Bowling & Bistro Merlijn in Wijk 00 Oosterhout-Centrum

3 stars too few, 4 actually too many. The atmosphere was good, but it was cold inside. Not great for a cozy meal. The food has deteriorated since about two years ago. It was all a bit bland. The service was good until most tables were finished with their meals. Then the staff felt it was more fun with the four of us at the bar. As a result, we had to look their way for almost 15 minutes to see if they would even look at us. Ultimately, 4 because, once ordered, the dishes arrived quickly.

It's been a long time since I've had such a delicious meal out. Every dish was carefully prepared and tasted delicious. You're truly treated like a guest. Excellent service from knowledgeable staff. I can't think of any negatives, but if I had to, I'd say the portion size per bite could be a bit more consistent (smaller).

Great location Great welcome Great service Great cuisine In short, it was a fantastic evening for me and my guests.

The service and atmosphere was great but the food was not good enough for the price we paid. We liked the hamburger, carpaccio, the spare ribs, the calamari rings, and the crunchy cauliflower. The deer is not tasty though, and the shrimp also didn't have much taste. The mark-up for the price of the Fristi was amusing.

As always, we had a wonderful meal at Merlijn. The menu is extensive and changes regularly. This time, they had the Christmas-themed winter menu, which was perfect for the cold weather. The service was friendly and attentive, and the food was served quickly after we took the order form. We've been regulars at Merlijn for years, and it remains fantastic!

We had a very successful evening, delicious food, and excellent service. We'll definitely be back.

Enjoy a cozy and atmospheric meal

Unfortunately, the food was disappointing this time; the quality was better a few years ago. The staff was friendly and service-oriented. The atmosphere is cozy.

Fantastic! We went there for dinner with six adults and a 2.5-year-old toddler. The service was very friendly, the food was delicious, and our daughter loved it too! A great location for all ages 😊

Top restaurant. Perfect food and friendly staff.

Had a really fun evening. The food was really good too. Not what I expected for a bowling alley. But I'll definitely be back.

Excellent food, high-quality dishes, plenty of selection, fast, attentive service, cozy decor (December 30th) and a cozy atmosphere, comfortable chairs and temperature. Clearly, there's still a focus on the guest, and no conveyor belt or feeling of being just a number. The restaurant deserves 5 stars. Bowling: for the fanatics, the lanes are not pleasant, and the bowling balls need replacing; sharp edges along the edges make for finger holes. The benches aren't very comfortable. The decor is pleasant, and you can arrange shoes at the counter, which is a pleasant experience. Bowling gets 3 stars.

Delicious food, friendly staff, nice ambiance.

We went bowling here with a group, and it was a pleasant evening, although not everything went exactly as planned. After about 45 minutes, our lane broke down and couldn't be repaired quickly. As compensation, we received some snacks and a drink for the whole group, which we thought was very kind. After bowling, we stayed for dinner, but unfortunately, that was a bit disappointing. The quality of the meat isn't what it used to be, which is a shame because we've had better experiences there. The atmosphere was pleasant, but it was very busy and therefore quite noisy. The tables are also close together, which made it a bit restless. All in all, a pleasant evening with friendly staff, but with a few things to consider.

We started with bowling and then had snacks. We had a great time and the food was delicious. The service was great! It was a bit noisy though, due to the time (5:00 PM to 7:30 PM) and the many families with young children. We would definitely go again, but would choose a later time slot.

Delicious food. Fast, friendly service. Some dishes weren't really warm, like the hamburger bun. But the flavor was good.

Had a wonderful meal after a day out. A huge selection of dishes, good and fast service, and a very pleasant atmosphere. The price/quality ratio is excellent.

A great location for a first date, with a cozy and welcoming atmosphere that lives up to its name. I'll definitely be back. Highly recommended.

I think it's quite difficult to get everything just right with so many beautiful little dishes. Unfortunately, the autumn menu was a bit disappointing. For example, the quality of the tuna was poor, almost inedible because there were so many tough chunks. The cheese fondue was a thick cheese sauce. On the other hand, there are also many delicious dishes on the menu that are absolutely delicious.

Super delicious food. Nice atmosphere inside. The menu is very varied and has something for everyone.

Small but cozy Service was good The courts are quite outdated

We came for bowling and Bites. But if I can just come for Bites next time, I will! Because the food is so delicious. I've tried this concept elsewhere before, but here the service is fast, friendly, and the food is truly good. Until next time.

We had a fantastic evening on Saturday, November 29, 2025. We had a nice table in the main room and it wasn't too crowded. As always, we loved the food and the staff were super friendly and helpful. The downside is that it can sometimes get really crowded, and I don't like that extra room in the back.

What a delight it is to dine at Merlijn. The magic bites concept is fantastic, and every dish is carefully prepared and presented. The Christmas atmosphere made our visit even more special than usual. The service and staff were friendly and welcoming. A fantastic concept!

One of the waitresses had a very strong perfume smell.

Wow, what a fantastic children's party our daughter Djailey had! They take care of things right away if you ask. Fantastic service, definitely recommended! Friendly staff.

The food was excellent. I'm normally not a fan of ordering individual dishes, especially not with a card where you have to specify what you want. But... here it was really good, and the portions weren't tiny, but decently tiny. There wasn't much time between dishes either. In short, I can highly recommend the tapas here. Plus: atmospheric location.

Hot dishes are actually hot. Attentive service. Cozy atmosphere and nicely decorated.

A group of four of us wanted to go bowling for an hour, but because one person in a wheelchair was coming along, we called to see if it would be possible for them to join us. Someone at reception answered the phone and told us it was possible, but that there was only a small step down. This wasn't a problem for us. When we arrived, the person in a wheelchair needed to use the restroom. This wasn't taken into account, and the person was sent to the casino to use the restroom there. When we wanted to start bowling, we discovered that after the small step down, there was no space for the wheelchair to reach the lane. There was no other way to get through. We spoke to someone at the bar, who told us they don't offer bowling for people in wheelchairs. The person handled it well, and we didn't have to pay for the lane, and the four drinks we had were also paid for. It's just a shame the reception staff had a different story than the bar staff. We went there for nothing.

We had a delicious meal, but I also wanted to compliment the waiters from yesterday. What enthusiastic guys!! Polite, friendly, and very helpful! Many restaurants could learn from them!

I ate here with my wife and two-year-old child. The food is fair to good quality. We had sometimes envisioned something different with some dishes, but they were pleasant surprises. The service was perfect, especially for the children. They provided coloring pages, pencils, and even a small gift after dinner. The atmosphere was cozy and warm. The only downside was that the drinks were quite expensive, even though you already pay a hefty price per person for the all-you-can-eat option. €37.50 per person for early bird dining and €41.50 per person if you want to dine all evening. There were plenty of dessert options, and we absolutely loved the matcha desserts!

Very good food, though quite large compared to, for example, Het Zusje. Still, it was tasty.

Mediocre place, a messy place, and unfriendly staff. Way too crowded. You can barely hear each other.

Very cozy, friendly staff, tasty and nice concept

We've been coming here for years, and I thought it was a really cozy restaurant. Always friendly, and the service was impeccable. Yesterday, we were incredibly disappointed; it took 45 minutes for our first dish, and then you only have another 45 minutes for the rest of your meal. This was a real disappointment after our first time eating out since our daughter was born.

Friendly and fast service. Once again, more than enough and the food was delicious.

We had a great time bowling, and the magic bites are fantastic! Don't forget the Bossche Bol for dessert! 😋

Delicious food. Nice atmosphere.

Great atmosphere. Friendly service. Delicious food. Nice concept of ordering two dishes at a time.

Delicious food, nice atmosphere

Delicious food, lovely ambiance, good service. Top location!

Highly recommended for everyone

It was another great night out with friends.

I've been here several times, but this time I just found the quality to be much lower. The portions seem to have been adjusted accordingly, and the meat quality was a bit poorer. Nevertheless, the food was quite good. The service was truly excellent! The staff was quick, friendly, and very attentive. The space, however (the area to the right of the zebra crossing) was a truly massive chicken coop. What a racket... I was glad to be able to go outside again... Perhaps something could be done with the materials; the walls are smooth/mirror, and there's little sound-absorbing material. Anyway, it certainly wasn't bad, but I was definitely used to better food here.

Fun kids' party at Merlijn! 🎳🎉 We celebrated our grandson's birthday party at Merlijn, and it was a great success! The kids enjoyed bowling and then the arcade where we had pizza. The pizzas were delicious, although unfortunately, there wasn't a variety of flavors. For us (Grandpa and Grandma), it was a bit chilly in the bowling alley and the arcade. It's also a shame that the lemonade and water weren't included during the bowling. A nice bonus: the kids got to grab from a barrel, and the birthday boy or girl received a small gift – that made the party perfect. All in all, a fun and well-organized kids' party where the kids had a blast. We give it a solid 7 out of 10!

The food was delicious! We took advantage of the early bird offer. Dinner takes 2.5 hours, starting at 5 pm. This was plenty of time for the two of us. The portions are very large, so you're completely full after a few rounds. It's a shame, though, because we would have loved to try more dishes. The staff were friendly! We'll definitely be back!

Very atmospheric! Extensive menu and delicious food! Delicious desserts too!

Had requested a round table, there were 60+ guests at the table with a bench, to sit on it 3 guests had to climb over the bench, not convenient... furthermore cold because of the air conditioning

As usual, we had a delicious meal and the service was fantastic. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, so definitely recommended.

The food was good, the service was good and friendly. It was just a shame about our seat in the restaurant. We were literally sitting in the curtains.

Delicious, extensive, cozy, good service, in short, highly recommended.

We had another really delicious meal, a new menu with lots of new tasty dishes. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere was fantastic. This restaurant is a cut above the rest.

Cozy decor, delicious food, friendly staff, will definitely come back!!

Beautiful room with lots of light - very friendly staff - very good with allergens: They know what they're talking about, there's an allergen menu, and a dish can be adapted to make it gluten-free. Fantastic!

We had a fantastic evening with delicious food and fantastic service. Our 11-year-old niece received a delicious mocktail from a server who knew her from football; she loved it, and the children's menu and the free-for-all afterward were a big hit. We had a fantastic evening.

The food looks fantastic, and it tastes just as good! The service is quick and friendly, and the menu regularly changes. Highly recommended!

Always delicious at Merlijn's. This time there were a few errors with orders. They resolved them quickly. And desserts took a long time, probably something went wrong. The last round was indicated. I ordered quickly again. Because of an earlier incorrect order, we received 4 desserts at once. Then it was 7:45 and we had to leave quickly. For the next time slot. The new menu takes some getting used to, I think. But the food was delicious. We come back every year, so... .

Poor service on the terrace, no one comes to ask for something, you have to go inside yourself to order. Sat for an hour and a half, many people walked out.

A lovely, varied menu that changes with the seasons. Fast, friendly service. Good quality food. And I love the comfortable round tables.

Was a PV outing Bowling was 👍🏼🤔👍🏼 Food was very noisy But still okay

We were invited for our first date once, then enjoyed our wedding dinner there, and yesterday we celebrated our 25th anniversary. It's still our favorite restaurant. As always, the service was friendly, efficient, and very hospitable. One minor complaint: when leaving the building, the guests held up the door outside so my wheelchair could fit through. There were some comments that the reception could have done this. But otherwise, we'd happily return.

quality is quite adequate, . . the menu could be more varied as far as I'm concerned.

Went to the bowling alley and had a drink. Friendly staff and fast service.

Very nice for a birthday, great food

A really nice place where we love to eat. Good quality food and lots of choices. A pleasant atmosphere completes the experience.

A very nice and cozy restaurant. We had a bowling and bites package. The bowling is well-organized and modern, but also very busy and noisy. The lighting on the lanes is very flashy and distracting. Those effects are fun, but it's just too crowded, making it distracting. Besides not making the game any more fun, it's also really not enjoyable for some people. The food is excellent; the dishes are varied and have plenty of choices, sometimes quite unusual, which makes it very interesting. Some dishes come with too many extras like sauces and lettuce leaves, which is a real shame, because many of them end up returning. We found the prices a bit high for what you get. In 2.5 hours, we were able to order about 6 rounds, which is equivalent to 12 different dishes. That wasn't enough for me.

Delicious food, a treat every time 🎉🎉🎉 and the pork belly is a favorite!

We had a fantastic date night here! First, we enjoyed a game of bowling together on a lane with cool lighting effects. The bitterballen (Dutch meatballs) took a bit of a while to arrive, but after we pointed this out, we got them almost immediately and didn't have to pay for them, which was very nicely resolved. Afterward, we moved on to the restaurant and enjoyed delicious tapas dishes. Everything was of good quality and attractively presented; you can tell they've put a lot of care into it. The drinks also arrived promptly, and the staff regularly checked on us to make sure everything was to our liking. Absolutely fantastic!

Super good food. Very friendly and neat staff.

We eat here regularly, and so far, it's the number one place we've ever been. Delicious food and very friendly staff. An hour of bowling beforehand is also a fun way to start.

We had a lovely meal, this time in the new space. There wasn't a single dish that really surprised me, but we'll definitely be back.

The food was, as always, excellent! However, the four of us were placed in the "party room" at the back right. This is where the larger groups usually sit. It was so noisy that it sounded like a disco. We could barely hear each other. From now on, we'll just have to ask if we can just sit in the restaurant.

A lovely atmosphere, delicious food, beautifully presented. One small point: I found some of the dishes a bit much for tapas. The Caesar salad starter was quite full, and also quite generous with chicken, cheese, and everything else. Very tasty, of course. But the cauliflower bites, the sticky chicken, and some of the desserts could have been a bit smaller. Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I like being able to choose from a variety of dishes, and this time I got full rather quickly. 😅 Otherwise, I had a nice evening with delicious food.

A charming bowling alley and restaurant, perfect for celebrating a birthday or other special occasion. The staff is friendly, the Magic Bites are delicious and beautifully presented. Highly recommended!

Delicious food and also a varied menu, friendly service and you eat there really quietly and cozy, you have 2 hours but that is more than enough to have a delicious meal, magic bites is really recommended

The bowling was a blast, and the magic bites afterward made the evening complete! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the staff were incredibly friendly!

Due to sensory processing issues, I couldn't stay inside the restaurant; it was too crowded. The owner was helpful and created a spot outside for us under a heater, with a blanket. This way, we were still able to enjoy the Magic Bites menu and all the hospitable staff.

Lovely restaurant with delicious food. Lots of choice and good quality. Excellent service!

Beautiful restaurant with a great atmosphere, very friendly staff, and delicious food. Everything looked very well-maintained. Tables were well-spaced for privacy. The bowling alley was also very enjoyable. It was a bit crowded, and some guests were showing off a bit, which bothered us, but they didn't let that bother them. Despite the noise, we still had a good time.

The food was delicious and really delicious. The service was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for each round. The atmosphere was cozy and highly recommended.

Delicious food, the dishes look amazing. Good portions.

We had another wonderful evening here at Merlijn. We were able to sit outside in a very atmospheric setting! We had individual tables, beautifully decorated. And, last but not least, we didn't see a single wasp. The food was also delicious and looked very appetizing. The service was excellent.

Merlijn blijft een unieke belevenis. Onbeperkt kleine gerechtjes bestellen voor een vaste prijs maar dan met een bovengemiddelde kwaliteit en een enorme variatie. Het is er bijna altijd druk en dat heeft een reden! Personeel is er echter ruim voldoende waardoor je nooit heel lang op je bestelling hoeft te wachten. Aanrader, zeker als je van een bijzondere ambiance houdt en gewoon lekker en gevarieerd wilt eten

A beautiful restaurant, lovely atmosphere, and fantastic staff! The dishes were well-prepared, but we were very disappointed with the carpaccio. The desserts are delicious, though a bit large for tapas. The cocktails are delicious! It took a while at first, but it all went smoothly in the end. We'll definitely be back!

Good food and good service with friendly staff

What a lovely restaurant, and the food was really great... The tasty little snacks were well-prepared and tasted delicious. We'll definitely be back, and also for some bowling, as that looked really fun too.

Everything is always super tasty and beautifully served. My favorite restaurant!

had a nice afternoon with the grandchildren and everything was well organised

Hele leuke en originele locatie. Ruim voldoende en attent personeel. Gerechten komen in een prima tempo door. Ruime keuze en ook een uitgebreide keuze uit onder andere wijnen.

Voorgerecht, hoofdgerecht en nagerecht. De sortering was ruim voldoende en voor ieder wat wils. Heerlijk gegeten in een sfeervolle ambiance.

The four of us just enjoyed the delicious Summer Sweetness! All those desserts were delicious, but it was a shame we were sitting all alone in the brasserie! It would have been nicer to just sit in the restaurant. We were all alone there, so it was a shame about the atmosphere.

What a great place to bowl and eat. Great location, very friendly staff, and fast delivery of the rounds.

The food was delicious, and each dish was beautifully garnished. Each dish looked excellent and carefully prepared. Definitely worth a return visit, and the price was certainly not high considering the quality.

A damn nice place to eat and go bowling.

Wij gaan regelmatig omdat er altijd iets bij zit voor iedereen en altijd met klasse. Alle tijd voor je. Ze halen de kaartjes snel op en het eten volgt ook snel. Het eten is heerlijk. Ik kan er niets negatief over zeggen. Het blijft ons favoriete restaurant .

Met de nieuwe kaart is er nog veel meer keuze! Alles wat wij gegeten hebben was heerlijk! Bediening hield de tafels ook goed in de gaten en vroegen geregeld of we nog wat wensten. Top!

Super dinner at Merlijn! 🧡 Taste sensations with every course, and there were plenty! Super delicious magic bites, friendly service, and a warm, cozy atmosphere. Five hours of effortless dining, pure enjoyment. A hat trick for me, a first for my girlfriend, and the 45-minute drive was more than worth it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was a pleasant evening. The service was prompt and helpful, and the food was good.

Great place. Been there often. It's just a shame that track 1 is in terrible condition. But otherwise, nothing to complain about!

The food here is excellent. It's been that way for years. Highly recommended.