A cozy, highly regarded Zelhem restaurant with a welcoming terrace, broad Dutch-European menu and generally excellent food, though busy periods can slow service and some diners find the bill high.
De Smoks delivers strong food quality and attentive service that keep diners returning, with particular praise for soups, steaks, and carpaccio. The cozy interior and market-square terrace create genuine appeal for locals and cyclists, though occasional seating constraints during group bookings prevent a flawless experience. Consistent execution across lunch, dinner, and drinks occasions anchors its reliable standing.
De Smoks is a cozy, lively Markt-square stop with a particularly appealing terrace—exactly the sort of place walkers, cyclists and locals use as a reward. Reviews repeatedly paint a warm scene of friendly service, well-kept surroundings and relaxed drinks; one diner essentially described it as a place to unwind and celebrate. The covered terrace has also been improved for comfort in breezier weather. The cooking is broad and familiar rather than radically experimental: steaks, pork, schnitzel, seafood, pasta, soups and salads sit alongside vegetarian and vegan choices. The current menu adds personality through Achterhoek dialect names and a few cross-cultural touches such as chimichurri and curry, while the frequently praised tasting-style experience offers more variety for adventurous diners. Prices are not bargain-basement for the area: a typical three-course dinner is about €45 before drinks, and one reviewer specifically objected to a €108 total for two mains, two desserts and three drinks. Families should find the menu workable, with schnitzel, chicken, pasta, fries, burgers, toasties, soft serve and straightforward desserts offering recognizable choices. The atmosphere is welcoming, but large groups may encounter cramped seating or slower service when the room is busy. Allergy diners should discuss requirements clearly in advance: a celiac guest reported good separate-dish accommodation, while an older brunch review described an allergy oversight.
Area vibe: Historic market-square town with a quiet, rural feeling and local commerce.
Safety: Generally very safe with low crime, calm streets and comfortable evening walking though quieter late at night.
What's nearby: Central Markt square near municipal services, local shops, cafes and bus stops in rural Achterhoek.
The safest bets range from praised carpaccio and mustard soup to steak, cod with prawns, and a multi-course tasting experience.
Plan for a welcoming but sometimes crowded meal, with a moderate-to-high bill and extra care needed for allergy requests.
Expect a warm covered-terrace setting that shifts from relaxed stopover to crowded and slower-paced during busy arrivals.