Café waterkant in Esens

The fish was simply delicious. Friendly service and reasonable prices. Parking is available in front of the restaurant.

Delicious fish sandwiches to go

During our short stay in Bensersiel, we stumbled upon the Waterkant restaurant. We enjoyed drinks and cake there in the afternoon and had delicious meals on two evenings. Claris, in particular, was fantastic. She and her colleague behind the bar ran the place like clockwork. They always had a friendly word for everyone and provided excellent, fast service. The food was superb, and the prices were perfectly reasonable for a coastal resort. We'll definitely be back!

We spent an unforgettable evening with you in August. It was all for the harbor festival, and from the very beginning, we had fantastic service from Sammy. He was unobtrusive and always friendly and accommodating. Our little daughter also felt very comfortable and was taken seriously when she asked Clarice for directions to the restroom. Service is definitely a top priority for you, and we will definitely stay with you again on our next vacation. A wonderful atmosphere to enjoy our vacation. We would like to say a huge thank you again, and a big thank you to the entire team. The Emsast family

It's up to each individual to judge the ambience. I'm very satisfied.

Cozy cafe with delicious things.

Delicious Waterkant fish platter in a great atmosphere. Excellent service from the entire team.

Very nice there, good food at reasonable prices, attentive staff who even when it was full had time for a joke, would gladly go back

It was another successful evening. The food was fantastic. We tried new dishes. The kitchen was super creative. Service was excellent, as always. Highly recommended.

A very nice restaurant with a cool terrace and ambiance, and a changing theme. The service is very prompt and always friendly, with good jokes 😄 The food, whether fish or meat, tastes very good. It's worth stopping by.

It looked great on the outside, but we were disappointed. The prices were slightly high, which doesn't bother me at a good restaurant, especially when it comes to fish. After a good hour of waiting for the food (plaice, house style), a small portion of cold fish arrived with fried potatoes that were raw in the middle; the crabs were easily counted. The salmon tortellini were flavorless, and instead of salmon, there was an unidentifiable fish filling. In retrospect, we should have been more alert, given the dirty menu and the tablecloth, which had certainly been used by several guests before us. It's a shame, we can't recommend the Waterkant.

Very pleasantly surprised. The quality, price, and location were perfect! We stayed there for two consecutive days during a short trip and were very satisfied.

A well-run restaurant. The steak was sometimes sinewy, and the drinks came in small bottles, which deducts one star. The fish platter was good.

It wasn't pleasant. But the friendly waitress with her southern appearance brought a smile back to my face, and we were able to say our warm goodbyes. Go there, eat something, and then let your guts decide. P.S. Your clothes smell strongly of cooking grease after dinner 😖 Reaction to the owner's reply: ...I'm really sorry about the 2 stars for the ambiance 😔...we were very sad that evening ourselves, because the vacation was over...but when the reserved table is offered to you sticky and not wiped down, you start to look around more critically. And it was confirmed. Guests around us left, and the table was simply cleared and offered to the next guests, AND NOT CUSTOMERS, as stated in your reply. At first, you really do make a very inviting impression. But upon closer inspection, this changes, without any pretense. Let me put it this way: Your stage design is truly impressive. But it's pretty dirty and fried. I'm REALLY sorry to have to mention it like that. Nevertheless, we went to dinner with you three times. My girlfriend really enjoyed your mussels. Best wishes from Potsdam, and I'll definitely be back soon. I wish you continued success and strength for your work. 💪🙂✌️🫶

Great café, wide selection of cakes, tortes, marzipan, and chocolate. We'll be back next year.

We ate here 5 times in a row today, and were extremely satisfied again today, September 24th, 2025. However, we simply have to tell you what we experienced here today... Today, Wednesday, the restaurant was completely full and so the food took over an hour, which we don't think is a bad thing at all, but at a table in the back corner, two older customers were complaining that it was taking far too long and then they started to argue because a table that came in later had gotten their food first... We immediately asked for the manager, who promptly came over and apologized, then made a big deal in the kitchen, which the guests present couldn't ignore... The young employee could have sorted it out herself if she had informed the guests, but she seems to have been relatively unsure anyway because she didn't even remember what we had ordered!! But what we found really bad was how three tables were basically thrown at the boss...We felt really sorry for him as he was threatened that we would destroy his reviews etc...We were ashamed that guests were criticizing like that...We will definitely be back tomorrow for Oktoberfest!!!

For me, there were both positive and negative aspects. The ambiance was okay to good – we sat in the lower left corner of the room. Service was attentive. The food – well, okay. They know how to eat fish! The kid's kibbeling was great! They wished they had an adult portion of that on the menu 😅 My wife's fish plate was amazing! My grilled plate was so-so. The fries were okay, but nothing more. The chicken piece was good, but the beef and pork in particular were rather dry and made for chewing. I wouldn't order the meat again. I would definitely order the fish again, though.

The food was incredibly delicious, and the restaurant was very cozy. My only complaint was the service. Unfortunately, the waitresses were a bit too pushy for me. They constantly came to our table, asking if we were enjoying our meal, if we wanted something to drink, if everything was OK, and so on. Others would say it was very attentive, so I'm only deducting one star for the service because you can't please everyone. I'm someone who prefers to eat in peace without being constantly chatted up, but all in all, we were very satisfied and will definitely be back 😊

Originally furnished café/restaurant directly in front of the harbor entrance in Bensersiel

Friendly staff and delicious food

Simply delicious—pan-fried fish, Hamburg style. We'll be back.

Simply delicious 😋 Friendly and quick staff!

The worst meal ever. The dish of the day was lukewarm. The rubber fish and potatoes were inedible... The Aperol didn't taste like it either. L/

The seating is comfortable, but unfortunately, the food wasn't great. The fried potatoes had no flavor and were very dry. The meat and salad were nothing special.

Very delicious cake. The Friesentorte was excellent.

Very unfriendly and long waiting time not recommended

Very unfriendly male waitress. He didn't want us as customers, despite our agreement. A friendly colleague tried to mediate. He was also very arrogant and unfriendly towards other guests. Not recommended for discerning guests.

Even after a long time, eating there was one of the best decisions I've made. Absolutely delicious and beautifully presented! The service is friendly and almost too fast 😁. Top-notch food, but a tip: it's best to reserve a table, as it's always busy and otherwise it gets crowded. I'd be happy to go back anytime! Oh, and not to forget the particularly sweet busboy 😺

Very tasty, good value for money!!!

For many years we have enjoyed going to the Waterkant restaurant, usually several times during our vacation. What happened to us today is hard to swallow. We asked if we could have a quiet drink first and order food later, and were told that would be no problem. As we were choosing our food, a "reserved" sign was placed on the table, indicating that we only had 30 minutes. Upon request, we were allowed to eat as we pleased. During our meal, another "reserved" sign appeared on the table. We skipped further drinks and dessert; apparently, it's not desirable to linger. And that on vacation... Well, there are other restaurants where you don't get kicked out like that. What a shame!

The food was delicious, but unfortunately it wasn't hot, which is relevant to the taste of the rump steak. My wife's fish wasn't hot enough either. Too many cables for lighting; sometimes less is more.

Highly recommended, good food. Friendly service.

For us, this is the best restaurant in town. Great service, always friendly staff, and the food is excellent. My current favorite is the Schnitzel Nordsee.

Super friendly service. Very tasty and well-presented food at reasonable prices!

Very friendly service. Unfortunately, the wine wasn't quite cold, and my chocolate soufflé came with some canned fruit instead of the advertised berries. The Moscow Mule unfortunately had lemon instead of cucumber. I would have appreciated a notice that the berries/cucumber were out, and perhaps a discount. The other cocktails were truly delicious. The menu is very interesting. In addition to some standard and unusual alcoholic options, there's also a whole page of Driver's Cocktails. The price was absolutely reasonable for us.

We were there twice on two different days. On the first day, we only had drinks; some of the drinks, whether cocktails or long drinks, were lukewarm. On the second day, we ate there; the portions were rather small, and salt and pepper were missing everywhere.

If you're starving, go there. However, the seating is very cramped, with every square meter used up. The crab soup is unloving and expensive. It doesn't even have cream.

The food was quite good, but the service and the overall appearance of the place left something to be desired. The cocktails, in our opinion, were made from a machine and weren't earth-shattering. The starter was too small for the price.

They have robots !! But the food still takes 50mn to come for a Schnitzel and it's moist and the fries are white as my grandma's hair. Let's say it's a bad place if you want good food and spend a good moment.

The food is delicious, but for Uncle Heini (27.90) and my Grandma (23.90), it's simply too expensive.... And cooking can be better. Have fun in your future. It's good that it's without us....

Food was ok but not really hot!!!

Best dinner of the holiday, professional and friendly service, and more than fair prices.

The food and drink selection has been the same for years, but the salmon tortellini is always excellent.

I really enjoyed it! Friendly staff 👍

I was very disappointed with this restaurant. The food wasn't fresh at all—it seemed reheated and old. Everything was cold and extremely greasy, as if it had been prepared days ago. The taste was also completely unconvincing—just disgusting and heavy on the stomach. I definitely won't be coming back and can't recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Great restaurant with very friendly service, and the food was absolutely delicious! The schnitzel was perfectly cooked, the breading was very crispy, but the meat was still tender and juicy. The fried potatoes could have stayed in the pan for a few seconds longer, but that's just complaining at a very high level. The fried fish is also highly recommended: crispy breading and very tasty fish. The price/performance ratio is perfect here, highly recommended!

An East Frisian tea was a must during the holidays. The surroundings and the café are worth a trip here.

For us, it's the best place to sit and eat comfortably ;) You guys are simply amazing :)

A fantastic fish restaurant, but they also offer meat dishes, and vegans won't be disappointed. They also serve fish sandwiches to go. The service is top-notch, and the value for money is also good.

Delicious food at fair prices. From pizza to steak.

We were at Café Waterkant today. I ordered the schnitzel with scrambled eggs and prawns, something even a landlubber would enjoy. I'll be back.

We ate there in the evening. We had a nice table outside. Service was very reliable and extremely friendly. Drinks came quickly. The food arrived relatively quickly. Beautifully decorated, delicious. We both had fish and were satisfied.

Cozy, delicious food, friendly and attentive staff.

Tourist magnet – the exterior is a bit kitschy, but the interior is quite nice. Good for coffee, and the ice cream and dessert were okay. Overall, nothing special.

Very tasty. Nice to sit outside or inside.

Unclear Opening Hours After dinner, we wanted to end the day comfortably at Cafe Waterkant, which also describes itself as a harbor pub and beer and wine bar. We initially sat inside, which was generally cozy and clean. The female server who took our orders was also friendly. The wine and beer were okay, and the price-performance ratio was also good. So far, so good. BUT: After the outside area emptied out, we sat outside. Around 8:45 p.m., someone asked if I wanted another wine. Since a sticker on the glass front of the terrace indicated that the cafe was open until 10:30 p.m., I ordered another one. Shortly before 9 p.m., their colleague informed us that they would be closing at 9 p.m. After I pointed out the sign with the opening hours, it was promptly removed. They said it didn't belong here – it was just strange that it was on the terrace??!! Even online (Google) shows opening hours until 10 p.m. According to the cocktail menu, happy hour ends at 9:30 p.m.!!! How is that possible when the bar supposedly closes at 9 p.m.? Sorry, that's not possible! The comment that you're already working 10 hours is no excuse for me either. Shift work might be an option here. It's a shame that such a lovely bar in a great location is run so poorly.

We got a table without a reservation. The waiters were friendly and the service was really good. We were very impressed with the food and drinks. We thank you and would be happy to come back.

We arrived around 3 p.m. and received a very friendly welcome. There were four different cakes to choose from. The cappuccino and latte macchiato were very good. Unfortunately, the chocolate ice cream wasn't as good.

I'm one of the employees at the Waterkant, and what we sometimes read here is a disgrace...we always try our best to please everyone! Constructive criticism is okay, but you should always stick to the truth. We'd like to thank our many guests!

Hello everyone! I'm literally at my wit's end. It's a complete disgrace to write about the staff and the food like that, and in the reviews. If I were an employee there and they treated me like that, I guarantee that guest wouldn't come back.

We went there for dinner for the second time today, and there's nothing to complain about. The staff was friendly, the food was good, and we had a comfortable outdoor seating area.

You can go here without a reservation. In the evenings, you should make a reservation.

A very nice restaurant, unfortunately under the wrong management. Four of us ate there on Thursday and were really disappointed, as it had been recommended to us. Four people and three different dishes, and we all thought the fish wasn't seasoned at all and the fried potatoes were still raw and not even hot. We told the waiter, and all he said was, "I'll pass it on." No apology, nothing. And then we thought we couldn't believe our eyes: the waitress was cleaning her shoes with a rag, and a little later she took the same rag and wiped the tables with it. Sorry guys, I come from the restaurant industry myself, but this shouldn't be happening. Sincerely, Sandra

Unfortunately, I don't recommend this restaurant. I chose pan-fried fish for just under €24.00. It wasn't served in a pan, but rather in mini portions, lukewarm, on a small serving platter. Drinks are more or less greeted with comments like, "Can you pass this on? I don't have long arms." Yet, while you're eating, your arms are stretched across your plate, carrying bottles and glasses. All in all, it has the feel of an overpriced snack bar. I don't even want to mention the cleanliness of the restrooms and their condition, as well as the overall appearance.

I spent a week in Bensersiel and identified Café Waterkant as my favorite place, visiting 4-5 times a week. The service and staff were exceptionally friendly, attentive, uncomplicated, and professional. The food is beautifully presented and tastes delicious, regardless of whether it's a starter, main course, or dessert. The coffee and tea were also delicious. I felt very comfortable here and would happily return if I had the chance! Highly recommended!

Unfortunately, this is far too bad a restaurant for these unreasonable prices. The schnitzel with fried potatoes tastes reheated, without proper breading. Fried potatoes taste just as good as if they'd been reheated in the microwave. The "hot" Belgian waffle isn't a fresh waffle, but a store-bought one, and is neither freshly baked nor warm. When we brought up the issue, the waitress turned around mid-conversation and ignored us. In general, the restaurant is very attractive with a lovely outdoor area, but it's not particularly cozy inside, and the food is a complete disappointment. It's a real shame, but we won't be visiting this restaurant again, nor will we recommend it to anyone.

Full marks, very tastefully decorated. Great service and super delicious fish, what more could you want? Absolutely reasonable prices. We'll definitely be back.

Nice place, very nice service, delicious homemade cake

Want to spontaneously eat a fish sandwich? Unfortunately, that's not possible here; you'll be rudely turned away.

Little food for a lot of money. What a pity.

Yes and No The food was very tasty, but the portions were very small. The Kutscherschnitzel was definitely under 150 grams of meat. And it wasn't topped up with a cheap side dish to fill you up. The second meal, chicken with spinach, was also very meager. The chicken was very small. Spinach was 2 to 3 tablespoons. As I said, everything was very tasty, but the portions were really small.

The price/performance ratio is completely out of whack. The schnitzel was dry, the roast potatoes were all undercooked and certainly not roasted. The scrambled eggs on the plaice were runny. The two glasses of white wine we ordered never arrived. A total flop for us. Never again!

We ate here every time we were here. The food was delicious and the service was great.

Very delicious food, and the service is also very friendly and attentive. We'll be back again.🤗👍

The food was very tasty, we would love to come back

The food there is delicious and the service is excellent. We eat there regularly and are always completely satisfied.

Nice restaurant with good outdoor dining.

Very friendly service. Very good food. Definitely recommended!

Highly recommended. Truly delicious at reasonable prices. Very friendly and attentive service.

Food was well received and the staff is very friendly

Beautiful location in a prime location. Staff very attentive and nice, food excellent. Full recommendation

Top food. Can be recommended 100%

Really very tasty. The fried fish is excellent. The fries are as crispy as you rarely get. Always my pleasure

Simply a great team. Super delicious food. Always my pleasure. We've been coming for 14 years.

Yes, highly recommended, very nice staff.

Very friendly welcome!!! Nice staff and quick service! The food was delicious and prepared with love!!! I'd love to come back 🫶

Service staff could be improved, meat is from the freezer and only tastes of paprika powder. Fries are counted exactly 15 pieces per person. The good location is no consolation and eating outside is spoiled by all the smokers.

Unfortunately, the portions are very small and the price is in the normal range for this location. If it's full you have to wait a long time for your food.

Very friendly staff, fast service and good food.

Very nice atmosphere, very tasty food, nice hosts. Absolutely recommended. Gladly again.

Delicious food and very attentive service

Unfortunately we were very disappointed, I had a rump steak with bacon beans, the bacon looked very unappetizing and unfortunately the steak was not a rump steak and was very thin and not medium rare. Portions are very small so if you're hungry... Service is very friendly but there are only 2 stars because we wanted to move around in the almost empty restaurant but that was no longer possible.

I was so excited about the panfish. Unfortunately, this and the mustard sauce were totally over salted. Kudos to the employees. Super friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere is super nice and we will come back, there are not always good days 👍

Underground cuisine, very nice service, great ambience. Beer lukewarm and not very carbonated, steak not hot with too much fat, side dishes not good either.

Waiting more than half an hour for a Caribbean kakau is quite stressful. The cr code thing is probably not yet fully developed.

Very friendly staff. Hardly any waiting time. Cozy atmosphere and plenty of seating inside and outside. Parking spaces in the immediate vicinity.

Simply great. The food is delicious, the service is super friendly. Great facility. Perfect all around.

The fish platter was great. The crème brulee was just a tiny pan of panna cota with a blackened layer on top that tasted like coal. A real shame :-((((((

We went there for dinner. It was neither bad nor outstanding. All in all, we were satisfied and would come again.

A great place to sit outside on the terrace when the weather is sunny or cold.