Helpman did not yet have a proper brasserie.

Dthe enthusiastic reactions to the arrival of Brasserie Harkema In the southern city district of Helpman, owners Jeroen Timmermans and his partner Lisanne Harkema have come to everyone's surprise. A week after the doors officially opened on the corner of Verlengde Hereweg and Emmastraat, they are already looking for extra staff to cope with the high demand. Brasserie Harkema focuses primarily on lunch and also hopes to establish a convivial happy hour.

Jeroen Timmermans and Lisanne Harkema are no strangers to the Groningen hospitality industry. Jeroen worked at for twelve years. The Stadtlander in Poelestraat and met his partner Lisanne there. She served guests at the same hospitality establishment for ten years. Six years ago, they left the eatery and have been looking for a suitable location for their own hospitality business ever since.

Lunch in the southern district

“Our search initially focused on the city center, but in hindsight, we are glad that we ended up in Helpman. A lot of hospitality businesses have opened in the city center in recent years, and certainly many daytime establishments where you can have lunch. While hospitality businesses can be found in the southern districts, those establishments focus mainly on dinner and fast food. There wasn't really a proper lunch spot like the one we have now opened,” says Timmermans. He also hopes that the brasserie will become a pleasant meeting place for many people from the southern districts.

Rush

The crowds in the first week after the opening seem to prove him right. Many guests clearly indicate that they are very happy with a business like Brasserie Harkema and are already underscoring this with regular visits. The brasserie opens every morning at nine o'clock from Tuesday through Saturday. On the first days of the week (Tuesday and Wednesday), the couple plans to close the brasserie in the early evening; on Thursday's late-night shopping evening, the doors remain open until around nine, and on Friday and Saturday, drinks can continue until around eleven.

Philosophy

The philosophy of Brasserie Harkema is clear. "We don't have an extensive menu, but the products we serve are good and flavorful. We want to first see how the brasserie develops as a place for lunch and drinks, and then decide whether to add a simple dinner menu. The kitchen we had installed can handle it, and certainly Valerie Versol, who worked behind the stove at the Paalkoepel on the Meerweg for years and has now made the switch to us," adds Lisanne Harkema, the brasserie's namesake.