Amazing family owned and run gem with freshed baked good and traditional Dutch food... on top of a bakery in a WINDMILL. This place is an institution.
The decor and ambience was quite unique and the outdoor provides a pretty decent view especially on a weekend. Service was great and management is pretty hands-on which is good to see. As for the food, the pancakes served were amazing and made me feel like a kid again. As for the unusual, the hot chocolate is definitely one to try next time.
Magical little place to indulge. Chick and mushroom pies lovely. Pancakes never disappoints. Coffee is amazing. Even if you wanna stop for a cup. It’s well worth it. No issue with pricing. I don’t believe they are pricey at all. This place would have been a perfect 5. But the service costs them one star. Waiters have no idea what they are doing. And order was forgotten. But the friendly owner was very apologetic and sincere. Definitely recommend this place!
Had a great brunch experience at De Molen today! After buying up half the bakery downstairs we headed up the handmade spiral staircase to the charming windmill above. After settling in at a sunny table in the cozy wood-clad interior, our friendly waiter took our order: 2 Uitsmijter Specials consisting of egg, ham and cheese on toast with 2 krokette on the side. The latter was the reason we travelled all the way from Randburg to Edenvale and, once they arrived, did not disappoint! These krokette are the real Dutch deal! We promptly bought a dozen frozen krokette to take home and will definitely return to De Molen to try the pea soup with smoked sausage, poffertjies and appelflappen (since we didn't have space this time around). Great food, fast and friendly service & good value in a charming setting. What's not to like?
Have always loved this place and will continue to come here until it shuts down or I shut down (hopefully the latter). Looooove yoooouuu De Molen....
I have to say, the food here is amazing; however a little more caramel on the banana and caramel pancake would be amazing. The cherry, custard and cream pancake is an absolute beauty. Service is decent, although we kept having to ask for.our waitress. Overall, a must visit.
Cold winter morning and 3 hungry teenage boys. Off to try the pancake house. Up the spiral staircase that was crafted with such care. Warm reception and cosy decor. Food was decent albeit a bit pricey. Croquettes the best. Savoury mince pancake bland. The real treat was the apple crumble we bought in the bakery for later. So so good! Oliballs also divine!
Delicious breakfast, but perhaps more impressive is the fact that the menus are squeaky clean, the tables are clean, and our waitress was super friendly.
10 out of 10 for atmosphere inside the wooden molen - just lovely.
Very good mushrooms, and the chef understands what it means if you order medium fried eggs. Definitely coming back here.
Came through for lunch today (Sunday) such a quaint little place inside the windmill ... Feels like you've stepped through to a place in Amsterdam.
Forgot to take photo of our brunch but I had the bacon & cheese pancake - so much of yummies. My hubby had the Rye bread with ham cheese & egg (can't remember the name) also excellent!
We then had the most amazing sweet pancake for afters (not that I had much room left!) The cherry & custard pancake with cream ... Total show stopper & at least another two tables had it & where raving about it which is what caught our attention ... Will defiantly be back
This place has been around forever. The original windwill was actually imported when the place was launched. De backery at the bottom sells the best doughnuts and Chelsea buns. De Molen itself serves great pancakes, my favorite being the mince and cheese.
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It's amazing how one picturesque, quaint building with loads of character can affect a dramatic transformation to an otherwise bland, ugly area. Â If you go to De Molen and see the pictures of what Van Riebeck Avenue looked like prior to the building of the windmill and what it looks like now, there is a world of difference. Â Now you've got this pretty Dutch windmill with an adjacent cobblestone lane where they have a Dutch market around Easter time. Â You ascend a cute spiral staircase (they ought to have put in a lift for the handicapped) and enter into the restaurant. Â You can sit in the windmill section which is really cute or outside on the verandah or in an adjacent sitting section. Â The windmill part is nice though the tables have benches and I myself prefer the other sections because I like my chairs to have backs. Â The service is very good. Â
On offer is an array of sweet and savoury pancakes together with a number of other Dutch dishes--traditional pea soup, croquettes, and uitsmijters (Dutch open breakfast sandwiches with cheese, egg, and ham.).Dutch food is uncomplicated and straightforward. Â Not a lot of spices. Â No fancy cooking techniques. Â The whole idea is simple food done well. Â And De Molen certainly does it well. Â You can pop downstairs to the adjacent Dutch bakery, known as De Bakkerij--it has to be one of Johannesburg's finer bakeries and its reasonable. Â Everything in it is done beautifully and with the most professional baking skill. Â Its one of the only bakeries in the world from where my wife will buy eclairs.
Consistently good food and service improved a great deal since new staff were hired. Not many places in Edenvale that are this nice as far as coffee shops go.
Love their pies. Pancakes on Saturdays are the best. Always happy staff. Good service. Pies are pricey but worth it. They always make you feel welcome and they very helpful
A really authentic dutch experience. We tried the poffertjies (of course!) and a breakfast with beef croquettes which weren't to our taste. Perhaps we aren't Dutch enough to appreciate them? A place filled with a rich family history - father and son built the windmill.
Never been disappointed. The service was friendly and not too slow. The food was well priced and tasty. The treats from De Bakkery are perfect!
Food from De Bakery downstairs served in the quaint windmill has a unique charm to it. Service tends to be somewhat slow but if you are prepared for it you can have a relaxed breakfast or lunch.
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De Molen is the ultimate traditional pie house and bakery. The windmill has stood as an icon on Edenvale Road for as long as I can remember and it is still filled with beautiful memories and old school flavors.
We started with coffees made exceptionally and served with their signature windmill cookie. I'm not even sure what it is but it is perfection. Crunchy and slightly cinnamon flavored. We then had their Cornish pie served with a huge amount of chips and gravy. Outstanding. I don't eat pies much as I feel they put strange left overs inside but at De Molen, you can taste how fresh and home made everything is. The flakey, buttery pastry is the best I've ever tasted. I also strongly recommend their croquettes. They are served with a signature mustard and various other sides but standing alone is when they are best! Super crunchy and golden on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside. Unbeatable!
The service is slightly slow and could use some work but their food saves them every time! There is a reason it's been around for as long as it has.
I also strongly recommend a visit to De Bakery downstairs. Everything is made fresh daily and is soaked in Dutch tradition. If you are going to try something, I would go for their custard slice. Vanilla custard layered in between amazing flakey pastry with a super sweet and beautiful glaze. You will crave these specific flavors. I can promise that!
Fun little bakery. Tasty pies and croquettes. Also enjoy their black forest cakes. Haven't had a chance to eat in the actual restaurant but will be trying that soon.
This is a piece of Holland inside South Africa. This place makes UITSMIJTERS better than almost anyone in Holland and their KROKETTEN are in the top league. The atmosphere inside the MOLEN is cosy and authentic. The service may not always be first class, but hey these may only be trainees. The quality of their coffee, presented with an authentic SPECULAAS will soon settle you in the mood.
This is one of my favourite quirky breakfast spots in Joburg. SUPER quaint, literally inside a windmill! The pancakes are thick Dutch style and are delicious, as are the poffertjies! The service has been great both times I've been there, and the whole experience is lovely. There's a delicious bakery below, where you can stock up on more homemade Dutch pastries as you leave. Highly recommended for something different!
Great experience. Food was amazing, fresh and great quality. The service was a little slow, but could also be that there are few front of house staff for the peak periods. Did not deter from the visit at all. I do suggest, you visit if you are relaxing and willing to take it easy 😉 This is not a grab and go kinda place
The best Dutch food in JHB. The Windmill restaurant is above the amazing bakery. The pancakes are legendary and the croquettes are our favorite!! We love visiting for a coffee and pancake. Family friendly and great service.
Very cute little Restaurant in Edenvale. We came here to get some of JHBs best pancakes and weren't disappointed! Nice selection of sweet and savory pancakes and other meals. Very kids friendly, great spot for a Sunday family breakfast.
. A classic Edenvale landmark
. Charming windmill design and Dutch aesthetics
. Unfortunately, the surrounds have become increasingly daunting on Van Riebeeck Avenue (not the restaurants fault)
. Delicious poffertjies
. Suggest pancakes or poffertjies over savoury meals
Delicious Dutch pastries in a neat bakery attended by friendly staff. Sweet tooth haven. Go early before all the yummy goodies sells out
Lovely place for a quick meal. Great pancakes and service was very good. Myself and my daughter heard of it and decided to go through today. The set up is so cute, upstairs on a wind mill. We had savory and sweet pancakes, they were all good. The rest of the food that went padtbus looked great too, so we will go back to try some more on the menu. They close at 2pm on a Saturday.
Great little windmill pancake shop. Nicely decorated and very cozy. Great vibe from staff and well portioned pancakes 🥞.
Nonhlanhla Lindiwe Ntoyi
+5
Nice cozy little place in Edenvale. Serves an amazing range of pancakes and other foods. Loved it!
Fantastic food and friendly staff in an authentic dutch styled windmill.
Very cool spot in Edenglen. Great coffee and delicious food. The staff are always excellent
Amazing. Definitely top tier pancakes. The shop on top has nice seating and a view of the street. Get to have some really good food. Coffee was also exceptionally. Definitely sticks to its reputation!
Very nice food at a Very reasonable price. The restaurant is Dutch themed and has the facade of a windmill. The restaurant is at the top of a narrow spiral staircase. My wife has a problem with stairs but there is a room on the ground floor which we used. We had a fabulous waitress who probably went up and down 30 times during our meal and was very cheerful and helpful.
Best pancakes I have ever had. Friendly staff and I must complement the cleanliness of the place. Such a welcoming and warm atmosphere. Truly enjoyed my visit. Thank you
Always a good experience at this restaurant. Good food, and excellent coffee.
I especially enjoy the Farmer’s pancake. They have friendly, helpful staff. Eating inside the windmill or on the deck surrounding it is a unique and memorable experience.
A stop at their bakery below is also a must.
Kelsey / JinxieCosplay
+4
Food was nice and the atmosphere was cozy. Staff were busy and thus a little inattentive. Nothing to sing home about but definitely a cute spot to eat.
Love the Dutch food and sweets.
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