If you are an avid reader of When in Utrecht, you know we normally don’t go outside of the city center a lot. So it was pretty special that we did last weekend! Why you’ll ask? Because we (Maaike and I) got an invitation to wine and dine at restaurant ‘de Zusters’ in Maarssen. And the way they described their restaurant was so tempting that we couldn’t resist.
De Zusters: Former monastery turned restaurant
De Zusters first opened her doors at the beginning of November. It’s based in a former monastery where, until a few months ago, 3 nuns lived together in a building that could easily fit 45. When the building was sold, the owners were looking for something that would remind people of what it once was: a monastery. The restaurant incorporates little details that do just that: wine and bread have to be shared and you’ll dine at a long table draped in white. This doesn’t mean you have to speak to your neighbors, there is some spacing for people wanting more privacy. Still and sparkling water is served in bottles with a cross on it and candles brighten up the room. It felt like we were invited to dine with the nuns.
The food: Original and modern Dutch with other influences
As the restaurant describes it on the website: the food is modern Dutch with some France and Mediterranean influences, inspired by the country kitchen. Everything is made from local products, like our main course with duck. We got a fair warning before we tucked into our food, the duck was wild so there was a slight possibility that we would find little bullets in our poultry.
The other courses are also worth mentioning: the starter with mackerel, mussels and an aio blanco with horseradish was amazing and the dessert original: blue cheese with ice cream made of old bread. After dinner, we were invited to the tearoom, where pots of coffee and tea served with sweets, stood waiting for people to continue their evening in a more intimate setting. We wanted to try everything but we couldn’t, the dinner left us feeling pretty full. We still made room though for the chocolate covered cream puffs and butter cake (made with butter made from goats milk).
Dinner and a show
We had some trouble finding Doornburgh, with no signage and in the dark, it was hard to know which building was the one with the restaurant in it. So when we finally found our way into the monastery we were 10 minutes late. Oops! Our host wasn’t too happy about that and we held up the group, the performance had to wait for us. The dinner and show/performance combination is something that is held every Sunday and it starts at 17:30 sharp. We were happy they waited for us because it was very intriguing to see a show where speech and sound where combined to tell the story about the Big Bang. In 45 minutes we learned a lot about all the different theories that surround this Big Bang. Planning on doing something cultural with your day off? Then this might be a good combination!
Pros
- Everything at de Zusters is thought out, the food is great and the little details hint to what the building once was
- For one price you can drink and eat a lot in one evening
- We met some really nice people that evening while sharing some of the food
- This is something we would recommend if your dining with your in-laws or family
Cons
- It is well worth the ride, but it is a 35-minute bike right from the city center
- If you are on a budget, the restaurant isn’t cheap..
More about de Zusters
Location: Diependaalsedijk 17, 3601 GH Maarssen
Opening hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The show starts around 17, dinner is ready at 18:30. Make sure you are on time;).
Price: The restaurant offers one price for a 5-course menu. Price including drinks, water, and food is 60 euros. Want to see one of the performances? You’ll pay 75.
Reserve a table at De Zusters here
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