Sometimes we stumble upon a restaurant that isn’t well-known, like Pure C or Vermeer, but that should be. In a recent visit to Hoorn, a small city located approx 40km (25 miles) north of Amsterdam, directly on the IJsselmeer, we found one again.  Housed in an old warehouse dating back to the 17th century is “Restaurant Marque”.

On the inside, the beautiful wooden beams are showing, and in the back, there is a wonderful sort of balcony with additional seats and tables. This is also where the wine is ‘stored’ and this makes it a very cozy place to sit for a romantic dinner. The restaurant is a little dark, but then again, you don’t want big fluorescent beams to ruin the atmosphere of dining in a historic building. One small point of attention is that the kitchen: When there is an open kitchen, it is important that it is fully open, allowing guests an unobstructed view into the kitchen. On the day of our visit, there was a vacuum machine and some supplies blocking the view a little. 

The restaurant is serving dishes from countries around the Mediterranian Sea. From tartare of Carabineros to Parmesan cheese with apricot, one by one they were delicious and visually appealing. Each dish is packed with flavor and (in a positive way) just a little bit different than what you’d expect from reading the menu. Flavor-wise, this was the case with the carpaccio (thinly sliced raw filet of beef) that in this case contained some sweet gel of (blood)orange and some chicory. From a presentation point of view, it was the Parmesan cheese with apricot and honey. Where the condiments of honey and apricot with cheese is nothing out of the ordinary, here was presented in a very nice way, making is feel like something special.

A five-course meal will cost you just EUR 70 (excluding drinks) and this is well worth it – excellent value for money. We do realize that when visiting Holland, Hoorn isn’t most likely on your list of ‘must-see’ places. However, when visiting Amsterdam, Hoorn is easy to get to by car but also public transport, and the town itself is worth a visit. A visit to Hoorn can be concluded with a meal here at Restaurant Marque.