Rooie Nel, a modern bistro in Utrecht, offers a delightful dining experience with a blend of retro classics and innovative dishes. Housed in a beautifully renovated 16th-century building with a rich history, this restaurant has quickly become a local favorite.

The menu features a compact selection of snacks, appetizers, entrees, and main courses, all lovingly prepared in-house. Guests can enjoy homemade shrimp croquettes, chicken ragout pastry, and a reinterpreted cordon bleu in bitterballen form. The wine list showcases a striking number of Greek wines, and the service is friendly and attentive.

The atmosphere at Rooie Nel is warm and inviting, with a terrace overlooking the Vecht river and a tastefully renovated interior. The restaurant has retained many of its original details, such as the red and black tiles by the fireplace and the oxblood-red painted beamed ceiling.

Standout dishes include the mackerel appetizer, the vegetarian dish with tomme de chèvre, and the Kamper lamb with cassoulet. The sauces are particularly noteworthy, with a fantastic, savory, aromatic, and slightly smoky sauce of barbecued and pickled citrus and white soy. The homemade fries with skin and remarkably tasty mayo are also a must-try.

For dessert, Rooie Nel offers a soft ice cream machine with various toppings, as well as a warm madeleine with homemade advocaat and whipped cream. While the restaurant’s motto, “Deliciously fatty AND very delicious,” may seem a bit juvenile, it doesn’t do justice to the carefully crafted and well-executed cuisine.

With its excellent pricing, attentive service, and delicious food, Rooie Nel is a place worth returning to. The restaurant’s focus on retro classics treated with meticulous care and respect, combined with innovative dishes and fantastic sauces, makes it a standout in Utrecht’s culinary scene.