Fabus — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Last night we decided with friends to go for a wine tasting from this well-known place in town, never a worse choice.

Starting with the fact that I am a sommelier but that implies nothing other than the fact that I have done a myriad of wine tastings in Amsterdam and abroad and worked at one of the most important wineries in Burgundy, I have never had a worse experience.

If it is true that wine tastings are experiences, travels to different corners of the world and cultures where you are guided by a "sommelier" then guys don't go to this place. For such reasons:

1. Service. Very bad never seen anything like this at one point I felt like it was a joke. Wine tasting of 6 glasses (tastings) of which the manager (I think the owner) stymied by I don't know what, decided to present us with only 3 (we were outside smoking and she served us the glasses without saying anything) and the last one if that's enough for you told us "It's a Syrah" .... ok thank you! And when I asked her to change a glass for me because we were switching from a white to a red, she looked at me like I was asking something crazy. Never seen such a thing.

2. Quantity and quality. As a sommelier course a wine tasting should at least give you the opportunity to affirm and remark the characteristics of the wine with 3-4 sips, at the first glass (photo attached) after the first very moderate sip the glass was practically already empty and without wanting to raise a controversy I waited for the second tasting, same experience, at which point I went in a completely non-polemical way to politely ask if the next tastings could actually allow me to taste the wine, dry answer from the owner "it's 0.33ml per taste there is nothing to add". I don't go into the quality talk because it was EVIDENT that two bottles of the tasting were as it is used in technical jargon "bouchonné" or actually poorly stored (natural wine has specific manners of storage), so if this is their standard already we understand each other. No more hiding behind this "We prefer quantity to quality."

3. Price. 35 euros for 6 """samples"" of wine of dubious origin and fast food service, there is definitely better in town.

Get away while you can or in case don't go...

Natural Wine and Levantine Food in Amsterdam 🍷🍽️

Fabus, located in Amsterdam's Old-West, is a women-led 🍷 wine bar that combines inclusive and sustainable values with a unique culinary and beverage experience. Offering a diverse selection of natural wines from underrepresented regions 🌍, Fabus stands out as a haven for wine enthusiasts. In collaboration with Lebanese-born chef Monsieur Bou 👨‍🍳, they serve reimagined Levantine dishes inspired by traditional recipes. Whether you're in the mood for a quick snack or a full meal 🍽️, Fabus provides a cozy atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and a memorable dining experience.

✅ Well prepared and delicious food ✅ Gluten-free, veggie and vegan options ✅ Wide variety of wines ✅ Cozy ambiance ✅ Friendly and welcoming staff

🍽️ What we had: Labneh with confit garlic, served with focaccia Red pepper mutabbal, served with focaccia Zaatar dusted haloumi sticks with honey mustard sauce Harissa fried chicken with homemade harisselo sauce Spicy roasted whole cauliflower with Monsieur Bou secret tahini sauce Sujuk and cheese quesadilla with pickled onions and sweet, savoury and spicy sauce Tahini cookie topped pistachio ice cream Miso white chocolate nut cake

💸 €40-50 p.p. 📍Amsterdam Oud-West

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I booked Fabus well in advance of travelling to Amsterdam based on a recommendation from friends, expecting a great spot for a solo dinner with some wine and mezze-style plates. I may have misunderstood the vibe (my bad) it’s definitely better suited to groups of friends.

I had reserved a table but offered to sit at the window as I was on my own. Unfortunately, this led to an awkward seating situation where I was asked to shift so they could seat another couple in the window, which I understood. However, it meant I ended up tucked in a corner with barely any room, and had to share a small space. Their conversation naturally dominated my evening, and the setup wasn’t very comfortable for a solo diner.

Menu-wise, it’s a sharing concept and not ideal for one person, but the dishes I tried were very good. The hummus bites were battered and very tasty along with the dipping sauce, great comfort food, though quite rich. The baba ghanoush and flatbread were also full of flavour.

Overall, wouldn’t recommend for solo travellers if you're looking for dinner. The sharing style works out too expensive and doesn't let you try the...