Koeien en Kaas - Alphen a/d Rijn in Lage Zijde

Food tasty staff tasty location tasty 5 stars tasty update 2026: Staff extremely hospitable. Was even allowed to catch a fish when there was room, while enjoying a beer

The food is really top quality. Pleasant staff, only one waiter looked a bit unkempt with dirty trousers and dirty hair. Later he started drinking beer in the restaurant. I think his shift was over, but I do find it strange.

Very tasty food, highly recommended

Had a super delicious lunch on the terrace. Lovely by the water. Had lunch, highly recommended. It's a lovely place to sit, even if you're alone.

What a shame. Nice, atmospheric place. But after the chef messed up the cooking of a sirloin steak twice, my appetite vanished. I ordered the sirloin steak medium/rare. The first time I got it medium/well done. Mistakes happen, I thought. Returned the sirloin steak. The second sirloin steak I received was simply raw, ice cold inside. Not cooked at all, just seared. A pity, because the service and friendliness of the staff, the atmosphere, and the location get an absolute 10 from me.

Friendly staff and very tasty food. Great location

Lovely terrace, worth visiting more often. Friendly service. Tasty food.

The food was great. The service was very good. The decor was very good. If I had to complain about anything, it would be the fries. They weren't bad, but... If they were made from real potatoes, I'd have to give them a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I recommend them.

Excellent atmosphere, super fast service, and very friendly to me. I'm Argentinian and don't speak Dutch, but both waiters spoke to me in English perfectly and without any problems. They recommended typical local dishes, which was ideal for enjoying the afternoon watching the boats go by on the river. One of the waiters also recommended places to visit. I was delighted with the place, the food, and the service—everything was very pleasant! I'll be back!

Had dinner. Great service. Starter excellent, main course fair to good. Missing simple spoons to put the sauces on the plate.

Beautiful canal side restaurant. Not cheap but the food was very tasty. On a lovely day, it's a great location.

You get what you pay for. Excellent dining experience and friendly, professional staff. Steaks and meat specials are amazing! Also the cheese fondue was great.

Very unpleasant host. We stopped for lunch on the terrace of this restaurant during a bike ride. After parking our bikes at the edge of the terrace, behind a glass windbreak where no one was sitting and there were no tables or chairs (so absolutely no one was bothered by them), we sat down at a table. We were not spoken to or served. At one point, a male waiter walked up and simply said, "Would you please remove your bikes from my terrace?" I pointed out that I had parked them there precisely because they weren't in anyone's way. But it was a hopeless task. "No, get rid of them," he said, "otherwise my whole terrace will be full of bikes." Well, then we went to enjoy lunch somewhere else. What a very unfriendly man.

On recommendation, I tried a fondue with vegetables and cherry tomatoes. Exceptional... comfortable, informal atmosphere.

Burger is disappointing due to the cheese, and burnt loaded fries. The regular burger was raw. Not recommended.

€9 for a toasted sandwich. They're out of their minds….

This was my first time here. And actually, I am quite satisfied. I found the service particularly pleasant and friendly. But... it was very quiet, and that for a Sunday evening. I felt that didn't do the atmosphere any good. The food was fine. But... I ordered a burger. And it was served on a jet-black bun. Now, personally, I feel that a black bun evokes a negative feeling. Is it burnt? Is it even edible? Why would you serve this fine burger on this black bun? And why isn't this mentioned on the menu? The color immediately evoked resistance in me. But fair is fair; it tasted fine. Although I still find this strange, because I don't think I'm the only one who will raise an eyebrow at the serving of a black bun. Something new isn't always something better. But fine restaurant and the food is good! And everything above is just a personal opinion, so I challenge everyone to go and taste it for themselves!!!

I have loved coming here since it opened, I am a regular, and I really love coming here! The terrace is amazing, the food is delicious, and the staff is friendly. Every visit is a real treat!

Friendly staff; they even came to ask if the food was okay. We had both ordered a piece of meat medium rare, and it absolutely was not. I pointed out that it was well-done, but it was okay. I think it's a waste to throw it away; that was my choice. Furthermore, we sat nicely by the water, but also a bit in a forgotten corner. We tried several times in vain to get the staff's attention to get another drink. It is a lovely place to sit, but in terms of service, it was less than ideal that day, and the quality of the meat preparation was not good either. I do think that if we had indicated that we wanted a different piece of meat, they would have done so.

Koeien en kaas Alphen is losing a bit of its luster, which is a shame because we love going there. The service is friendly but mostly busy talking amongst themselves, and most of them seem inexperienced. The food has certainly been better in the past too… The place itself looks messy and a bit dirty; there is rubbish to be seen everywhere, and the toilets were absolutely not clean. Hopefully, this was a one-off and things will improve again. We’ll give it another try later.

Very disappointed. I had to signal the friendly but very inexperienced staff to order a drink and ask for the menu. I don't mind that in itself, but I do when they are standing at the bar with their backs to the tables, joking around with each other. The food was dramatically bad. At a decent restaurant where you can order a rib-eye, you actually get a decent piece of meat. But what this was supposed to be; really not okay in terms of quality. The fact that we compared the kids' burger to McDonald's says enough. Loaded fries were okay, though, and seemed to have received the most attention. No, a nice place to look at, but absolutely no atmosphere and poor quality food. We really wanted to give it a second chance, but it was even worse than the first time.

Our first experience at Koeien en Kaas was nothing special. Dined with guests Now, this can happen due to busyness. Received an invitation from the manager to come and eat another time. Now I can say that we had a super delicious meal at Koeien en Kaas this time.

Had a wonderful party. Attentive and very friendly staff. Everything was done in good consultation.

Good food, nice place. A bit chilly inside because there was a draft from the doors being open opposite each other.

Had a very nice T-bone. See the pic! The cocktail was good too. But the sides (pickle and veggies) were not as good. Fries. Oh the fries. SO GOOD... im not even a fries person.

If you go here for lunch, you get EXACTLY what the menu says. I thought I'd get some tasty croquettes on bread, as that is my go-to; where you normally get slices of bread, the croquettes, and some lettuce or something similar, here it is literally that: croquette and bread. Oh, and a measly bit of sauce... for the price, it is totally not worth it. A friend of mine wanted one cheese croquette and one beef croquette. But alas. That wasn't possible. Why? Nobody knows. The wait staff did mention that they usually do that, but not today because it's King's Day. Weird. But that's probably our fault. They always ask if it tastes good, out of good intentions. The plates had just been placed on the table, we hadn't eaten a bite yet, and they were already asking this. All in all, a crazy afternoon. 100.- for some croquettes and a poached egg with tartar sauce and some drinks. Well... poached? Hard-boiled, as it apparently is supposed to be. Anyway, once again this must be our fault, and that no one feels like working on King's Day.

Had a nice time sitting on the terrace, good service. The glass was kept a close eye on.

The food was pretty decent, but the prices are really ridiculous for what you get. And paying extra for fries and/or a sauce is almost criminal. The service was fine, though.

Ordered a Philly cheese steak sandwich today, 21 euros!!! Absurd for just a sandwich. Didn't get any side dishes with it.

Good, fast, and attentive service. Allergies and dietary requirements are taken into account. The food is very tasty; we had the steak and it was perfectly prepared.

I had a steak that was so tough. The service was good; I mentioned it to a girl but heard nothing more about it. We left without dessert and never returned. Very expensive for what you get. The vegetables are nothing special, and you have to order fries separately.

What a lovely lunch spot! We enjoyed a delicious lunch here with soup, a mini burger, and a fried egg. Everything was perfectly seasoned, but the soup… that really stole the show! So delicious that you would almost come back just for that. Highly recommended!

The Philly cheese steak burger is highly recommended! I come here regularly to eat it.

You have to do something in Alphen 😆

A few years ago, I had a really great experience. The last three times were truly awful. The food is still good, but the service is truly terrible. Three times in a row now. It's as if they're hiring staff who aren't suited for the job. And don't blame the staff; there's no one to guide or direct them. I'll be skipping this place for the next few years.

Fun winter activities at Kuhe und Kase... Austrian dishes alongside the well-known cuisine. Everything equally delicious and at a great price. We'll be back!

Nice cozy atmosphere, enthusiastic service and the food is always delicious.

Good, tasty lunch and friendly staff. Recommended!

The group had a lovely time there. Concerning the food i had things to say - the starter : i dont see the point of the accompaniement of the goat cheese, doesnt make a lot of sens - the main course: raclette burger : the meat is good BUT the cheese is not real/good cheese (kinda plastic cheese, doesnt melt, doesnt have taste...) + this is an extremely basic burger, it doesnt reach the expectation I have for a restaurant. Beside that, it is a "convivial" place

Great food, nice atmosphere. Free parking on Sundays in the parking garage a 3-minute walk away.

Delicious food! Masters of a good piece of meat.

We went for lunch this afternoon. We were greeted and allowed to choose our seats. When we looked around, many tables were still uncleared. After 15 minutes, no one had come to our table to ask if we wanted a drink or to see the menu. The people next to us weren't even bothered to place their orders. We left after 30 minutes. The staff hadn't noticed that we left without ordering. Normally, the service is better organized, but today it was poor and disorganized. A real missed opportunity.

Delicious food. Friendly staff. Cozy restaurant.

What a fantastic winter theme! The grandchildren immediately said the same thing about skiing! Very friendly staff and delicious food. You get a 10. It was our first time eating with you, but it certainly won't be our last. We'd love to come back! You're very customer-friendly, and we felt welcome.

Once again we had a delicious meal at Cows and Cheese in Alphen

We ate here again after a long time. We had a delicious meal, although we sometimes had to wait a while for a new drink or the dessert menu. Otherwise, it was a fantastic experience. The menu and interior have changed; I'm not sure if this is temporary due to the winter or if it's a permanent fixture. The interior is very cozy, welcoming, and warm. There are comfortable benches for sitting. For dessert, we had the Toblerone chocolate fondue (which was very popular, as it was served frequently), with delicious banana chunks, ladyfingers, and apple strudel—highly recommended!

Great place, limited menu but good taste

Last Sunday afternoon, I left the building after more than 10 minutes. It was freezing cold inside (heating broken?) and no one bothered to take an order. We used to come here regularly, but that's over now. Too bad.

My daughter and son-in-law took me to this restaurant on Boxing Day. As an Austrian by birth, I immediately felt at home. The person or people who did the winter styling are, in my opinion, true professionals and understand how to transform a restaurant into a romantic and cozy "Stube." Every winter sports enthusiast will agree with me: this is Austrian warmth and hospitality after a day of skiing. The food was absolutely fantastic!!! And they were very considerate of my pregnant daughter. The meat was perfectly medium rare, and with some bread and my index finger, I finished the cheese fondue my daughter had ordered. The staff on Boxing Day were knowledgeable, friendly, and cheerful. Just try finding that combination these days. All in all, a fantastic experience, and at the end of January, when I'm back in the Netherlands, I will definitely enjoy this restaurant again!!!!

We ate here for the first time after the renovations to Kuhe und Kase (a branch in Zoetermeer). We'd always raved about the hand-made carpaccio and all the toppings; we'd never had such a delicious carpaccio anywhere else. Unfortunately, they now only have one standard carpaccio on the menu, and it's not possible to add extra toppings for a fee. The main course (a steak) and dessert (creme brule) were excellent.

The Cheesebaker was very meager for two people. The service wasn't very enthusiastic. Even the checkout took a long time.

Delicious coffee, friendly staff. And now, it's nicely decorated for the winter season.

Great place with highly qualified staff and chefs! The food is delicious! Even the desserts are superb! I highly recommend the Alphen aan den Rijn location!

We had a delicious Swiss cheese fondue! Excellent quality! Some dishes are served with a special touch (for example, crème brûlée is roasted at the table). The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is calm and cozy!

It's just like you've ended up in a restaurant on the slopes in Austria, with delicious food!

We had a delicious cheese fondue here. Contrary to the review currently at the top of this post, we found it quite flavorful. Perhaps some improvements have been made since then. We had the Gouda cheese fondue, which was deliciously spicy and had a strong cheese flavor. Combined with the meat, it was occasionally a bit salty. The service was very friendly; they could have been a bit more attentive, but it didn't deviate significantly from what seems to be the norm these days. The prices are also reasonable and reasonable for the quality and quantity. All in all, we had a pleasant evening.

The food was tasty, but very pricey for what you get.

We ate with 6 people, everyone's food was cold, and the meat was tough. The price-quality ratio is poor, and it was cold inside as well. A real disappointment

The first time, it was a bit strange that everything was in German, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. The toilet was reasonably accessible for people with disabilities.

Delicious, fresh lunch by the water. Friendly service. Now, January 14, 2024, a lot has changed. You don't get what you order. 0.2 liters of seasonal beer in a 0.25 liter glass. 2 mints with the bill (there were four of us). Disinterested staff. I won't be coming back for a while! 🙁

We had a delicious meal with pleasant and cheerful service. Truly fantastic.

The new Austrian menu was a real shame! We had a delicious meal last time, but this time, with the new menu, it was much less delicious.

Cozy restaurant. Delicious food.

Super tasty food and always very friendly staff

I had a wonderful meal here! Delicious dishes, and the staff were very friendly.

We had a delicious meal here! We were a bit early in the evening, so it was still a bit empty, but it filled up later in the evening.

The sandwich preparation is incredibly tasteless. Far too little to eat a whole sandwich. The service is okay, but nothing more. They're uninvolved, unfriendly, and don't respond well to requests. Last time for us!

Cozy and decorated in an après-ski theme. It's great for getting in the mood for a winter sports holiday. A disappointment was the music, which didn't match the atmosphere. When you're doing this theme, you need to have some après-ski music. The friendly service from Demi was excellent; she was attentive and kept a close eye on us to make sure we still had everything we needed. We had a platter of rolls as a starter, which was delicious. Lunch was also excellent, with warm Camembert with garlic and radish. Unfortunately, the celery wasn't fresh; it had dried-out edges and needed to be soaked in ice water to get it crispy, as did the carrot. My granddaughter and I enjoyed our lunch.

Nice restaurant for meat lovers

Delicious food, nice staff and fancy atmosphere, will definitely want to go there again

Too bad the new savings app isn't working. Scanning the receipt gives me a message that it's too old? (Paid 1 minute ago..)

TERRIBLE! I've written hundreds of reviews that have been viewed millions of times, but I've never had such a bad meal. Sorry, but absolutely do not eat there!! We ordered the cheese fondue. It was a light yellow sludge that tasted only of warm flour, and it was truly disgusting. The waitstaff did their very best and is not to blame. The chef in charge (in this case, a man named "Bouke") wasn't even surprised by our complaint. He said he would fix it... We then saw him, through the open kitchen, add some grated cheese from a plastic bag to the yellow sludge, and after 10 minutes, the dish was put back on the warmer on our table... Unfortunately, what was supposed to be cheese fondue was, and remained, a tasteless lump of flour that no one ate after tasting. We were offered a cup of coffee on the house as consolation, but we declined this "great" offer. After paying the first 130 euros, we left the “cows and cheese” shop NEVER to return.

Excellent food and service. Friendly staff.

Nice atmosphere and delicious food.

Cozy restaurant and delicious food! Friendly service. My garlic allergy was taken into account!

Delicious food. Tenderloin that your knife glides through. The service was very friendly but not pushy at all.

Delicious lunch, friendly and competent staff

Great service, very friendly. Beautiful restaurant. According to my girlfriend, the best burger ever.

The food was delicious and the service was very good, the staff recommended something and it was great, I will definitely come back here again.

Lovely restaurant with delicious fresh dishes. The staff is friendly and helpful. The meat is very tender and flavorful.

Food is always good, friendly staff and when the weather is nice the terrace outside is great too.

I'm not really impressed with the food...

What a great and service-oriented service!

The food was delicious. The service was pleasant. The atmosphere was relaxed. A pleasant evening.

Enjoy a drink outside. The view of the water is wonderful. Excellent service and friendly staff.

Highly recommended, this restaurant has delicious steaks and a lovely saucey blue cheese and a beautiful location with a terrace on the Oude Rijn.

The food was delicious. The bavette was overcooked for what we ordered, but we apologized and got a new one. The carpaccio had too much cheese on it for our liking, but that's different for everyone. The seating is very pleasant, both indoors and outdoors. The staff are friendly.

We had a wonderful lunch at this restaurant. The unique interior exudes ambiance. Delicious bread and sandwiches. The welcome and service were excellent. Lunch was prepared quickly and served together. They checked a few times to make sure everything was to our liking. The only downside is that the kitchen staff don't change clothes in the kitchen, but in a separate changing room.

It used to be better! They changed something 2-3 months ago. Burgers are twice as small, fries are shared, and the salad with raisins is no longer tasty. It feels like McDonald's. ((( Such a shame. The service is good.

Yesterday we decided to celebrate a birthday with a party at Koeien en Kaas. Well, the cows were probably still grazing in the pasture when we arrived, because there wasn't much cheese or food for the first hour and a half. We arrived at 6:00 PM with a group of 10 people and four young children. The restaurant apparently thought we could entertain ourselves, because we had to collect the menus ourselves. I almost tipped myself for the service. The appetizer didn't arrive until 7:30 PM. That meant a 90-minute wait with children who were as patient as a cat in the bath. We politely asked twice if it could be moved up a bit. We were given hope, but no food. The main course arrived at 8:30 PM. One steak was still so rare, I think it bellowed at me. I returned it. The new steak bellowed even louder. We skipped dessert. Not because we didn't feel like it, but because it was almost midnight. And while the staff clearly listened to us, as a guest you felt more like an extra in a poorly directed slow-motion comedy. Ordering drinks was a challenge in itself. Walking to the bar, waving like you're at a festival, and hoping someone sees you. Conclusion: If you have too much time on your hands, enjoy watching your kids wait hungry, and fancy a game of steak bingo, then Koeien en Kaas is highly recommended. Otherwise, you're better off looking for a place where they actually understand that hospitality is a part of the hospitality industry.

Beautiful location on the water! A varied selection of food. Friendly staff.

We always loved eating here, but unfortunately, the quality has really deteriorated, and the lack of side dishes with main courses is a real shame. For both taste and value, it's more convenient to go to a Burger King, for example.

Cozy neighborhood pub in a surprisingly beautiful location

All tables were reserved because there was not enough staff. When we wanted to order there were no more hamburgers. And what we ordered was not of quality and took a very long time to arrive. What a bad place it has become.

Wucha prices and messed up service

I was initially satisfied with this bistro, now I have to take that back, the dishes are no longer complete, I ordered philycheese steak, you first got a dish with some vegetables and fries, now they throw a hamburger on your plate and that's it, you can order the rest for a fee, really bad this. It also took way too long, 40 minutes, before it arrived. Staff is inattentive, they don't come to you when you come to the terrace, if you order something extra they sometimes just forget it (herb butter), and that then costs with something to drink cheerfully 45, - per person. No, quite put off by this bistro that is going downhill fast. I give 2 stars because you have a nice place on the Rhine, but all in all it is a shame, this

Very friendly staff. And good explanation and help with questions about the map.

Nice place. Friendly service. Unfortunately, I didn't eat anything.

Was edible. Service took a very long time. Meager burger with a few fries and a very small container of mayonnaise. And that for a monstrous price. Not recommended!!!

We used to come here a lot and the food was pretty good, but last time we were surprised. We ordered the Cow and Cheese “Wagyu Burger” which was horrible to say the least. The burger was made of rubbery meat and had a horrible taste. There were no side dishes served with it and on top of all this experience they also charged us for the “Chef’s burger” which was €5 per burger more than the burger we ordered. I think we could have had a much better experience at McDonalds and it would have cost us half of what we paid at Cow and Cheese… Too bad… For us this was definitely the last time we went here