One of the best late lunches I’ve had in a while has come to pass.

After our visit to the National Military Museum in Soesterberg I asked a question that I silently hoped to receive a favorable answer to — was Teko open to having a late lunch before heading home. Luckily the reply was in the affirmative and just after several minutes’ drive we were in neighboring Soest sitting luxuriously out on the sunny terrace of Eetvilla van den Brink.

Despite being next to a busy roadway, the terrace felt relaxed and inviting, helped no doubt by the active water fountain up front and a mostly upmarket, well-behaved clientele. It was 2:30 in the afternoon and still buzzing with the lunch crowd though at no point did it feel crowded. The service, friendlier than I was used to, was efficient and made the experience more entertaining than it already was.

The two-course lunch surprise of seafood pate and beef with truffle sauce was special and very well-executed, every bite living up to the theme of anticipation from what was to come out of the kitchen. With Teko’s nod of approval I couldn’t help but feel slightly proud — for a small discovery to have reaped such a heady culinary experience – or could it be just the buzz from the wine – something that both of us appreciated, and for a gorgeous, satisfying Sunday well-spent.