De Rietschans in Haren-West e.o.

Letdown: dangerous allergy mistakes and lack of hospitality. Last Saturday evening, my girlfriend and I settled in here. Since the establishment has been taken over by a descendant of the Van der Valk family, we were curious about the new direction. Unfortunately, the experience turned out to be a disappointment. My girlfriend has a severe paprika allergy that can make her extremely ill. This was communicated in advance during the online reservation, repeated at the reception, and explicitly mentioned again to the waiter at the table. Despite this, the main course was simply served *with* paprika. Another waiter confirmed that it was on the bill, but that it had simply been overlooked in the kitchen and by himself. A downright dangerous mistake. What makes it even worse is that no effort was subsequently made to rectify this with a simple gesture such as a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Apart from this incident, we never truly felt like guests for a single moment. There was no focus on the experience or hospitality, and the dishes were nothing special either; it was absolutely not 'preparé avec amour', as one might expect here. Moreover, when things quieted down later in the evening, the atmosphere changed due to the loud shouting and joking of the chefs from the open kitchen. De Rietschans has traditionally had a chic appearance with matching, steep prices. That reputation, the quality of the food, and the pricing are absolutely not being lived up to in this way. The establishment visibly lacks firm management. From now on, they will really have to pull out all the stops, otherwise they won't make it. Our conclusion? You are better off going to a regular Van der Valk restaurant: proven dishes, appropriate service, and at a normal price. We won't be seen here again anytime soon.

I have been a vegetarian for 48 years now and have never experienced anything like this. It is truly ridiculous! There are two vegetarian options on the menu: risotto and a hamburger. My nephew really wanted a regular hamburger, but they didn't have one. So we ordered two reed burgers. Since I haven't eaten meat for so long, I have no idea what real meat tastes like. It had a different consistency than veggie burgers, but they can do a lot these days; however, when I saw that the middle was pink, I really started to have doubts. And upon inquiry, it turned out that I had indeed been given a meat hamburger. The wait staff should have asked what I wanted. What do you mean, should have asked what I wanted? There is only one hamburger on the menu, and it is vegetarian! It turned out that a regular hamburger is available at lunch. The manager apologized; he really did his best, but this is simply unacceptable. I had to do my best not to throw it up all over the table right there and then. I felt so bad and disgusting. What if I had had a nut allergy and this mistake had been made? We were allowed to have coffee on the house, but I didn't want that anymore. They did take a bit off the bill, but our family outing for my mother's birthday was already ruined. It used to be a good restaurant, but since the takeover, it has gone downhill fast. My advice: don't go eat there if you are a vegetarian, because they haven't done anything about it. It is still on the menu, so there is a good chance you will be served a meat burger as well. This is really unacceptable in this day and age. Scandalous!

Had drinks and dinner with a small group. The quality was great and the staff very friendly.

2nd time for dinner. Poor service, very impersonal. Had to ask twice if the table could be cleared. It took a very long time for someone to come and take our order. It later turned out that the wait staff were having a lot of fun in the kitchen. Received 11 out of 12 oysters. It was rectified. To order a main course, we had to call someone over. The food is very good and the location is perfect. For what it costs, you do expect good service.

Family event. Options and cost discussed remotely via email/phone; very efficient and clear. Good value and quality of buffet in separate room with large balcony, good and unobtrusive service, drinks with additional cost but clearly communicated. Seemless event.

What service! Arranging a warmer spot especially for an elderly person.

Always nice to go there, and when the weather is nice, to sit on the large terrace with something to eat and drink.

Not the cheapest, but a beautiful place and friendly service. It's a shame you reduced the portion size of the nachos but didn't change the price. Bad business. I used to come here often for drinks, but now I don't really like it anymore.

A super cozy getaway Enjoying doing nothing for a while Looking out over the water and enjoying delicious food and drinks

We went out for dinner at the Rietschans. A very nice restaurant, good location. That is where the positive words end. The service was.... Uh.... Peculiar. Sometimes small details, like not knowing if a table was already booked. Sometimes the short cries that come when someone is standing at the table serving. "Who?", "Yo," and all sorts of other things. Getting the wait staff's attention was also very challenging. But anyway, the food is more important, of course. It was remarkable to see that there were tables with dishes that weren't on the menu. No idea how they got them. The dish I had was okay-ish. I ate it. The portions were very small. The best part was the tiny bowl of fries. A single-person bowl, but for two guests. For dessert, we wanted two slices of cake and a coffee. It turned out the cake wasn't there. As an alternative, an apple pie (something similar) and a Dame Blanche. So the Dame Blanche wasn't a Dame Blanche at all, but ice cream, whipped cream, and some chocolate sauce creatively placed next to it in lines. See the photo. Sorry, this isn't right and please, Google it. And no, I didn't complain. I ate it, we paid, and that was it. And that coffee? It never arrived. So, one star strong for the service, One star deducted for the mediocre food served in small portions and because they can't make Dame Blanche. That leaves me with three stars. That is on the high side. I already know that a general response is coming saying "thanks for the feedback, we will discuss it." I hope that really happens, because it could be top-notch with less effort.

Had a really fun 40up party Super location, well organized, but the bar staff was a complete joke, never experienced anything like it at this location. I hope they were hired from a temp agency, otherwise we will never come back.

Beautiful terrace by the water. Very friendly staff.

Beautiful location, spacious but doesn't feel massive. Had dinner with the family. Good service, tasty food, wide selection. The pastries are highly recommended. The rolls from the bread board were a bit tough. The price level is quite high, hence the 4 stars.

Very beautiful location and delicious food

The fries served with the dishes are very meager: a very small bowl for 4 people. The entrecote was well prepared, but unfortunately that was just about all that was served. The extra portion ordered was never brought. Hilariously mediocre.

Unfortunately, we did not have a pleasant experience at De Rietschans. We had to wait a very long time before we could even order. There was plenty of staff walking around, but no one came to our table. Eventually, one of us walked in ourselves to ask if we could order. We also had to get the menus ourselves. Additionally, several things did not match what was on the menu. There was supposed to be red onion in the salad, but it was missing. Also, coarse mustard was listed with the dish, but we just received French mustard. The low point was that there was lipstick on the soup bowl. That is just super gross. The manager indicated that he would check with the kitchen, but that took quite a long time. The manager also made a remark that we found very inappropriate. When my sister ordered a piece of Black Forest cake, he said: "Is it balance day?" That came across as anything but hospitable. We were only asked if everything was to our liking after we had already finished eating. Eventually, we paid, and only then did the manager come over to us to say that he had actually wanted to do something about the bill. Of course, that was of no use to us at that moment. It is a real shame, because the location is beautiful, but due to the slow service, the mistakes in the food, and the way our complaints were handled, we will not be returning here anytime soon.

Excellent place to eat with an extensive menu. High tea included. Beautiful interior. In good weather, there is also a lovely terrace with a view of the lake.

Had a delicious buffet and a boat trip on Lake Paterswolds beforehand with a delicious charcuterie board and drinks. Beautiful view of the lake from the room. Friendly staff.

Lovely by Lake Paterwold. But come on, a snack platter (no cows involved) for 2 people. €33 for what you get is outrageously expensive. The service was good and friendly. We have been there often but won't be for a while.

What grumpy staff on this hot day. It's one thing not to like it, but at the very least, remain professional. Food decent but not wow, though a beautiful location by the lake and a nice building. Probably won't be coming back anytime soon.

I have fond memories of this location from the 1980s, when 'Herberg De Rietschans' stood here. It was top-notch! Later, however, things went wrong under the 'Villa Sasso' operation... end of story, and it was even demolished. Now, after a fire, a super-modern building with a large upper floor stands on the most beautiful spot along Lake Paterswolde. Equipped with every convenience and comfort. There are countless possibilities. The private parking lot is also a nice feature. The large terrace directly on Lake Paterswolde is more than pleasant. What an atmosphere!! I come here regularly for lunch and a walk on the various estates in the area. An ideal place as a resting point or starting point for anything. My favorite lunch * Chicken Focaccia. Delicious! In short... haven't been yet?... do it soon... you certainly won't be disappointed! Ed Jansen

What a delightful location De Rietschans in Paterswolde is. The terrace is situated right by the water and the view is truly picture-perfect; you immediately get a holiday feeling here. The staff is incredibly friendly and hospitable, ensuring that you want for nothing. It is the perfect place to settle down for a cozy drink, a tasty platter, or a good bite to eat. Everything is taken care of down to the last detail. Highly recommended if you want to enjoy good food and drinks at a prime location by the water. We will definitely be back here again!

An atmospheric restaurant with attentive service where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks!

Nice large portions, large terrace. Service is quick and friendly. Beautiful location on Lake Patersewold.

Had a delicious meal at this beautiful spot by Lake Paterswold. Surprised with a tasty and varied 3-course menu. Beautifully presented plates, everything prepared perfectly, and welcoming and warm service. Highly recommended!

Not the cheapest place in the neighborhood, but that probably fits the image they are striving for. Great food: a somewhat more upscale version of classic Dutch dishes. The view over the lake is beautiful and the service is attentive and friendly. Personally, I am not a big fan of music in restaurants, especially when a place positions itself as a high-end establishment. For me, that detracted slightly from the atmosphere. Nevertheless, absolutely no regrets about our choice. I would definitely recommend it.

Nice place to eat well where you are served by friendly staff.

We had dinner with our friends last night; the food wasn't hot (microwave warm), the sauce had a dried-out layer on top, the gorgonzola wasn't neatly sliced ​​and hadn't melted properly over the tenderloin, the sirloin was tasteless (meat quality substandard), starters and the whole experience were really far below par in terms of price-quality. I don't write reviews easily, but this was truly bad and really detracts from the ambiance; that's probably why they managed to get by. A management hand is missing. Clearing tables, taking orders, and then having to wait 10 minutes for your drink :(

Beautiful location by the water, but the food and service are far below par.

Had a delicious meal, staff helpful. Cozy atmosphere.

A beautiful restaurant in a stunning location by the water. Great food and friendly service.

Unfortunately, I found the salmon salad a bit bland. Also, I couldn't really detect the balsamic vinegar, which was listed on the menu, in the dish. Therefore, I would not order this dish again myself. However, I have had good meals here before, so my experience isn't entirely negative. The service was friendly and the location is very nice, especially by the water in good weather.

Unfortunately, I have to report that the Rietschans has become far too expensive. The service also leaves much to be desired.

Been here countless times over the years. It was a lot less impressive in recent years. In March 2026, the Rietschans came under new ownership. Hooray!! Three-course dinner for 5 people. Approx. €55 p.p. including wine and water. Everything was delicious. Excellent quality. Great service, fresh flowers on the table.

Beautiful spot by Lake Paterswold. Had a nice time ordering a drink together. Unfortunately, new owner in April 2026. The bread board had shrunk; good fresh country bread was now just a few standard rolls. We did get brown bread when we asked for it, though. Still not happy with it. Still busy with renovations, hence the less than ideal atmosphere.

Cozy restaurant with delicious dishes and excellent service.

Beautiful building, good location, nice atmosphere. BUT: The food is mediocre and so is the service. WHY? 1 - The avocado burger didn't taste like avocado at all; I wonder if there was any avocado in it at all. I mainly saw light green filling (which wasn't avocado) and something that looked like edamame beans. 2 - The mustard soup (Groningen's pride) smelled and tasted strongly of urine (no, we don't usually drink urine, but you can imagine what the smell is like). My girlfriend and I both love this soup, but we both left it untouched after trying it twice. Naturally, we pointed this out to the staff: twice, once to the waitress and once when settling the bill. In both cases, there was absolutely no response; no feedback from or to the chef, no apologies or concerns, nothing. That's why 1 star for the service.

We absolutely love visiting this beautiful restaurant, but last time we were quite disappointed. We had the club sandwich and it was terrible. Very dry and completely tasteless. Even after repeatedly asking for extra mayonnaise with the fries, we received nothing. We left a lot uneaten and are disappointed!

Great food and awesome service.

We have had lunch here quite often before and were satisfied. But yesterday we dined for the first time, and that was less of a success. All sorts of things went wrong with the food, which can happen of course. But according to the menu, my partner's fish was supposed to be wrapped in ham, but that wasn't the case, so we pointed that out. A little later, a bowl of fried ham was placed on the table after all. But without saying a word about it—truly downright rude. You also needed a magnifying glass to see the mashed potatoes that were supposed to come with it. The meat I had was very tasty, though. But according to the menu, an oyster is supposed to be included with the meals as well; I didn't see that for any of us either. All in all, not such a great evening. Although fortunately, we did have a very nice time together.

One of my favorite places around Groningen!!! Super service, fantastic food, pleasant atmosphere!!!

I made an appointment to celebrate my birthday with 11 people. Coffee and cake at 4:00 PM, followed by a table at 5:30 PM. Upon arrival, there was no welcome. You have to chase it up yourself. They hadn't anticipated us at all. The table for coffee still had to be set. Then it took forever for our order to be taken. At 5:30 PM, we wanted a table, and again, we had to ask for it ourselves, and this table still had to be completely set. Then we waited at least another fifteen minutes for our order to be taken. The food was decent, but hospitality isn't highly valued here. The staff chatted with each other from time to time. There was only one lady who understood. Upon leaving, there wasn't a single friendly word, and no staff member in sight. I had imagined my birthday celebration to be different. Too bad, Rietschans, we thought eating with you would be all right. Never again at Rietschans!

Nice place, friendly staff, and delicious food. Update 2026: we both ordered entrecote. For €30 per person, you really expect a good piece of meat with a tasty sauce. The meat was disappointing, and so was the sauce. It wasn't bad, but I can make it better at home.

The four of us had the Shared Menu. We all loved it. What quality food! It looked beautiful, with generous portions and fresh, delicious ingredients. Fish, meat, and vegetarian options all mixed together with subtle flavors. Highly recommended and definitely worth returning to. Beautiful location and lovely atmosphere.

The service was excellent, even though I thought we were in a remote location (hence the 5 stars).

We had a high tea: the place is beautiful with a cozy atmosphere. The food was delicious and a different selection of pastries and savory treats

Delicious coffee and croquette sandwiches. A great place for a business lunch. Pleasant atmosphere and good service.

Great place for coffee and pastries. All kinds of sports. It's strange that they don't have a menu showing what they have. I saw other places offering snack platters, for example. How are you supposed to know they have those? Just like with the different types of drinks, etc. And think about foreign tourists too... They can only order basic things this way. For coffee and drinks, they just have a small menu with options on the table. If you come for dinner, you ask for a menu. You don't want to ask for one for a drink. I think that's incredibly stupid from a marketing perspective; they're really losing revenue this way. A lot of people go for lunch on weekends, so choose a good time to get a seat.

We went twice and were not served. Completely ignored. So I couldn't order anything. I'll never come back here.

The steak sandwich tasted great, well-cooked and tasty bread. Nice company with good service. Everything runs smoothly but with attention to detail.

Poor parking for the large parties they do accept

Very nice place, it was very crowded on a Sunday afternoon so the service was a bit slow. Good tea, nice bread. The views of the lake are amazing.

It was a very nice stay with super delicious food.

The service is excellent. The food is pricey and very standard. I find the decor a bit stiff.

Excellent restaurant, delicious food, pleasant atmosphere, friendly staff.

We had a great meal at De Rietschans. The food was good, and the service was quick and friendly. Definitely recommended!

I had expected more of it but the food was a bit disappointing. In the end, the meatball sandwich or just a meatball was really great so that was a plus.

Great location on Paterswoldse Meer. Delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Delicious food, good service. A bit noisy though because the tables are quite close together and it was very busy when we visited.

I celebrated my birthday here with a small group and a delicious lunch. The fish dish was fantastic and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly and cheerful, and the spacious seating made it even more enjoyable. The acoustics are perfect. We ended up spending the entire afternoon there. The homemade pastries are highly recommended. A blues band was playing in the main hall, but you couldn't hear a thing in the restaurant. All in all, a successful and relaxing afternoon.

Great place, nice boats. Beautiful lake, great terrace.

Friendly staff, delicious food and the view is really beautiful!

Delicious food. Very friendly service. Lovely view of the lake from the outside.

We had a baby shower, all vegan. It tasted great and looked beautiful. Unfortunately, the place we were seated was very sunny and there was no sunshade. It was broken, so it was so hot that the pastries melted. Such a shame.

We had a delicious meal outside on the terrace by the water.

Beautiful spot on the water. We sat outside on a beautiful summer evening and enjoyed delicious food!

Beautiful country estate and delicious food

This upscale restaurant is perfect for business or just casual dining. It boasts a beautiful location with lovely indoor and outdoor spaces. You can rent spaces for groups, primarily for work-related events but also for parties, etc.

We had some Mocktailz here. They were delicious and not outrageously expensive.

Beautiful restaurant with excellent dishes on the beautiful Paterswoldsemeer.

A lucky find! We had the set menu, absolutely delicious... The service was super friendly; our waitress even said goodbye as she was leaving for her well-earned break and introduced us to her successor by name. We were really impressed. The location of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It deserves 5 stars in all categories.

A super warm welcome. We had some trouble with our boat, but thanks to the friendliness and helpfulness of the manager, we were able to continue our journey after a delicious cup of coffee and pastry. Where else do you find that? Fantastic.

Food was good, service could be a bit better, but is very personal.

Heerlijk gegeten en geweldig gastvrij en vriendelijk. Top ervaring. Hebben genoten en komen zeker terug! En dan hopelijk op het prachtige buitenterras met mooi weer

Had lunch yesterday. Only cold dishes. Our request for something like fried fish was also rejected. Probably no chef? It was busy, with vacationers in flip-flops and cyclists in tight cycling shorts. Things you don't want to see when you're out for lunch. The building looks nice, but the menu is very limited. Fancy words on the menu, but canned salmon and tuna—it wasn't much to speak of. Made with, I think, the same fake butter we requested with the dry bread that accompanied the soup (the only hot dish). Disgusting!

Arrogant service. Unfortunately, we didn't feel welcome.

Not really cozy but the food was fine

The Breton fish soup was probably from Knor, too bad.

After a long time tried again, great location of course on the lake. The food was fine, not excellent. Then the service, what a disappointment, no empathy at all, no eye and interest in the customer. I knocked over my wine glass, and I reported this, she came with a cloth, didn't say a word and my wet napkin remained. Also didn't ask if I wanted a new glass...so bad. Another female waitress walked around, asking "when can I go home". A young man who was still serving us did his best. When we left the building, no one noticed us. Very bad for this type of restaurant, so it was the last time for us...too bad.

Quite a few different people at the table. The Polish girl still needs to thaw a bit.

Beautiful waterfront location. Excellent service and excellent food and drinks.

Wonderful seafood restaurant! The seafood was super fresh and well-prepared. We enjoyed the grilled salmon and mussels – highly recommended. The service was professional and very friendly. The atmosphere was relaxed and perfect for a pleasant evening. I would love to come here again.

Waiting over two hours for a starter and main course because it was too busy. Tip: refuse customers if the kitchen can't handle it. This is simply unacceptable. However, the service was incredibly friendly.

Lovely foods and drinks. If you want to order, plz see the qr code on the table. We were waiting for long time to order before we found the qr-code. 😅

The service is very poor. It could easily be solved by properly training the staff and having a manager who oversees everything and directs the service in a positive manner.

Al jaren hier geweest maar zo slecht als nu nog nooit meegemaakt. Eerst lang wachten op bediening, dan voorgerecht nog zonder wijn. Na aantal keren vragen eindelijk wijn, tegelijk met hoofdgerecht terwijl we nog halverwege voorgerecht waren. Al met al zwaar teleurstellend

Wat een chagrijnige bediening!!! Met ons gezin wilden we ff gezellig borrelen bij De Rietschans. Ten eerste geen vriendelijke ontvangst, eigenlijk werden we helemaal niet begroet bij binnenkomst, ten tweede moesten we erg lang wachten voordat onze bestelling werd opgenomen. De bestelling werd snel gebracht. Maar met een ontzettend chagrijnig gezicht. Echt niet normaal! Vrijwel al het bedienend personeel liep met een ontzettend chagrijnig gezicht rond. We voelden ons totaal niet welkom!

Fijne plek aan het meer. Kennelijk sinds kort alleen bestellen via qrcode. De persoonlijke benadering is geheel weg. Ook sneu voor de bediening. Omdat je zelf via iDeal betaalt krijgen ze nauwelijks meer een fooi. Zeer klantonvriendelijk. Het eten is redelijk, maar prijs/kwaliteit ver te zieken. Jammer, het zou zoveel leuker en persoonlijker kunnen zijn.

Viel erg tegen, we voelden ons niet welkom: tafel was niet ingedekt, moesten erg lang wachten op alles. Heb persoonlijke feedback gemaild, men heeft niet de moeite genomen om te reageren. Ga er niet weer naar toe.

The food and drinks were delicious. The lady who helped us was very friendly and helpful.

For our team outing today we had reserved one of the electric boats of the Rietschans and a plant-based snack platter afterwards. Two days earlier we had confirmed the boat reservation and vegan snack platter by phone. Everything went well with the boat. When we got back there was no table reserved for us and we were referred to the benches in the back, where people were already sitting. Fortunately, a table was quickly found for us. Drinks were taken and served but after half an hour there was still no snack platter in sight. They thought we had brought it with us on the boat - no. We ordered it anyway and asked for confirmation a little later whether it was a plant-based snack platter - "Yes, it is completely vegetarian". To which we indicated - not vegetarian, but vegan. It was served and there was cheese on it. Asked which bowls were vegan: "Everything is vegan". No, there is cheese on it - see photo. "In the kitchen they said that everything is vegan." Asked if someone from the kitchen could come by, that was not possible, but a little later the entire snack platter was taken back. Then it took 25 minutes before we got a new snack platter. Two people from our group had already left because of the time. Two dishes still had cream cheese that according to the non-vegans in our group was real cheese. Asked again if those two dishes were vegan. "I don't know because I didn't make it." How is it possible that after we booked it in advance, confirmed it by phone, asked four times, a non-vegan snack platter was served twice? And so much time passes that 2 out of 7 could no longer enjoy it? Something clearly goes wrong with the internal communication and no apologies were forthcoming. With food allergies I would not feel safe at De Rietschans.

Terrible service. If you forget your phone you definitely do not eat. On top of that I wanted something which they said they had but it was not placed on their app. I just wanted to have a quiet and relaxed time, no to scroll on my phone! Definitely not coming back.

We wanted to sit by the water but you can only sit there if you order your drink or food via the QR code. This was clearly indicated but you did not get an explanation if necessary. I saw people leave. The only thing I heard was that the staff said, then you can sit on the other terrace. Not customer friendly and it was not BUSY!! Price / quality food is not in proportion! The location is great, but the staff could be more helpful for people who find it difficult to work with the QR code!!

Bad service. First they couldn't find our reservation. Eventually we could sit down. The staff was more busy with each other than with the guests. This was once and never again here

Very tasty, friendly service, very nice location.

The food was very good, but the service wasn't great. We wanted to sit right next to the lake for the best view. Instead of explaining the QR code, the waitress immediately said you can see the lake from all sides, but she didn't have the courtesy to explain. Okay, the view is beautiful, the food is very good, but the waiters need to improve their service. I love drinking champagne, and there wasn't a good champagne menu. The bottle I ordered tasted like some random wine, but at least it was tasty.

Delicious. Beautiful view. Cold.

teleurstellende ervaring Helaas viel ons bezoek tegen. Het eten had weinig smaak en was niet wat we ervan verwacht hadden. Daarnaast stond de deur open, waardoor er veel vliegen binnen waren, zelfs op het eten. Erg onhygiënisch. Wat ook opviel, is dat het personeel de deur niet normaal leek te kunnen gebruiken; de deur sloeg telkens hard dicht van buiten naar binnen. Dat was storend en gaf een rommelige indruk. Al met al geen prettige ervaring, we komen hier niet terug.

Am just a big fan of De Rietschans. Always welcome. Pleasant and nice staff. Good quality dishes and drinks. Nice atmosphere. Top location.

Helaas een erg onaangename ervaring gehad, vooral vanwege de houding van een vrouwelijke medewerker (die zich laat overkomen als iemand met een leidinggevende functie). Tijdens het afrekenen werd ons gevraagd aan welke tafel we hadden gezeten. Toen ik dat even niet meer precies wist, kreeg ik op een botte toon te horen: “Nou, ga zelf maar even kijken”, waarna ze ons gewoon liet staan. Geen greintje gastvrijheid of begrip, wat je toch wel mag verwachten in de horeca. Jammer, want zo’n houding laat een nare indruk achter, ondanks de rest van het bezoek. Hopelijk wordt hier iets mee gedaan.