Bistro de la Mer

Sister to the multi-starred 212, BDLM is their Bistronomy take on fish cookery. Not without its own single star, Mer is, however, my absolute favourite of the boutique group. Mostly a long, long counter built around a galley kitchen, it utterly nails vibes and affordable, modernist (all dishes possess a deft, contemporary touch) bistro style. The sourcing and cooking are, of course, insane and the staff charming, whilst that open-kitchen concept brings the insight of chefs at work in extremely close-quarters - making it all look effortless I should add. Simply put, even by modern era standards, Bistro strikes an often strived for, rarely achieved, balance.

We had a reservation for lunch here and it turned out to be one of the best meals of our trip. You definitely need a reservation here — every seat was taken even during lunch service, and it’s easy to see why. From start to finish, everything was beautifully executed — both in flavor and presentation. To start, the kitchen sent out an amuse-bouche of lobster bisque in a tiny coffee cup — rich, oceany, and so comforting, especially for us Arizonans who were freezing in the Dutch “fall” weather (probably mild for locals, but it felt icy to us 😄). We each began with their special oysters (Gillardeau topped with O-toro tuna and Ossetra caviar) — fresh, briny, and luxurious. Each bite was a little explosion of the sea. The Beignet of Brandade was another standout: warm, bite-sized puffs topped with a generous scoop of caviar and a touch of sour cream — decadent and perfectly balanced. We shared several small plates, each one a delight. The raw mackerel with wasabi ice cream and vinaigrette was a party in the mouth — tangy, refreshing, and surprisingly harmonious. The razor clam salad was vibrant and clean, while the pan-fried scallops were tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked. For mains, my husband ordered the pike-perch — delicately steamed, served with chicory, ham sauce, and autumn truffle — absolutely divine. I had the squid with peppers, which was so tender with just the right amount of heat. We skipped the dessert, because we had planned to go to get some cookies at Van Stapele after lunch. :) So we just ordered coffee and they gave us a couple of yummy madeleines. We each had a glass of Champagne to begin, followed by wine pairings. The total came to about USD $360 for the two of us — worth every euro for the quality, creativity, and service we received. A quick note: all the tables are high-tops with bar stools, but they’re quite comfortable, and it gives the restaurant a lively, open-kitchen vibe. Most diners at the bar seemed to be enjoying the set menu, but we went à la carte and were happy with our picks. Service was prompt, efficient, and genuinely friendly, and the chefs clearly know their craft — each dish came out beautifully timed and confidently presented. Overall, Bistro de la Mer is well deserving of its Michelin star — a cozy yet elegant seafood haven where every bite feels like a small celebration. Highly recommend for anyone looking for refined seafood and modern creativity in the heart of Amsterdam.

This was an incredibly romantic restaurant! Would recommend for date night! For us the snacks, starters, bread, and dessert stole the show. The fish mains were solid - but we have a lighter pallet for fish, so while perfectly executed they were eclipsed by the amazing snacks to start and dessert to end. Service was flawless and everyone was incredibly kind. Impressive as the woman seated next to us was kind of rude. Pictures is this little caviar cheese puff, when paired with champagne is the best caviar bite I’ve had this year. Enjoy!

Discovered the restaurant through the Michelin app and was initially drawn to the seafood-focused menu. The amuse and starter were generally aligned with my preferences; however, the inclusion of the shrimp mustache in the starter was problematic — its size and texture were overly coarse and detracted from the overall dish. The main course featured wolfish prepared with miso, which I found somewhat bitter and not particularly well-balanced to my palate. The dessert, while competent, lacked creativity and failed to leave a lasting impression. Overall, the experience was acceptable, but the menu did not quite resonate with my personal taste.

Food was 4.5/5 for me. Overall good and tasty but not the best food I’ve ever had and thought portion was slightly small. Shrimp bisque is very fishy but I didn’t mind and enjoyed it. Cherry dessert was surprisingly enjoyable and a refreshing end to dinner. Bread and butter - 5/5. The highlight of my experience here. Crispy outside but soft inside. Tasty butter to pair with the bread. Service - 3/5. The worst part of the dining experience. We had told the server we would like to order wine after we ordered our food first. After our appetizer is served, we asked for the drinks menu again but they never brought us one. They also never changed our plates even though it was full of bread crumbs. Overall expected better for a Michelin restaurant. Atmosphere - 3/5. I was ok with the bar seats but noticed a ton of flies? on the wall which made the food a little unappetizing. I visited on a warmer day for Amsterdam and felt the restaurant was a little stuffy. Not entirely sure this is all within the restaurants’ control so kept overall rating a 4.

The food was good and the service was average. The place had a nice vibe, and eating at the bar was an enjoyable experience. However, for a Michelin-starred restaurant, it fell short of expectations. The service was quite disorganized, and while the food was of decent quality, it wasn’t exceptional. Overall, it felt overpriced for what it offered.

We decided to spend our evening at this wonderful place. The main concept is that some dishes are prepared right in front of you at the bar, while around 70% are cooked in the main kitchen and then decorated and served by the chefs at the bar. Excellent, fresh ingredients and a great combination of flavors. We were very satisfied — we liked everything.

Despite seeing some negative reviews, I walked in without reservation (week day) and got a spot directly. Service had a good atmosphere with a fun team. The bisque served in entrance was strong in taste and intelligently presented. The crab as well, with very interesting texture. Only a bit mild despite the promises of jalapeños spices, same later for the octopus. Very well cooked and presented but quite mild despite n'duja in the recipe. Flavors were very good though and in the context of more northern countries not as used to pepperish and spicy tastes it remains quite normal. Desert infused in cherry beer was exceptional. Wine choice was also very relevant.