Restaurant IDD

An unforgettable fine dining experience in the heart of Leiden. In Den Doofpot is truly the must-visit restaurant in Leiden - a place that deserves Michelin-level recognition for both its atmosphere and cuisine. Warm, romantic, and elegant, perfectly located in the city center with charming canal views. We enjoyed a five-course menu, and every dish was unique and perfectly balanced: the starters were light and refreshing, the fish tender and flavorful, the duck rich and juicy without being salty, and the dessert - simply breathtaking in both presentation and taste, refined yet not overly sweet. The wine pairing is a must! Each glass complemented the dishes beautifully — we had pairings from South Africa, Spain, and Southern France, and every one was spot on. It was a special dinner celebrating my wife’s birthday, and the entire team went above and beyond from the reservation to the final surprise. A heartfelt thank you to Dennis, whose thoughtful planning and kind support made the evening truly magical. We’ll definitely be back soon - highly recommended!

The food was really flavorful with complexity in an amazing way. The selection of wines was also perfect. We enjoyed the dinner. It deserves five stars, but for me the portion was too small. If you are hungry, you'll need to order side dishes (I had a 4-course menu with wine pairings).

Very nice location. Incredible awesome dinner. We had a menu and here everything was great. Every single course was like a poem. Thank you so much to the whole restaurant team! I loved it and enjoyed every moment. I will come back! Update 2023 June 08: So great again. We had a very nice boot trip before joining the dinner. And the dinner was incredible perfect.... Thanks a lot for a great evening yesterday! A

We visited the place as a family of four, we got served with the IDD menu, which were very delicious and well worth the spending. Each course was well presented, creative and tasted excellent. The IDD restaurant deserves a recommendation in Leiden. Everything was perfectly arranged and tasteful balanced food, together with the wine selection. Service was smooth, efficient and ever-present. However the noise level is a challange at some stage. The overall experience was excellent and we will be back - again!

What a beautiful atmosphere, with kind staff members and great service. I sat at their newly built bar (on my own) and it felt very comfortable, beautifully decorated as well! The waiter was very attentive, suggested a delicious white wine that went beautifully with my mackerel, jalapeño and ponzu dish. It’s really nice that a high-end restaurant can also tailor to those who just want a drink(s) and a small bite(s) to eat/taste if you don’t have time for the whole menu/wine arrangement.

Sensational food beautifully created and presented, however, our congratulations go not only to the chef, but the wonderful wait staff who were attentive and an absolute delight. This is by far the BEST meal we have had the pleasure of eating during our time in the Nederlands. Highly recommend this lovely restaurant.

The Michelin Man guided us to this 7 course fixed menu culinary adventure! Food was sublime. Staff amazing, professional, and smiling all the time. You can tell they are all really enjoying the work and passionate about their careers. Great wine list, Interior comfortable and warm. When in Leiden NL and want a really good meal, check them out! Guaranteed joy! Price matches the service.

I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. The service was great ( our server explained all dishes in detail and was very attentive). I also loved the presentation - it was immaculate. Though, the flavors in some dishes were not there. The main disappointment was that there was a repetition of ingredients/flavors/sauces (same potato chips in a couple of dishes, same sauces in a couple of dishes as well) from one dish to another. In a restaurant of this caliber, I'd like to be surprised and I'd like to have a culinary experience with every dish.

Situated on a picturesque canal bank, 10 minutes away from Leiden's central train station, this is an extraordinary restaurant well worth the 25 minute train ride from Amsterdam. The service is friendly, with knowledgeable and English speaking staff. In den Doofpot boasts an expansive wine list starting with €35 bottles and climbing over €1500 for the finer Petreus. The menu includes creative dishes and appetizers to order a la carte. On our visit in late June 2011, my wife and I tried the "surprise" menu: a 4 course meal that changes daily to include fresh market items purveyed by the chef. Our courses included house-smoked salmon in rice paper, served with champagne foam, and chilled lobster; poached cod with a perfectly grilled prawn, served over beet mousse; seared fillet served over pumpkin chutney and grilled vegetables; and ice cream of forest fruits accompanied by mousse made of the same berries as well. We had a nice, oakey chardonnay from Auxey-Duresses that was an excellent pairing even for the meat. The total for two people came to about €150. Getting to this restaurant from Amsterdam is straight forward. A round trip for two, from Amsterdam's Central Station to Leiden's Central Station cost €18 in second class. There are several trains every hour connecting the two cities; tickets are valid on all trains between the cities. From the train station walk across the plaza, toward the canal, towards the main market square and you'll find the restaurant right away. Google maps is an accurate source of walking directions as well.

Beautiful setting, superbly prepared food, expert service, an incredibly knowledgeable sommelier who is helpful in several languages. As expensive as one would expect. They were understanding and accommodating about my gluten sensitivity. The only negative is the narrowness of the menu. No fowl, no pork, no lamb, mostly beef and nary a vegetable, soup, or salad to be found.

This was the most culinarily stimulating meal I have ever had! And all the staff were wonderful: helpful, discreet, willing to answer questions and just nice. I'll be honest, I wan't planning on eating at a Michelin rated restaurant Tuesday night in Leiden, but it was so unpresupposing, right next to Very Italian Pizza, that I decided to go in. I apologized for coming without a reservation (at 6:10 pm) and asked if it was possible to have dinner alone. The waiter graciously agreed and took my coat. The table was elegantly and simply set and while I was enjoying the decor the waiter brought a beautiful ceramic clog filled with pebbles (?) on top of which rested a petite crispy ball which the waiter explained was filled with potato puree and cheese mousse. (The explanation in Dutch was more detailed but went over my head) I admit I was confused as I hadn't been given a menu but I popped it into my mouth and, well... WOW! It was crunchy and smooth, delicate and flavorful, I really can't describe how good it was. The chef brought the next "first bite" after ascertaining that I wasn't allergic to anything and after that bite the menu arrived. I knew I had made the right choice when the waiter explained that they could adapt a dish to my preferences... and then turned the menu over to reveal A COMPLETELY VEGETARIAN MENU! That just doesn't happen! I am not strictly a vegetarian but I don't eat shellfish or red meat and most sauces have one or the other. To describe every dish would take so long my fingers would be numb but each highlighted the best qualities of the ingredients with an emphasis on textures. There were five starters, one main and dessert. There was an additional bite before dessert and a small side dessert as well. The rolls were of course handmade and the butter! Jersey butter, deeply yellow and in a narrow cylinder shape. I loved the flavor!! How many chefs come to a lone diner's table to chit chat? Not many, but this chef did. I live in rural Israel and have a huge organic garden, which I mentioned when I invited him to visit. He responded that he travels to Ibiza five times a year and cooks from an organic garden there. I can still dream...