Restaurant Rafas Esens in Esens

We had a wonderful evening with incredibly delicious food. If I could, I'd give it more stars. The rump steak stuffed with feta is highly recommended. A huge thank you to Paula, who served us this evening. Even though she was working alone, she was there for every guest, attended to all our requests, and put a smile on everyone's face. We'll definitely be back!

A full five points, new service, great food, even for vegetarians. Definitely a recommendation.

Had dinner tonight. Delicious food, generous portions, almost impossible to finish. I highly recommend the salad, too. Great atmosphere, and excellent service. We'll be back.

We sat outside, so I don't know what it looks like inside. The food was very good, and the service was competent.

I was here with my family for the first time today because it was my grandma's birthday. She's been here several times before and always spoke highly of it. She wasn't exaggerating! To sum it up, the food, the service, and the atmosphere were simply amazing :D I'm already looking forward to Grandma's next birthday!

Food was very good, but a bit too expensive

Very good food, good service and good prices, it couldn't be better, I can only recommend it

It's a relatively expensive restaurant, so keep that in mind. But the food from various Balkan countries was truly impressive. The owner himself works in the restaurant and has charisma; you can tell he's fully committed to his restaurant and proud of it. It was also great that you could adjust the seasoning to your liking, so he manages to satisfy every palate.

Very well maintained, great value for money

Very friendly service, a comprehensive menu with vegetarian options, and generous portion sizes. The food was prepared with great care and tasted just as delicious. Great restaurant!

Great food in a lovely restaurant in Esens' pedestrian zone.

Great! Just remember to bring enough cash.

We were on vacation nearby and stumbled across this restaurant. We were lucky to get a table on the spot. However, it was clear it was the weekend, and we had to wait a bit for the food. But we weren't disappointed; the food was delicious. The price was reasonable, too. Just be aware: they only accept cash. We'd be happy to come back if we get the chance.

Definitely recommendable. The food was plentiful and delicious.

When we are on holiday in Esens, a visit to Rafas is a must. The staff is very friendly and the food is always plentiful and delicious.

Very tasty and wholesome food....

Very tasty and highly recommended for the price! Friendly and funny owner. Schnapps on the house and a very pleasant atmosphere. We'll be back! Edit: One star deducted, as we can expect card payments to be accepted by 2025.

Great place, great service, super friendly. And all the best to Paula for her training. And please remember Julishka on our next visit. The three from the Sauerland.

I went back to Esens for a short break. Once again, I give it a full 5 stars. It's now my new number one spot there. 🙂 Best wishes to Paul and Gina, thank you for the wonderful hospitality. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you soon.

Great service, food always top quality, always happy to go there

Very very tasty, good value for money, nice and helpful staff as well as the boss himself

The restaurant is highly recommended. We happened upon it by chance. We really enjoyed it and went back for dinner the next day. The staff and the owner are very friendly and accommodating. The food is delicious and also a feast for the eyes.

A bit dark, and no card payments. Great food, great service.

Nice family business with delicious food and chilled drinks. YUM, YUM, YUM! The Filetspitze is an absolute highlight.

We stumbled upon this fantastic restaurant during our vacation. The friendly chef and excellent service. You really can't complain. Quite the opposite. The appetizers and main course were plentiful. The small salad was also free. The restaurant didn't skimp on the meat either. The prices were perfectly reasonable :) We'd be happy to come back next time.

Excellent! I can only highly recommend it.

The tzatziki with bread was delicious. The meat on the grill was very dry, however. The dips that come with it make it go down well, though. The salad was very simple and tasteless. Service was nice. Overall, it was okay, but nothing special.

The portions were super generous, the waiters were cheerful, and even joked with us. Unfortunately, there was a kitchen breakdown, which meant the food took a little longer, but we were informed. For me, as a vacationer, it's hard to understand that I can only pay in cash.

Very friendly atmosphere. It came quickly and was delicious 😋. We parked about 5 minutes away because the larger parking lot was free. I can't say whether there's free parking at the restaurant.

Absolutely recommended! We hadn't made a reservation, but we were very kindly shown to a free table. The young service person did everything on her own. Drinks, food, advice - and all with a smile. It was very clear that she enjoyed her work. The food was fantastic. The vegetable side dish didn't come out of the bag, but was prepared fresh and very tasty. The whole plate was a feast for the eyes. I can only recommend Rafas and we will definitely come back.

Top restaurant, top food and drinks, prices appropriate

The best. Are there on every vacation. Food, service and ambience top notch. Very nice service as well as boss.

The best Balkan restaurant outside the Balkans! Very good quality of the food, super nice staff, one of the bosses cooks, the other works in service and also builds up very friendly contact with the guests. It's always pretty funny! Rafas has definitely become our regular restaurant and we recommend it to anyone who likes good meat or fish dishes. Vegetarians are also catered for!

Very tasty food, we would love to come back

Simply top-notch. Fantastic food. Excellent service. Excellent value for money. Always happy to come back.

We're on vacation here in the north! I highly recommend Rafas to anyone coming here. Very tasty, very friendly, and chic! It's better to call ahead on weekends! It's worth it... the homemade sauces are amazing and go perfectly with the delicious meat! Simply top-notch! 5 stars from me...

Today (and before) we ate at Rafa's... Our little puppy was also allowed to come along and even got a quiet corner. The service is very friendly and on point, she sees everything and, despite being stressed, is never rude. I had the 34 and it was great!! My men also thought what they chose was great. The boss is also very friendly and always has a casual saying ready. My dad lives nearby and likes to go to Rafas with his friends.

Great staff and the food is on point every time. The store is always very well stocked.

We had dinner at Rafas's on December 31st, 2024, it was once again completely cozy and everything was very tasty, a simply perfect evening. Thanks. Greetings Hotte & Eva from Bedburg

We ate there with 12 people on Christmas Day. The service was very friendly and quick. The boss also wants to be extremely funny, which personally annoyed me a lot. Be funny or leave it. That was the nice part. 8 out of 12 people had a gastrointestinal virus after this, let's call it eating, thank you for that. I'm no longer putting my foot down, but the health department is. Save yourself the money and go to a snack bar.

They have the best MUCKALICA "SPICY" I've ever eaten. It's actually spicy. 🔥 Been there 3 times, eaten 3 times. 😋 Again in a few days. 😀

Very tasty food, would love to come back. Super nice service

Food was great. Get a table without a reservation. Unfortunately no card payment was possible

Everything was perfect, highly recommended...friendly staff. Delicious food. It was really sufficient and perfect quality for a good price

Absolutely recommended, very, very tasty food, very nice staff, good value for money. We'll be back 😃

Once again, we ate very, very tasty! Many thanks to the whole team 🫶🏻

Very friendly and really good food.

It was my first time eating there and I really enjoyed it. I'd love to come back.

The service was super friendly and attentive. However, we weren't thrilled with the food, we were particularly disappointed with the Cevapcici. Our daughter also had several cartilages in the only 2 cevapcici she ate. The rice was ok, but it was more of a tomato rice as a side dish instead of Djuvec. We expected more meat from the “Veseli Bosanac” for the higher price. Price-performance is really not balanced. And the side salad was just too minimalistic. We simply expect more and better quality from a Balkan restaurant.

We came spontaneously without a reservation and were served very friendly and courteously. My opinion on Balkan cuisine has been completely revised. We have never had such good and delicious Balkan cuisine. Fresh, fried to perfection, no dry meat and finally properly seasoned - no one else dares to try it because it doesn't suit the German palate. And finally no monster plates with tons of meat!! Our main courses were beautifully presented and appetizing - the taste was absolutely top notch. The staff was relaxed and in a good mood - apparently there are still people who enjoy working in the catering industry with passion - keep it up. This wasn't our last visit and I would like to see this restaurant in my region. Absolutely top quality and price.

We ate in this restaurant at the beginning of the week and were very happy with it. However, it really bothered us that people at the next table were shoveling the dog food at the table so that the dog could now eat here in the restaurant. Not tragically, it just doesn't work at the dinner table. Today was our wedding anniversary and we thought we could go out for something delicious to eat again. However, a number of tables were reserved and when we asked when the guests were coming, we were immediately told. Then we had to sit at the dog table and to be honest, what I saw really disgusted me because it looked like a garbage dump. 30 minutes later, the pair of dogs in question arrived and were warmly welcomed and we saved a spot for you. If we hadn't already ordered we would definitely have gone. Our food arrives and what can I say, the dog's meal is being prepared again at the next table and placed less than 40cm from me. We skipped dessert and left. You won't see us there again

After 5 years we have finally managed to come here again. Sunday ordered the Bensersiel fish platter and Rafa's mix plate, both very tasty as usual 😋 lovingly prepared. On Tuesday the second visit with an emotional greeting and we were actually recognized. Everything is as familiar as it was years ago. Over the next 10 days you will enjoy many dishes from the good memory card. It's always a pleasure to come here, my absolute favorite restaurant in Esens. The fact that there is dark Löwenbräu on tap also brings a few bonus points. We would be happy to give you a deserved 5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Kind regards, the two from Stammtisch 6 😀

We had a great experience at Rafas. The food was excellent and the boss was very funny and entertaining. The service was also very friendly and attentive. I would definitely recommend this restaurant! Rating: 5 stars

I agree with various reviewers here: where do the predominantly positive reviews come from? In our case too, the meat died at least twice, but that really bothers me: how can more than 10 main courses of various kinds be brought to the table "freshly" in a restaurant 15 minutes after opening? I praise myself for an honest snack bar where the food is freshly prepared. Otherwise, this seems to be more of a “Spezln restaurant”, regardless.

Rum steak 200g with fried onions.

Food perfect, unfortunately the table was dirty and you didn't see it yourself and you had to ask for it to be cleaned. It was also done and unfortunately no card payment, which is of course a catastrophe for those who pay by card, but the staff are great and they do the job properly, thank you for that

A very comfortably furnished restaurant! The staff is above average fast and friendly. We shared a starter plate "belly bacon plate", more than enough. For the main course we had the "Rafas Mix" (seen above/back) and a "Gypsy Schnitzel" (seen below/front). There was also a salad and two house sauces. The pilsner on offer is Jever, there is also a selection of cocktails. We were very satisfied. The portions were decent and the taste was very good.

The food is definitely recommended and plentiful. We weren't that happy with the salad, but absolutely with the main course. Prices are reasonable and within reason! Unfortunately, the disadvantage is that no card payment is possible…

Great cozy restaurant in Esens. Very nice staff, well attended. Totally delicious food. It's been a long time since I've seen such a beautifully presented plate. It was almost too good to eat. 😉👍♥️ It was really great. Come back.

We came to Rafas today from a bike tour, very tasty food, very friendly service. We'd love to come back.

We were promised more of the food than was served. Portion sizes were "very" manageable, quality was okay, prices increased for the service offered. Opening times inappropriate for a tourist resort.

The restaurant was really full including 2 larger groups. The outstanding service didn't let us notice this. Our glasses were never empty for long and our delicious food was on the table very quickly... 100% recommendation

We were in this restaurant for the first time today. We had reserved in advance and were welcomed very nicely. The staff was very friendly and answered questions immediately. The food we had, the Balkan plate, was really very tasty and sufficient. We'll come back next time. Really highly recommended.

Super friendly service. Food came quickly and was really excellent. We'll definitely be back soon.

We ended up there as an alternative and were thrilled. Service, food, quality, type of presentation, price performance is extremely good. I can fully recommend Rafas

The 4 of us (2 children & parents) found the food here very tasty. Good meat with a lot of flavor, crispy, delicious fries, the two dips were super tasty. The children's schnitzels were extremely breaded and had great meat. my turkey skewer was super juicy and delicious. The man had the robber plate and was extremely satisfied The side salad was seasoned just right and the radish salad was something different like in most restaurants. We can only recommend it here and will definitely come back on our next vacation.

Very good food and it tastes very good

Very tasty food and very pleasant service. The Rafas is always a must visit when we are in the area on vacation.

Super nice and attentive staff. Food was very tasty

Very bad food. You couldn't eat meat. Very dry and chewy. Even turkey meat, which is actually soft and tender, was also dry and not enjoyable. After complaining, we were asked to leave the restaurant. We've never had anything like this before.

Delicious food at normal prices. Friendly conditions.

Pre-ordering a table by telephone worked great. Service was absolutely fine. Prices have been raised significantly, but we all know that. Oh yes, the food was also good and plentiful. No 5 stars for the meal because a re-ordered sauce (because it wasn't enough) had to be paid for extra.

Great food with great, attentive service

Really great restaurant... Highly recommended... Really tasty and super friendly... We arrived with a bit tired children and they were really excited... And we went with very happy children... . Gladly again

We were regular guests for many years. The quality of the meat, especially the cevapcici, has declined significantly. The only thing that has increased is prices. The opening times were also better. You should find out about the opening times in good time. We often stood in front of closed doors, especially on weekdays at lunchtime, especially during the tourist season. If you can afford it...

Bombastic chef, that's just awesome! The service is absolutely courteous, the boss himself in the service shows how customer friendliness and charm work in the restaurant. The bar lady impresses with her nimble fingers at the tap. Worth a visit every time you stay in the city!

Very good and plentiful food, great staff!!!

Delicious food, fast service. Can just be recommended.

Hello...full points...visiting from Bremen in Esens. Great load! Ambience and music in the background very pleasant! A very clean shop! Service.. super friendly and fast! Food...starter, main course, coffee afterwards...just great! We'll be back, that's for sure! Thank you very much…

really great there. Danger. Do not take into account the prices on the PDF menu. The current one is also on the web page. Otherwise you will be disappointed. The reality is 6.00 more expensive per dish. The very demanding price is worth the money. Although 18.90 is already an announcement for Cevapcici.

This time we were very satisfied. We ate deliciously and the service was also very nice.

Delicious food, good, fast, friendly service.

The staff was nice, attentive and friendly. Unfortunately we weren't happy with the food. Minced steak spicy, neck steak and skewer mixed but still dry. Cevapcici had a strange consistency. Salad without dressing. Price/performance ratio poor, clearly too expensive for the food, even in Esens.

Delicious food, the service straight forward and quick.

Very nice host. Very good food. And the back entrance will also be open for wheelchair users. Great service!👍 Always good! Added December 25, 2023: still great!

Die Speisen waren absolut in Ordnung, nichts besonderes aber kann man auf jeden Fall genießen! Der Service freundlich! Beim Ambiente gibt’s Punktabzug, da Musik einfach ein Radiosender war, der überhaupt nichts mit dem Ambiente, bei einem Restaurant wie diesem, zu tun hat-leider ein Stimmungskiller! 2ter Punktabzug: keine Kartenzahlung möglich…

Es war ein rundum schöner Abend. Essen sehr lecker und reichlich ( wir haben sogar noch etwas mitgenommen), Lokalität sehr gemütlich und der Service sehr aufmerksam und freundlich. Wenn wir wieder Urlaub in der Nähe machen, kommen wir gerne wieder.

Das Essen war sehr lecker. Obwohl wir eine große Gruppe waren, ging das servieren zügig vonstatten. Auch musste keiner lange auf dem trockenen sitzen. Gerne wieder.

Bestes Balkanrestaurant überhaupt. Ohne Reservierung keine Chance auf einen Platz.

Voll ohne Ende. Trotzdem super Service und super Essen

Meerdere malen hier eten gehad elke keer een welkom gevoel, goede uitgebreide kaart, uitstekende eten altijd klasse 👌

Das Essen war sehr lecker, leider war das Gemüse sehr öllastig. Sonst Top

Leider ein absolter Reinfall. Ich habe keine Ahnung, wo die 5 Sterne Bewertungen herkommen ... Das Essen ist soweit "in Ordnung", mehr auch nicht. Ich besuche häufig Balkan Restaurants, aber das ist mit Abstand das Schlechteste, das ich in den letzten Jahren besucht habe. Sämtliche Speisen, Beilagen (ausser Pommes) und Salate sind mit Frühlingszwiebel- und Paprikastücken überdeckt. Die gereichten Dipps sind viel zu scharf und nur bedingt geniessbar. Dafür ist im Gegenzug der Reis zu wenig gewürzt. Die laute Musik macht eine normale Unterhaltung kaum möglich, was zu einer erhöhten Lautstärke führt. VORSICHT !!! Die im Internet zu findende Speisekarte hat nur den Zweck, Kunden zu locken, da die dort zu genannten Preise wohl mehrere Jahre alt sind !!! Dass keine Kartenzahlung möglich ist, ist weder irgendwo deutlich sichtbar angeschlagen, noch zeitgemäß. Fazit: Fast 90 Euro rausgeschmissenes Geld!

Einfach wieder sehr gut...gemütliches Ambiente...super nette Bedienung...essen ist einfach klasse darum gehe ich ja immer dahin wenn ich in Esens bin...reservieren ist von Vorteil das das Restaurant sehr beliebt ist...

Wer die Küche des Balkans mag oder kennenlernen möchte ist hier richtig. Die Mitarbeiter wirken ziemlich gehetzt sind aber sehr freundlich und bemüht

Sehr gutes Essen mit sehr freundlicher Bedienung.

Wir waren heute zum ersten mal im Raffas und bestimmt nicht zum letzten mal. Der Service, das Ambiente und auch das Essen waren rundum perfekt. Die Vorspeise hätte auch als Hauptgang durchgehen können und war geschmacklich hervorragend. Ich habe mein Rumpsteak englisch bestellt und genauso kam es auch an den Tisch! Auf den Punkt gebraten und in einer großartigen Qualität! Rundum ein perfekter Abend. 😊

Sehr nettes Personal, sehr gutes Essen, aber etwas zu hektisch. Insgesamt aber einen schönen Abend dort verbracht.

Super Personal und essen top 100 % weiterempfehleng. Einen Stern muss ich allerdings abziehen da keine Karten Zahlung möglich ist.

Sehr lecker und sehr reichliche Portionen. Kellner ist „frech“ und schnell. Gesamteindruck sehr gut.