Bonboon — Restaurant in Amsterdam

We came here together with my fiancee, and had an absolute blast of an evening! We each had the vegan 5-course dinner and a nice bottle of Spanish Cava Vilarnau sparkling rosè, chilling in a bucket by the table.

The entire evening, round after round, we were taken away by incredible flavors. The theme was "September", and the stars of the show were onions, eggplants, carrots, chanterelles, blackberries, and apples, everything you might still find in season.

The hors d'oeuvres was a delicate one-bite tortilla chip with tarragon, a dollop of a light creamy sauce topped with pickled raddish. A wonderful start to wake the taste buds.

For the appetizer, we were served the onion and potato bhaji. Both fluffy and crunchy, slightly savory, the thinly sliced onion was perfectly complimented by the date chutney.

Next, the lacquered eggplant took us by surprise. Served on top of strained yogurt, the two forms of eggplant synergized despite the contrasting flavors. The roasted almonds and garlic left a lasting nutty aftertaste, that lingered on long after the minty sour freshness of the yogurt had passed.

I was most looking forward to the main course. The unusual combination of carrot, miso, and coffee caught my attention on paper, but the execution completely baffled me. The carrot was sliced just a few millimeters thin, and layered with the miso-coffee sauce. This was done so masterfully that it only became evident upon only once we cut in. The grilled chanterelles were like little flavor bombs on the side, adding a smoky earthiness and magnified the umami of the miso.

Once we came back from out short break (which we needed from such a flavorful experience), we were faced with the wildcard - fermented bulgur "cheese". The unique fine savoriness was accompanied by the sour of blackberries and a sweet and herbal chamomile pancake.

By this point in the evening, our last two dishes were served by a lovely and very knowledgeable lady, who was very helpful in explaining the finer details of the dishes. As she served us the mouthwatering walnut tart, we found out that it has been Daphne herself serving our table for the entire evening! Truly a kind and wonderful woman, with a passion for great food.

What a fantastic evening! We will most definitely return to taste the new menu. Thank you,...

This has been truly an amazing experience.

We discovered Bonboon trough a quick Google search, and after seeing the reviews we made a reservation for the same day.

The restaurant is small, but it really seems cared about and it's nicely decorated. They also have a beautiful terrace with great views to the water. Perfect for nice weather in spring and summer. The personal is kind and attentive, and that's always a plus.

You can choose between a 3, 4 or 5 dishes menu, and I would actually recommend going for the 5 dishes one! Drinks are not included.

Everything was incredibly good presented and super super tasty. Also specially surprised with the deserts!

The chef happens to be spanish (as I am) and I was definitely not expecting to see some bits of spanish cuisine in here. We had some outstanding calçots, calamaris and quesada (among other things). Seeing such a "meat based" culture as ours represented with some of our best (although less famous internationally) dishes was truly memorable. Also, it seems like Bonboon rotates their menu once a month (as far as I know), so we can't wait to try the next ones.

Be aware: It's not an everyday restaurant, and I believe it isn't supposed to be (specially if you go for the 5 dishes menu, which is 45€/person). But if you want to treat yourself and enjoy some high quality vegan food, this is the place.

Maybe the weakest point would be the waiting time. We spent more than 2 hours there (from 6:30 until 9ish). I understand 5 dishes take more than an average meal. But between some of them we waited for 20 minutes (which is not ideal). However, it was the first days after covid. Also we were the only ones placed in the terrace, and it was quite busy inside the restaurant. The weather was amazing, so we didn't care that much. But hopefully this was a one-time-thing!

So...! Overall, an amazing place to know if you are vegan, vegetarian or just want to enjoy a special lunch/dinner. Local products, rotating menu, nice vews... What else...

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...