Main Gate Square restaurant Wilko has passed the torch to the Dutch Eatery & Refuge, even though some Wilko signs are still up.
The restaurant maintains its light and airy feel, but has a new menu thanks to co-owner and executive chef Marcus van Winden. Guests can expect New American-style cuisine alongside classic Dutch dishes.
Although the Dutch is open now, they’re hosting an official grand opening from June 9 – 11 with happy hour specials all day long and bitterballen, a popular Dutch bar snack of beef or veal croquettes.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of their new menu items.
French Toast ($9, brunch)
The brûléed crust provides a caramel complexity with a brittle crisp. Real maple syrup, vanilla macerated berries, and candied almonds provide additional layers of sweetness without being overbearing.
French Toast at the Dutch Eatery & Refuge (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Bleu Cheese Brunch Burger ($14, lunch)
This thick half-pound burger has a seared crust and medium-rare center with thick bacon on top. The sharpness of the blue cheese is balanced by the sweet caramelized onions and slightly bitter arugula.
Bleu Cheese Brunch Burger at the Dutch Eatery & Refuge (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Breakfast Flatbread
Pillowy soft flatbread and herbed cheese make a convenient base for the smoked salmon and avocado. The runny egg yolk makes a finger-lickin’-good mess.
Breakfast Flatbread at the Dutch Eatery & Refuge (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Patat Oorlog (War Fries)
Crispy fries are topped with a peanut sambal sauce, mayonnaise, and diced onion. It’s a simple hearty snack that goes great with cocktails.
Patat Oorlog (War Fries) and Watermelon Fresca cocktail at the Dutch Eatery & Refuge (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Heluka Pork Chop
The juicy pork chop is topped with a creamy apple slaw on top of a bed of mashed purple potatoes and mustard sauce.
Heluka Pork Chop at the Dutch Eatery & Refuge (Credit: Jackie Tran)
The Dutch Eatery & Refuge is located at 943 E. University Blvd. and can be reached at (520) 792-6684. Brunch is 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Happy hour is 3 – 6 p.m. daily. Keep up with the Dutch Eatery & Refuge on Facebook. For more information, visit thedutchtucson.com.
Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
