishes, the fish was just perfect!

The Experience

The staff seems to be a family run place. They are splitting their time doing the fish shop section and the restaurant section. Despite this, they are incredibly friendly and the food is served up quickly.

There is always a bit of a problem with drinks, there are only vending machines, around the corner... but the staff are always happy to open them up with a key if you don't have loose change with you (you just pay at the end with the food bill).

The price is really cheap... especially considering the amount of food that you get.... and the quality of the food is really quite high as well. Plus, there are lots of interesting sides dishes!

I definitely recommend this place if you are in the area, I keep coming back to it... in fact, I often make excuses to be in the area!

Opening Times

Monday Closed
Tuesday 10am–7:30pm
Wednesday 10am–7:30pm
Thursday 10am–7:30pm
Friday 10am–2pm, 3–7:30pm
Saturday 10am–7:30pm
Sunday 10am–7pm

Contact Details

Address: Weimarstraat 259, 2562 HH Den Haag
Phone: 070 364 4614
Website: http://vishandel-suezkanaal.nl/