Michael S.
Yelp
7pm reservation for 2, arrived at 655pm. First ones to sit for that timeframe, it seems? Missus rates this a 4.3/5.
Ordered a drink - la vie en rose. Sweet - nice taste - great for the early courses.
Second drink was "Bee's knees" - tasted like "lemonade" - I thought it was more like a lemon drop, but it's still good!
Four 'premeal appetizers'
First was watermelon that was marinated
Second was Thai green curry on a small seaweed cracker
Third was a caviar spoon
Fourth one was basmati rice foam with coconut and split peas, matcha on top. Really interesting!
This finished around 745pm - looks like we'll be here for a bit! (guessing 2.5-3 hours)
Tasting Menu notes below (listed in menu order - Also actual served order)
Course 1: Wild Seabass
Two types - kibbelling (fried) and ceviche (running beans, jalapeño)
Missus liked both. I liked the temperature of the kibbelling - perfect - very well made. The ceviche reminded me of a tender red snapper - the extra flavours really jump out at you.
Course 2: Zucchini Flower
Green sauce is spring onion; brown is miso
Fennel, garlic, zucchini, bell pepper
Temperature was the same as the body - not cold!
Missus said that if this were a family-style big dish she'd eat it all.
Course 3: Lobster
Macadamia nut and water chestnut for crunchiness (bottom); crescent beets,
Harissa for spice, brown butter on the bottom
Missus really likes lobster: "Dutch really know how to cook seafood"
I asked the staff how it was made - the lobster is fresh (killed at 5pm) - probably contributes most to the "freshness" of the dish.
Course 4: Veal
Veal covered in flour and crispy short rib; Emulsion with balsamic vinegar.
Veal with Baba ghanoush, roasted eggplant, and some kind of reduction (sauce). Tasted Mediterranean, kind of?
Missus thought this was ok, but a bit salty for her taste.
Course 5: Dutch Lamb - theme is Turkey - hummus, Lebanese bread, back of the neck of the lamb.
Chanterelle mushrooms
Aged 10 days - smell mostly gone
Missus (usually not ok with lamb) thought texture was great, didn't have lamb flavour - which she personally liked. Some of the dishes has the same cranberry sauce used in many places.
Course 6: Strawberry & Sakura
Strawberries - frozen and dried.
Missus thought it was refreshing, liked the chocolate underlayer, but it was ok. Didn't really understand the liquid / mixed ingredients. The sorbet on the top was neutral flavour - didn't add anything to the raw dish.
Music background is ambient, but expansive (in terms of eras covered) - anything from Lionel Ritchie to Phil Collins, Simple Minds (don't you forget about me), Lee Fields (ladies)
Interesting serving technique - usually two people bring you the food (not always same two) - and one stays behind to explain (the other smoothly walks away)
I noticed that others getting the wine pairing. The cups weren't as full as others, but you could tell the difference between the red wine pairings and white wine pairings.
Random time check: 907pm (2 hours in) - still not at the last of the "mains" - so probably here for 3-3.5 hours, given how slow the food is.
931pm - lamb is done, but still waiting for course 6 (dessert). Somewhat disappointing how spaced out the dishes are. The other tables had staggered start times, so nobody started later than 830pm, but it felt like there was only one seating.