La Diva

La Diva is located in the heart of Leiden. The venue has a warm, homely atmosphere with a chic undertone. Tables are neatly arranged along the walls, offering a clear view of the open kitchen. Chef Frank Hakkenberg’s cuisine is classic and seasonally driven. They exclusively serve four- or five-course menus, supplemented by a selection of cheeses to choose from. The wine pairing – available by the half or full glass – offers ample variety. The wines come primarily from the Old World, with occasional excursions elsewhere. The amuse-bouches served – falafel with labneh and pomegranate, and a kingfish tartlet with herring roe – are fresh and light. For the first starter, a watermelon steak tartare with lobster arrives at the table. The accompanying Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie is crisp and refreshing. This is followed by grilled turbot with snap peas and squid, finished with a Leiden cheese foam. In the glass, a Bourgogne Blanc. Beautifully creamy in taste. The highlight of the evening is the langoustine with belly bacon and spring roll: harmonious, powerful, and surprisingly complemented by the Pfeffersburger Alto Adige DOC. The lamb neck, with its crispy potato croutons and ratatouille, also showcases masterful technique. The supple Pepe Mendoza Casa Agrícola is a good choice. The dessert is a true work of art: a strawberry mousse shaped like a strawberry, served with crumble and gin-and-tonic basil. It is paired with a slightly sweet Xyris Frizzante. Original, fresh, and exceptionally pleasing in flavor. Service is overseen by hostess Lisa Hakkenberg. She is friendly and personable, and her wine knowledge is impressive. La Diva surprised us, delivering an experience where the price-to-quality ratio is excellent.

Charmante pijpenla in het centrum van Leiden. Patron-cuisinier Frank en zijn echtgenote en gastvrouw Kim Hakkenberg hebben hun zaakjes goed voor elkaar. Er hangt een ongedwongen sfeer in het restaurant, ingericht met kleine tafels gedekt met linnen servetten, muurbanken en gerieflijk zittende stoelen. Kim is de rust zelve en Frank kookt in zijn kleine keuken met dagverse en duurzame producten een regelmatig wisselend menu, waarbij de gast kan aangeven hoeveel gangen er gewenst zijn. Met dieetwensen wordt rekening gehouden en het menu kan worden aangepast naar vegetarische schotels. We proeven van perfect bereide kabeljauw, gelardeerd met paling, geserveerd in aromatische dashi, met grove mosterd, afgetopt met een krokant van tapioca en zeegroente. In het glas een Bourgogne-chardonnay van Domaine Goisot. We laten ons overdonderen door het hoofdgerecht van tranches malse eendenborst met bietencrème, hazelnootjes en een krachtige eendenjus. Plus een goedgevulde bapao met vlees van de eendenboutjes. Vakmanschap van de chef in optima forma. We sluiten af met een kaasselectie samengesteld door Kaasfort Amsterdam met Pronck-biergelei en kraakvers dadelvijgenbrood. Dit samengaand met opperste gastvrijheid en een voorbeeldige prijs-kwaliteitverhouding kunnen we niet anders dan stellen: vooral zo doorgaan!

La Diva is the kind of restaurant you always want to return to and are never disappointed by. This gem in the heart of Leiden has been run by Frank and Kim Hakkenberg since 2011. Dining is comfortable in the atmospherically decorated historic building, seated at small tables with upholstered wall benches on one side and elegant chairs on the other. What stands out is the tranquil atmosphere, thanks largely to the gracious hospitality of hostess Kim. Frank prepares French cuisine without fuss, using fresh seasonal ingredients, which means the surprise menu changes quite frequently. Every dish is perfectly executed, refined, and bursting with pure flavors. After the aperitif—a fresh and lively Maria Rigol Ordi Reserva Brut Nature cava from Catalonia—we enjoy an ultra-thin, crisp pizza tartlet topped with thin tuna flakes marinated in ponzu, lime mayonnaise, slices of radish and cucumber, and finished with a quenelle of cucumber sorbet. An outstanding starter. The second course features roasted langoustine with pork belly, glazed with hoisin alongside a vegetable escabeche, fennel ribbons, and a velvety langoustine sauce, paired with a buttery Thomas Morey Bourgogne Chardonnay. Next comes perfectly cooked turbot with a savoy cabbage rendang, accompanied by tender mussels with curry, lemongrass jelly, and a delicate mussel sauce. Life is good in Leiden city. No wonder it’s always packed. Booking in advance is essential.

Charming spot in the heart of Leiden. Owner-chef Frank Hakkenberg and his wife Kim have established a lovely dining haven here, and their guests know exactly how to find their way. It is always packed. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed, the small tables are generously spaced, and the upholstered bench seats are comfortable, just like the chairs. Frank cooks in tune with the seasons, so the menu changes quite frequently. We are soon greeted by host Jan Jaap Vromen with a glass of pleasantly dry Catalan cava, Gramona La Cuvée, and welcome bites such as a cream puff filled with goat cheese topped with a crispy caramel layer, and dried yet reconstituted melon tartare served with a quenelle of piccalilli ice cream. What a find! Paired with a fine French Burgundy Chardonnay from Vincent Morey in Côte de Beaune, we begin with thinly sliced tuna on a crispy ‘pizza’ marinated in ponzu and topped with lime mayonnaise, cucumber, radish, wakame, plus a cucumber and wasabi sorbet. In a word, delightful. Light, bursting with flavor, and beautifully textured. Next comes grilled sea bass topped with a large prawn baked in filo with basil and antiboise, alongside sea beans. Summer on a plate. Sukade is prepared in two ways: briefly pan-seared with Bordelaise sauce, and slow-cooked as a sour meat dish, served with braised onions, eggplant purée with brown butter, chanterelles, and potato crisps. Delicious in flavor, though perhaps a bit too wintery for the current season. We wrap up with marinated blackberries and a white chocolate and pandan mousse, caramelized almonds, coconut sorbet, and tarragon foam. Kudos to hostess Kim, who keeps everything running smoothly and remains the picture of calm. A wonderful spot!

Kim and Frank Hakkenberg are well on their way to making their charming little spot at Noordeinde a permanent fixture in this guide. She remains a warm and highly skilled hostess, and the classic-modern dishes that her husband prepares in his tiny open kitchen are just as delicious and beautifully presented as ever. The obligatory surprise menu remains unchanged, just like the bench running the full length of the venue, the small uncovered tables facing it, the compact wine list featuring affordable gems, the smooth and cheerful service, and the loyal crowd of mostly local guests. We start with raw sea bass tartare. The fresh fish is drizzled with a delicate ponzu vinaigrette and enhanced with cucumber rice and Eastern flavorings such as nori, wakame, and sesame. Delicious. The asparagus and pancetta carbonara also wins us over. Served alongside in a provided egg cup is a slow-cooked yolk, brunoise of asparagus, and beurre blanc. Kim pours a lovely 'Svelato' Terre Stregate to accompany it, a Campanian white made from Falanghina. Equally tasty and appealingly presented are tender slices of veal ribeye with broad beans and round new potatoes in veal jus with tarragon. This pairs excellently with a glass of robust Austrian Syrah (Pitnauer, 2016). La Diva remains a welcome addition to Leiden.

New to this guide last year and back again this year. In this charming little venue run by Kim and Frank Hakkenberg, featuring small tables, comfortably cushioned leather chairs, and matching wall benches, there is a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. This is largely thanks to the team led by the very warm hostess Kim, supported by Gaby Sjardijn and Caroline Schors, who also handles the wine selection. Kim Hakkenberg: “The lockdown was a strange and uncertain period, but in a way it actually did our small team good. Everyone got a moment to pause.” The staff remain unfailingly calm under all circumstances, even as the restaurant fills up quickly night after night with guests who truly appreciate Frank’s French and Dutch cuisine. There is no traditional menu here, just a set menu of four or five courses where you can specify what you absolutely prefer not to eat or cannot eat. A suitable wine is served with each dish as desired, available both by the full and half glass. Frank, who cooks solo, consistently delivers excellent dishes, creating a beautiful balance between bright acidity and gentle sweetness. And all of this at a comfortable pace, culminating in a thoroughly reasonable bill. It’s an experience that will leave you smiling!

A charming venue run by Frank and Kim Hakkenberg in the heart of Leiden. Frank stands alone behind the stove while Kim acts as hostess, supported by Gaby Sjardijn and Caroline Schors, who also manage the wine list. And we’ll get straight to the point: the cooking here is exceptional and the service is just as delightful. There isn’t a single moment of stress, even as the restaurant fills up in no time and the small tables are quickly occupied by millennials embracing the good life. Frank prepares a daily menu using seasonal ingredients, and guests choose how many courses they wish to enjoy. The amuse-bouche is highly promising: the gin-and-tonic marshmallow paired with a cube of marinated cucumber is sophisticated and bursting with flavor. So is the creamy, frothy asparagus soup, generously loaded with ham hock. For the starter, a green gazpacho of cucumber, avocado, and pepper enriched with cumin is served with a quenelle of North Sea crab salad, radish slices, pomegranate seeds, a poached cherry tomato, and a crispy curry tuile. Beautifully balanced between bright acidity and gentle sweetness. We move on to a creatively plated dish of perfectly cooked Dutch asparagus accompanied by smoked pork belly, a flawlessly poached quail egg, crispy potato cubes, hollandaise sauce, herring roe, and finely chopped chives. We pair it with a lovely, juicy oak-aged French Chardonnay from Château Rives-Blanques 2017. The main course features tender lamb shoulder medallions in their own jus, served alongside an impossibly thin ravioli stuffed with ratatouille, red pepper cream, a crispy olive crumb, and potato-pecorino foam. A perfect example of boldly harmonized flavors. We scrape our plates clean. To finish, sweet Lambada strawberries accompanied by pink chocolate ice cream sorbet and phyllo pastry underneath with a rhubarb drizzle. You get it: La Diva makes a brilliant debut in this guide. Welcome to deliciousness!