Jeroen Vonk
Google
This place is just not good enough. Skip this place for now.
The location is beautiful in the center of Amsterdam. The menu looked great but the service and food were just not good enough.
We went for the five-course menu with wine pairings, including a promising Spanish Palomino. Starting with Champagne, we were disappointed by its lackluster bubbles and presentation in narrow flutes. The first course paired a Mosel Riesling with a fermented cauliflower croquette. While not terrible, it felt more like bar food than fine dining, lacking warmth and freshness.
The second course featured an excellent Palomino from Barbadillo and a mushroom dish. Despite the impressive wine, the food again felt like an elaborate snack rather than a proper course.
The main dish featured smoked cabbage with various accompaniments and a fruity French Mondeuse wine. Despite its Instagram-worthy presentation, the dish disappointed. The cabbage was overcharged, and the flavors were underwhelming, and not good.
The pre-dessert was a chestnut flour crepe with pear and orange blossom jelly, smoked soy ricotta, and a Gewürztraminer. Unfortunately, both the dish and wine fell short. The wine lacked aroma and was served too warm, while the crepe tasted stale. The ricotta filling's odd sour-fruity combination was unappetizing, leading me to abandon the dish after just two bites—unusual for my typically adventurous palate.
After a while, the waiter came over to check what was up. We told him our thoughts, and he apologized and offered to take it off the bill. But by then, we weren't feeling it anymore, so we just asked for the check. I guess I'll never know how that Spanish Moscatel would've tasted!
Man, this place has got some serious potential! The spot is killer, and the vibe is on point. But let's be honest, they must step up their game in the kitchen. If they can pull that off, it could be a total hit. For now, though, I'd say skip it and check out somewhere else that's got their act together.