dutchgrub

Altmann Restaurant and Bar – Trendy Fusion

Update: Restaurant Altmann closed doors at the end of November 2010.

Altmann Restaurant and Bar is old school, classy service in cool, dark leathery decor. The 19th century building, accentuated by a round tower overlooking the Amstel river, is representative. And so is the service, welcoming you outside the door, taking your coat and offering you a cocktail at the bar by the entrance.

dutchgrub altmann - outside dutchgrub altmann - inside

The inside at Altmann is split into several areas, a bar and lounge by the entrance, the main dining room by the windows towards the Amstel and a slightly elevated area towards the back. The color scheme is stylish black and white illuminated by a very warm, indirect light from many small lamps and candles. Altmann is one of the few places in Amsterdam where you won’t be overdressed. The decor, waiters clad in perfect black and elegant guests make for the perfect surroundings to go out in style.

Like the decor, the menu is trendy, luring fancy diners with a mix of French and Asian cuisine with the occasional Dutch treat. Sashimi with hangop, a traditional Dutch clotted yogurt with lime, giant prawn risotto with Thai tom yam sauce, or beef tenderloin with kimchi and bitterballen, Dutch meat croquettes, oriental style, caught our eyes. We liked the inventive menu and fresh ingredients, but could have done with more flavor. Several dishes were on the bland side and especially lacking spiciness. You can dine à la carte, opt for the set four course chef’s menu, or go all out with a seven course tasting menu.

dutchgrub altmann - softshell crab dutchgrub altmann - tenderloin with bitterballen dutchgrub altmann - tomato bavarois

The service was immaculate. Well dressed, present and with attention to detail. We usually prefer more character and humor but could appreciate the precision and orderliness. Staff is clearly well trained and was happy to inquire with the chef or owner to satisfy these foodies’ inquisitive nature. Credit card payments, online reservation and all other amenities required for a successful formal dinner are available.

Altmann Restaurant and Bar won’t disappoint those looking for quiet, stylish dinner put together with care from select ingredients.

www.altmann.nl
Amsteldijk 25
1074 HS Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20 6627777
Open: Restaurant closed since late November 2010.
Public Transport: Tram 3, 4, or 25 to Ceintuurbaan / van Woustraat
Cuisine: Fusion
Neighbourhood: De Pijp
Vibe: Trendy
Price: €60 to €100 per person

A slightly modified version of this article also appeared in the October edition of Amsterdam Magazine – Beyond Windmills, Wooden Shoes and Weed.

Amsterdam Restaurant News

Two of our favorite places that were closed temporarily are now back and another one unfortunately has closed down. So I thought I’d write a brief post to update you on the latest development.

restaurant marius amsterdam First of all, Restaurant Marius, one of our Best Amsterdam Restaurants, has reopened in its former location. Marius was closed from late May to late September. Plans for moving to a larger venue fell through due to issues with permits, so Marius will continue to do its magic from the charming Barentszstraat locale.

In other good news, Lovefood, one of our Best Amsterdam Brunches, has returned. They are now operating on a monthly schedule, every first Sunday of the month. You can get the details on their Facebook page. Make sure you do get a reservation. It’s very busy due to the monthly schedule and several good reviews.

You win some, you lose some, they say. And unfortunately this appears to be true as we just received an email letting us know that The Man Who Cuts the Meat has closed down. Executive chef Chris van der Kuil has moved to Saigon, Vietnam, and is now working on Flow.

Blue Pepper – Sophisticated Indonesian

Blue Pepper is a contemporary Indonesian restaurant that really stands out from the crowd. Its decor is stylish and yet it attracts an older more settled crowd. It serves rijsttafels (or rice tables), the most popular authentic Dutch/Indonesian dish, but served more elegantly as individual dishes rather than the usual family style. And it’s located near the center but distinctly removed from the tourist crowds.

Blue Pepper opened to much critical acclaim almost 10 years ago. A Michelin star past at restaurant Spandershoeve in the 90s, an Indonesian fusion menu and an über-cool blue decor have earned executive chef Sonja Pereira rave reviews from local critics such as Johannes van Dam and foreign food experts, including Mark Brittman of the New York Times. It’s lost some of its edge over the years but still serves great innovative food.

And indeed it’s blue! Inside, the walls and the ceiling are painted solid marine blue. There’s a blue awning above the window, blue decorations, blue business cards, and a blue website. The blue decor is further highlighted by the cold light from dozens of small halogen lamps and the small, tunnel-like space. We quite liked the cool vibe but can imagine that others may find it oppressive.

blue pepper amsterdam - blue inside

The food was great. Blue Pepper works with prix fixe menus ranging from The Sultan and I, which offers 20 individual dishes at €70, to a lighter and cheaper Summer Special at €44. The dishes are Indonesian with a modern twist as well as some unexpected Western ingredients. We loved the amuse-bouche of chicken won tons, with just the right crunchiness in the crust and lots of different flavors. Monkfish with lemon grass, shrimp with jackfruit and a spicy glass-noodle soup with a quail’s egg were other highlights. Blue Pepper is happy to substitute some red meat dishes and also offers a vegetarian menu upon request. The wine list is short but broad, including several New World options that go well with spicy food as well as expensive Bordeaux wines.

blue pepper amsterdam - chicken won ton blue pepper amsterdam - spicy soup with quail egg blue pepper amsterdam - main course

The service was somewhat sluggish as there was only one waitress serving all guests. But overall we enjoyed the slow pace as the individually served dishes of the menu kept us entertained. The option to pay by credit card, free tap water and air conditioning are other plusses that unfortunately are still not standard everywhere in Amsterdam.

In short, Blue Pepper is right for those looking for a sophisticated high-end dinner that stimulates the eye and excites the taste buds.

www.restaurantbluepepper.com
Nassaukade 366
1054 AB Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20 4897039
Open 6pm-10pm, closed on Tuesdays
Public Transport: Tram 7 or 10 to Raamplein, or 5 minute walk from Leidesplein
Cuisine: Indonesian
Neighborhood: West
Vibe: Sophisticated modern
Price: €60 to €100 per person

A slightly modified version of this article also appeared in the September edition of Amsterdam Magazine – Beyond Windmills, Wooden Shoes and Weed.

Amsterdam Restaurants Open on Sundays

One of the most frequent questions I get from readers is about suggestions for good restaurants that are open on Sundays. And for good reason, as many Amsterdam restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays. For example, of the restaurants on my Best Amsterdam Restaurants list, none is open on Sunday. And only Restaurant de Kas is open on Mondays.

So here are some suggestions for those who are looking for a great Sunday dinner in Amsterdam:

Restaurant As

Restaurant As is located in a former church in the south of Amsterdam. The decor is modern minimalist with raw concrete walls. The cuisine organic Mediterranean available as a three, four or five course prix-fixe menu.

www.restaurantas.nl
Prinses Irenestraat 19
1077 WT Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20-6440100
Open daily except Monday
Public transport: Tram 5 to Prinses Irenestraat or metro to Amsterdam Zuid

restaurant blauw amsterdam

Restaurant Blauw

Restaurant Blauw is a modern Indonesian just off the far end of Vondelpark. Rijsttafels (rice tables) and other traditional Indonesian dishes are served in a modern decor with lots of glass on multiple levels.

amsterdam.restaurantblauw.nl
Amstelveenseweg 158-160
1075 XN Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20-6755000
Open daily
Public transport: Tram 2 to Amstelveenseweg or tram 1 to Overtoomsesluis

Restaurant Fyra

Restaurant Fyra serves French food in a sou-terrain of three typically narrow Dutch houses joined into one large dining room. Dishes are available à la carte or as a prix-fixe menu.

www.restaurantfyra.nl
Noorderstraat 19-23
1017 TR Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20-4283632
Open daily except Tuesday
Public transport: Tram 4, 7, 10, 16, 24 or 25 to Weteringsschans

restaurant fyra amsterdam hotel de goudfazant amsterdam

Hotel de Goudfazant

Hotel de Goudfazant is a hip yet friendly restaurant on the other side of the IJ in northern Amsterdam. The look is industrial and modern, the cuisine very traditionally French, the dishes affordable.

www.hoteldegoudfazant.nl
Aambeeldstraat 10 H
1021 KB Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20-6365170
Open daily except Monday
Public transport: Bus 32 or 33 from Central Station to Johan van Hasseltweg

Restaurant Marius Amsterdam Still Closed

Update October 11th, 2010: As you can read in the comments below, Marius has reopened as of late September 2010.

Update March 22nd, 2012: Marius has moved into a new location, just 40 meters from the previous one, and right next to the new sausage and wine bar “Worst” just opened by the same owner.

Most restaurants in Amsterdam have re-opened after vacation and everything is back to normal.

The one sad exception is Marius, one of dutchgrub’s Best Amsterdam Restaurants. Marius closed doors in late May for renovations and to take some time off to find new inspiration. As you can see on the photos, there’s not much visible progress. The inside merely looks abandoned with no sign of work done. And the sign on the door still says that Marius will re-open in September, likely at a new location, but that the necessary permissions were slow to acquire.

Marius is great and we hope they’ll be back soon with a great new restaurant!

restaurant marius amsterdam - door sign.JPG

Burger Bar Amsterdam – Another Great Option for Burgers

I’ve written a few times about Burgermeester, the self-proclaimed master of burgers in Amsterdam. Their formula of high-quality burgers in a no frills setting has just been copied quite successfully by the Burger Bar. The Burger Bar has two shops in Amsterdam, one near the Dam and one just off Rembrandtplein.

Both Burgermeester and the Burger Bar focus on quality meat, fresh ingredients and burgers made fresh on the spot. Where Burgermeester excels at a menu of inventive burgers, the Burger Bar lets you pick and choose your own burger. You can pick from three types of bread, a number of extras such as cheese, onions or mushrooms, as well as twelve sauces. Trying to fully cater to everybody’s preferences, you can even choose the type of meat! There’s the standard Irish beef, the superb black Angus and a 100% Kobe Wagyu option.

It’s rare to see quality food and take-away in the touristy areas around the Dam and Rembrantplein and the Burger Bar is a great option when you’re around there looking for a quick lunch or snack. I thoroughly enjoyed my black Angus burger with cheese and mushrooms on an Italian roll! I’ll try the Wagyu burger next time.

Burger Bar Amsterdam
www.burger-bar.nl

Reguliersbreestraat 9
1017 CL Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20-3305968
Open daily: 11:00 – 03:00, Friday, Saturday: 11:00 – 04:00
Public transport: Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25 to Muntplein.

Kolksteeg 2
1012 PT Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20-6249049
Open daily: 11:00 – 03:00
Public transport: Any tram, bus or train to Central Station