Let’s face it: between the climate debate, the WHO advice on meat eating and the phenomenon of ‘kiloknallers’ – eating a good portion of honest (and delicious!) meat is under pressure nowadays. And maybe eating that bucket of old factory fried imitation chicken isn’t the way to go anymore. Luckily if you wanted to jump on the quality-meat bandwagon and have a proper meaty meal in the Netherlands the perfect place just opened up.
Enter the Meatcave
Right in the heart of good old Leiden (did we mention we love this town?) behind the beautiful front of Van der Leur’s the Meatcave has set up shop in the medieval cellar of this establishment. The Van der Leur siblings were looking for an unique destination for their cellar and found it was time for a classy meatrestaurant.
And it really delivers as well. The cellar makes for an intimate setting helped by the fact that not so much of a big crowd can fit into the space. There’s no menu (but always a veggy option, no worries) so it’s always a bit of a surprise what will end up on your plate.
And the fact that the Chef is preparing the meat right there in the cellar with the grand Green Egg ensures there’s always plenty of action going on to keep you entertained. Anyways back to the food, let’s start with the amuse
We had 5 courses and a wine- and beer arrangement. There was some delicious smoked pork belly, a delicious plate of prosciutto’s and some of the finer patches of meat one will enjoy in life. And a bunch of good fitting beers and wines to go along with the different courses.
Any disappointments? Well, the dessert was lovely. French toast, icecream and other little treats, but I was actually looking forward to my first ever meaty desert – like one of these bacon monstrosities. But all in all it was a hearty and recommendable treat. Be sure to make a reservation at the Meatcave, that meaty cellar is booming these days.
