Café-restaurant Franzen in Oude Stad

Great spot, also to sit outside in the sun and ideal to eat beforehand when a concert in the Patronaat across the street is coming up. With four people we had a surprise menu for only 35 euros for three courses. Where else do you get that? Really nicely presented, and of course very tasty. The time between the 1st and 2nd course took a bit long (we were hungry and didn't want to leave too late for our concert in Patronaat), nevertheless a highly recommended address, away from the hustle and bustle of the historic city center, but with just as much atmosphere. We will definitely come back for it!

Really bad experience there. The owner was rude.

Rude, impersonal, racist and antisocial. I would never go here.

Excellent food, very attentive and friendly service.

Amazing restaurant especially close to the holiday inn, chef and staff were very nice and the 3 course meal was delicious

We ate here during restaurant week. We were well received. The service is very friendly and attentive. The first course was a piece of halibut. The fish was well prepared and came on a bed of lettuce and quinoa. The second course was a risotto with fish. This had a good taste and was well prepared. The main course was a piece of kalswang with vegetables. The cheek was tender and also well prepared. The dessert was a kind of mousse with a layer of chocolate and nuts and a berry ice cream. This one went down well! The chocolate was crunchy, the filling was delicious and went well with the ice cream. Overall the food was well prepared and tasted good. We were able to enjoy the garlic in it all evening 😅 Still, I would recommend this place! No fuss, good flavors and well-prepared dishes.

Nice surprising dishes in an ambiance that you would not expect.

Delicious food. Friendly service.

Delicious food on the way to the Theater in a cozy restaurant. We were warmly welcomed and attentively served. The menu could be adapted to our taste!

I think this was once an old-fashioned billiards café and is now (still) a breakfast/diner of the fairly run-down hotel Die Raeckse in Haarlem. The restaurant part is now probably operated by someone else and has been given the name Franzen. The interior has been tinkered with to make it a bit trendy with collected furniture. Not unpleasant, but it all looks a bit messy. So much for the ambiance. During restaurant week (March 2025), the open kitchen created an excellent four-course menu that the chef himself introduced to us. Two beautiful fish dishes, the third course a tender veal oyster and finally a dessert. Of course, served in attractive creations by the cheerful and friendly staff. The quality of the food is a reason to definitely come again. Once you are sitting comfortably, you accept the somewhat strange decor for granted.

we had the surprise menu via dining city. All dishes were very good and special, nothing to complain about. nice wine and nice service. in short: highly recommended!

Delicious food, personal service and pleasant atmosphere. Good value for money

Very tasty meal. 3 course menu for 35 euros, very well prepared. Wine also tasty, service good. I don't understand why it isn't busier

Delicious food! Classy dishes with excellent presentation on the plate and from the chef. Attentive service, friendly atmosphere and beautifully, spaciously decorated. Definitely recommended and open on Mondays!

We had an absolutely wonderful dinner here. Very welcoming and cozy in January. We had the 3 course: a fish starter, meat main and a dessert. So delicious. Happy we found it.

Delicious dinner. Nice personal service from both the chef/owner and his staff. The four-course surprise menu is a bargain for the quality delivered. Good refined flavors in a friendly atmosphere, definitely recommended!

What a nice and personal welcome from the owner, who also explained the concept (main course €25; three-course menu €35 and four-course menu €45). The composition of the delicious dishes was also nicely explained. Atmospheric restaurant with very refined food, highly recommended!

Lovely, cozy restaurant. Casual atmosphere, beautiful dishes and nice service. Totally great for me!

Was very pleasantly surprised by this meal, and at great value too! Seafood focused with unique touches, the menu leaves you satisfied!

Very friendly service and the chef regularly visited the tables, the food was great and very affordable for this quality, 3 courses for €35. Highly recommended.

What delicious food you can have here! Both à la carte and the surprise menu were really delicious. And Martijn creates a nice atmosphere. We will definitely come back!

Very tasty food, four course dinner. Nice variety of flavors and textures in the food. Cozy environment and very friendly help!

Enjoyed a delicious 3-course surprise menu. Very tasty! Personal explanation from the chef himself about the different courses and friendly service.

nice location, horrible service (be careful of what you order and what you pay, they may overcharge you as in my case). Just there for a drink, really tiny selection of wines and long drinks.

We had a delicious meal here. Nice outside in warm weather in the afternoon while enjoying a bottle of white wine on the recommendation of the waitress and trying out the surprise menu for 2 people. We chose the 3 course menu, had a meat dish as a starter, followed by the main course, which consisted of fish and dessert. All in all we had a good meal, portions were generous and the service was very pleasant. Would love to come back!

Three course menu was very good value. Nice wine pairing. Very friendly staff. Nice place, would not hesitate to go back here :)

I watched the chef make eye contact with me, then proceed to lick his fingers repeatedly while preparing my food, and that of other guests. The cheesecake does not resemble any cheesecake I've ever seen. The Irish coffee was good.

Had delicious wine here this afternoon. I promised to eat here and I really will 😊

If you eat here...you won't look for another restaurant. It is cozy and the food is fantastic.

Very nice place with very good food and very affordable (unlike many other catering establishments!), right opposite the Patronaat!

A nice restaurant, good service, terrace outside and delicious dessert. Also for parties and celebrations.

Everything from start to finish was amazing. Every course was wonderfully prepared and I tried dishes I would never have imagined choosing. So very glad they took us without a reservation and made our last dinner in Haarlem a night to remember. We trusted Chef Franzen and you should, too!

Very nice place, pleasant atmosphere, many languages ​​are spoken here, even if you don’t speak, they will serve you by the look of their eyes - I highly recommend it to everyone 👍

Enjoyed a four-course chef's dinner via diningcity for €35 pp. An extremely reasonable price, considering the quality of what is offered. First sea bream on a bed of fresh vegetables sprinkled with parsnip chips and a delicious sauce under the vegetables. Then a fantastic risotto with dried ham on top, delicious. The main course consisted of thinly sliced, buttery steak in a delicious gravy and finally a ricotta pudding with cassis ice cream. The chef regularly came to provide information and all this in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. RECOMMENDED!

Had a chance to have a romantic dinner with my husband during the restaurant week in this place. Ukrainian waiters were the sweetest and most professional ones! They really tried to help with wine pairing as well as any other request from other side. The fish salad stole my heart, will come back for this one for sure! All dishes were delicious and we've seen that chef was making sure himself that people really do enjoy what they it as well as greeting everyone on the entrance.

March 30, 7:40 PM it was raining outside I saw some guests sitting outside under the awnings, there was more room and I came in to ask for a cup of coffee outside with possibly some extras the gentleman in the kitchen immediately started shouting at me in English we are full, he was apparently not having a good day, but his colleagues were also not doing well. by speaking to me normally, he concluded his monologue by cursing a good life. I understand that things don't go well every day, but if you run a business with such rude people, you better not be in the kitchen. to set in motion. ps there were a lot of foreign people in the area that day because of a benefit concert for Ukraine, this gentleman, with his clear English language, clearly took a stand on how he stands in the competition, but he forgets that we are all people including me. I have never been treated so badly in a catering matter in my life and I hope that your restaurant will do something about this

Fantastic! The surprise menu is highly recommended. They serve wonderfully thought-out dishes, serve beautiful wines and the service is excellent. The chef takes the time for his customers, so you immediately feel welcome and at ease. We will definitely come back!

Amazing restaurant! I dare say, one of the best in Harlem. It's rare when you can create such lovely atmosphere, that you start planning your next dinner in the same place! The owner/main chef has greated us and sat us at a cozy table. The service was impeccable and the food was wonderful, the "surprise menu" was super delicious, from the entree to dessert. Definitely recommend and definitely will come back many more times!

Just had a very good meal, great staff and a great atmosphere. The highlight is the owner who can proudly talk about his good food! Franzen, thank you for this beautiful evening!

Nice terrace, beautiful dishes And also attractive inside

Nice place , good beer, some snacks, marvelous Ambiance!

What a pleasant evening we had, we were warmly welcomed and had a delicious dinner, which was made with love, delicious, I can't say anything else, the time before was also so nice and delicious. In short, until next time. 👍🍷

Ate at Franzen on Christmas Day - delicious 4-course dinner with a good red (Malbec) and white (Pinot Grigio) wine Friendly service and nice atmosphere We live nearby and will definitely come back

Geweldig lekker gegeten en de bediening was zo behulpzaam en aardig. Ze hielden er zelfs rekening mee dat wij na het eten naar de bioscoop gingen. Echt een aanrader!

Restaurant Franzen staat voor goed eten, goede wijn en een gezellige sfeer

16-10-2023 Heeft mijn broertje mij hier naartoe meegenomen voor mijn verjaardag. We waren erg onder de indruk van het enthousiasme van chefkok en de barman. Wij hebben beide het 3 gangen verrassingsmenu genomen en daar hebben we absoluut geen spijt van gehad! Wij komen nog een keer, tot dan heren!

Een avond uit met vriendinnen. Dan is Franzen een aanrader. Heerlijk genoten van het menu van de chef! Supergezellig personeel. Chapeau!

Heerlijk gegeten,vriendelijk personeel,jammer dat de open haard niet meer werkt.

A nice restaurant, the owner is an excellent person, the service is very good and the food is exquisite!

Very tasty 3-course lunch, friendly service

Wir hatten das Überraschungsmenü, wie jeder andere im Lokal auch. Es war einfach einmalig. Nicht ganz günstig aber sehr lecker

Had a fantastic Sunday evening dinner here. Warm and friendly service with a delicious 4 course menu. Highly recommend 👍

Ich suchte nach besten Bewertungen in der Umgebung und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Wir hatten ein super leckres 3-Gang-Menu zum fairen Preis. Gern wieder

Wir hatten das 3 Gänge Überraschungsmenü und es war super lecker! Tolle Qualität, alles frisch, toller Geschmack, heißes Essen, die Portionen weder zu groß noch zu klein. Auch die vegetarische Version war perfekt. Wir würden definitiv wieder kommen.

Erg genoten van het 4 gangen verrassingsmenu. Lekkere combinaties, iedere keer toegelicht door de chef-kok, leuke sfeer, prima bediening. Top avond gehad.

This place is putting a major high end cruise line to shame. We just came off a cruise a few days ago. The chef here far exceeded our expectations. Dishes are right portioned and expertly prepared and delicious. Wine was perfectly paired. The desert was out of this world. Overall really really good.

Heerlijk en geweldige ervaring in elk opzicht een top kok en personeel die je niet overal vind. kort om we gingen met een blij gevoel naar de patronaat voor een fijne voort zetting van de avond bedank

Een charmant welkom door de chef, die zijn gasten ook uitleg geeft aan de tafels. Het gezellige restaurant liep redelijk snel vol. Wij genoten van het 4 gangen insider fork menu. Een fles water werd al op de tafel gezet, bravo. Vooraf een lichte smakelijke salade met een stukje griet filet die net te lang gegaard was, dus vrij droog. Het 2e gerecht was n linguini, zo zacht als boter kon ik de verrukkelijke pasta naar binnen zuigen. Het hoofd gerecht toonde smakelijk, sukade, of te wel een Amerikaanse steak vergezeld door n zalfige aardappel puree en een gevarieerde smaak van verse groenten. De toet betrof een soort taartje met een bolletje ijskoud lekkers daarop. Wij lieten de gerechten vergezeld gaan met eerst een vrij lichte verdejo, open wijn, verder kozen Wij voor Jorn Nou Negre, heel lekker maar erg aan de prijs. Chef Martijn laat zien dat hij smakelijke combinaties weet te maken. Wanneer je besluit om bij Franzen te eten, neem je tijd. Dank ook aan het vriendelijke personeel.

Wat een geweldig restaurant. Een mooie kaart, heerlijke gerechten, verrassende wijnen en een zeer vriendelijke bediening. Eigenaar Martijn heeft er weer een prachtig restaurant van weten te maken. Een aanwinst voor Haarlem e.o.

Wat een aardige eigenaar en personeel. En het eten is echt super lekker. Een aanrader als je in Haarlem komt. En de parkeer garage is vlakbij dus makkelijk parkeren!

4 gangen verrassingsmenu en flesje pouilly fumé erbij. Echt heel goed gegeten. Eigenaar die ook even aan tafel gerechten komt toelichten. Fijn! Aanrader.

Geweldig restaurant, fijn ontvangst ,goed eten en erg ontspannen sfeer. Duidelijk merkbaar dat de eigenaar al wat jaartjes meedraait in de horeca.

Absoluter Geheimtipp in Haarlem! Super 3-Gänge Menü zu einem fantastischen Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis. Der Service war sehr zuvorkommend, die Gänge wurden ausführlich (zum Teil sogar vom Koch persönlich) erklärt und auch vegetarische Optionen waren ohne Problem möglich. Vielen Dank & bis bald!

Heerlijk 4 gangen verrassingsmenu gehad! Alle gerechten waren heerlijk, service was top, alles werd duidelijk uitgelegd, fijne sfeer.

Eten is wel erg lekker maar hygiëne is ver onder de maar overal spinnenwebben en het schimmel zit op het plafond

Fantastisch verassingsmenu. De kok kwam bij ieder gerecht aan tafel om het gerecht toe te lichten.

Nice cozy place. The menu is not big and we were advertised to check the chief's special menu: 3 courses for 35 Euro. That was very nice. Good salad with fish and eel. The sauce was amazing. Then a nice steak with vegetables dressing and mashed potato. And a nice desert at the end. Cooked really well and tasty. We've also tried one main course from the main menu and one more desert. Good as well. P.S. around 6 beers on tap.

Elke keer weer eet ik hier echt fantastisch! Super vriendelijke bediening en de verassingen van de chef zijn “spot on”! Mooi beland in het menu. Waar ook passende wijn bij geschonken kunnen worden. Ik zeg tot snel.

Alles was heerlijk. Ze zijn heel aardig. een beetje duur maar wel waard

Altijd top. Laat je verrassen door Martijn!

Geweldige selectie aan wijnen, goede service en scherp geprijsd.Het 3-gangen menu is zeker een aanrader!

Such a friendly staff and their special offer for Kingsday was of good taste.