Rootz

"Full-bodied stew filled with various seafood delicacies and a beer rouille". Crustacean-y winter comfort food.

These deepfried treats are commonly found in traditional Dutch pubs known as 'bruin cafes', or brown cafes, so called because of their cozy wooden interiors and nicotine stained walls. Kaastengels are deepfried cheese sticks to be eaten with a sweet chilli dipping sauce. Kaassouffles are similar except the cheese is encased in a thin, flat pastry, breaded then deepfried. Both are delicious with melty soft creamy edam or gouda cheese encased within. Loempia are your familiar chinese spring rolls introduced here by Chinese cooks in Indonesian eateries. Usually served with mayo and a mild mustard, they all go really well with beer.

Fresh ingredients on good dark bread make this perfect for a light but satisfying lunch.

The story goes that this dish used to be served to cafe patrons late at night,just before they were kicked out at closing time, which may explain why uitsmijter translates as "bouncer" in Dutch. A simple dish, but utterly comforting.

The smell of beer-soaked floorboards, stale cigarettes and an unidentifiable slightly fishy odour assaults your nostrils the minute you step in, although the warm and cosy wood panelled interiors are a welcome respite from the winter cold. Some would say it gives the place character. Despite this, it is a nice pub with an astounding variety of local and mostly Belgian beers, surprisingly good Dutch food and you stop noticing the funky smell after a while.