About us
In a city that is always on the move, Luwte offers space to take a moment to reflect on what you taste and experience.
About Luwte
Owners Falk van Essen and Caroline de Vries (both in their thirties) met in 2019. From their shared passion for food and drink, and years of dedication to the profession within top restaurants, the dream grew to open their own restaurant together. In June 2026, the time has come: Restaurant Luwte has opened its doors.
In Luwte they work full of passion, dedication and fun with a young and committed team. Hospitality is central to them and, together with the kitchen, forms the basis of the experience at Luwte. In the close cooperation between kitchen and service, they together provide a neat and relaxed service, with an eye for detail and sincere attention to our guests.
As chef, Falk leads the kitchen and in the restaurant, hostesses Caroline, who is also a sommelier, and Annemarie take care of the service. Together they always go for the highest achievable, with hospitality as the main focus.
More about Falk van Essen
"During and after my chef training, I worked and learned at leading restaurants such as De Vlindertuin in Zuidlaren, De Groene Lantaarn in (at the time) Zuidwolde and Da Vinci in Maasbracht. This was followed by a long period at Herberg Onder de Linden in Aduard, where I first worked as a sous-chef and later as a kitchen chef. In 2019 I met hostess and sommelier Caroline de Vries, who is now my life partner. In 2026, the time has come to stand on its own two feet. In June, Caroline and I opened a place that is all ours: Restaurant Luwte in Groningen."
"With Luwte we want to create a restaurant where guests not only come to eat, but are also included in the story behind the plate and the ingredients. A place where it is visible and tangible what happens in front of and behind the scenes, with attention, craftsmanship and love for the profession."
"My biggest motivation is to make our guests happy and to give them an evening that will last. For me, really good food starts with a really good product. This goes hand in hand with sustainability and respect for nature. By consciously choosing quality and origin, we want to cook in Luwte in an honest and responsible way. Today and with an eye to tomorrow."
More about Caroline de Vries
"When I was fifteen, I started in the hospitality industry, with one clear dream: to open my own restaurant one day. In recent years I have enjoyed working as a sommelier at Herberg Onder de Linden in Aduard. From the first moment I have fully focused on wine and everything that comes with it."
"I think it is important to deal with nature consciously and respectfully. Based on this conviction, we choose to work exclusively with organic and biodynamic wines. Wines with a story, made with attention to people, animals and the environment, that match our way of cooking."
"Making guests happy is the best thing there is for me. For me, that is in personal attention, sensing what someone needs and always going the extra mile. My goal is to create a place together with Falk and our team at Restaurant Luwte where guests feel welcome, like to come back and where Luwte becomes their favorite restaurant."
Meet the team
We are a young and committed team, led by Falk van Essen and Caroline de Vries, and always work with passion, dedication and pleasure. Hospitality is central to us and, together with the kitchen, forms the basis of the experience at Luwte. In the close cooperation between kitchen and service, we ensure a neat and relaxed service, with an eye for detail and sincere attention to our guests.
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Falk van Essen
Chef and owner
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Caroline de Vries
Sommelier and owner
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Stephen Huijskens
Sous chef
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Annemarie Panman
Host