De Juwelier — Restaurant in Amsterdam

One Michelin star bistro run by the folks behind restaurant 212. Here is what I can add:

Tried to secure a table weeks ahead but could not get a reservation. Waiting list did not work either, so the two of us simply tested our luck and did a walk in on a busy Friday evening. Luck was on our side and we snatched a table in the first floor dining room, thanks to a last minute cancellation.

It's an a la carte only restaurant, so just pick and choose what tickles your fancy. My starter was a Holstein beef tartare with oysters and topped by a generous 20g of caviar, which came as a supplement of course. Mighty delicious, but not for the faint of heart. Second course were sauteed veal kidneys with hazelnut and shellfish foam. If intestines are your thing, you will enjoy this as much as I did. Last dish was oxtail stuffed with bone marrow, another dish that cranked up the intensity to 11.

The food here is pretty much a turbocharged version of classic bistro fare. All the dishes we tried were unapologetic and bold. And I really enjoyed that!

Drinks wise I did not spend too much time checking the wine list (not available online) so I can't really comment on selection and prices. We settled for a nice bottle of Saint Aubin which did a good job balancing off the hearty fare.

Overall, a cool place, good food, decent wine, good vibes. Just good luck to get a table, especially if you are in town for just a weekend...

De Juwelier, quaint but does not live up to a Michel-star in any sense. The food is at the quality level of a standard French bistro, the service is mediocre at best and the restaurant looks as it it hasn't been cleaned since the jeweler left.

To explain, the food by any means is not bad! However the level of attention and quality does not befit a Michel restaurant. Even if curiously, offal is used to cook interesting meals (you love it or you hate it, and I must say I thought it was a nice touch) the plating looks substandard and in my case the tarbot was luke-warm at best.

Arriving at our table 3 out of 4 glasses were missing chips (a challenge to be honest with Riedel glasses) in the rims, after I addressed this with the waiter she just changed the glasses out without saying a word. Our table was at no point cleaned from various things such as bread, forks and knives. Our sommelier seemed like a nice guy, but at no point were our wishes integrated into his thoughts on the wine.

The curtains and flowers in the back were rife with cobwebs. The toilet looked the best of the whole restaurant.

If I would have walked into a French bistro in a small town in France this would be the level I expect (for about a third of the price if I am being generous) with regard to service, food and decor. However operating to this level in a Michel restaurant at these prices is simply not...

The third Michelin Star Restaurant from Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot, this one a Bistro, focuses on classics in an a la carte format where all dishes are similarly portioned for sharing thanks to a recent menu change.

Located mere steps from Bistro de la Mere, bar seats leading to a staircase with tables one story above, guests will find service quickly paced but perhaps a little understaffed as a lone man tended to delivering and clearing plates for five tables while neglecting beverage service.

High-priced for what is essentially French Tapas, €7 “Streetfood” inspired Souffles two bites at most, dry Reisling pairs well to starters such as lean Beef Tartare complimented by the Sea as well as a steamed “Souffle” reminiscent if Quenelle de Brochet.

Impressing with Pate en Croute, a thin slice but nicely textured, confit Turbot seems unneccesarily complicated while €33 each sees Sweetbreads amidst Olives a far better proposition that a single slice of glazed Duck.

Not afraid to go bold with local Lamb, wrapped for texture in a rich Sauce bolstered by Cumin, Paprika and Harissa, Sweets all come kissed by Booze with both Pecan Pie and a flaky baked Apple outpacing a Ducasse-priced Baba at roughly...