HOP 020 — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Going to hop-020 was a unique and peak experience in my humble life I was speechless with the unprecedented kindness, warmth and sense of welcoming of the staff I had the unbearable insolence to ask whether they had any non-dairy milk, when it's only been over a decade since most cafés offer it as an option. I'm thankful I was rightfully answered to this gruesome uncalled-for request by one of these looks that made me feel like I had some unresolved trauma bond with that person in a past life of hardship. I ended up ordering a black coffee, that came in a ingenious paper cup, enhancing the flavours of a rare and precious beverage. The quality of the discussion was only matched by that of the food: I ordered an "italiano toasti", after being explained with much very justified rolling eyes that it consisted in pesto, mozzarella and tomatoes (I mean, who am I to ask right? I should obviously come with an in-depth knowledge of the menu). It was served in white sandwich bread, which mimicked beautifully what a proper loaf should taste like if it was made out of paper. I was baffled by the creativity of this place into providing layers over layers of single use wrapping, at a time when it should obviously not be of our concern. If I could rate this place more that 5 stars, I would without...

It’s not often in Amsterdam that we decide to not return to a restaurant. It’s rarer still that we don’t finish our meal before we leave.

After being met with a disinterested shrug from someone who looked like he would have preferred to have been anywhere else, we were finally allowed to look at a menu and order some food.

The coffee was… bad. Uitsmijter served on cheap “casino” bread, with two eggs (as opposed to the more traditional three). Pancakes undercooked. Mine had a taste of dish soap in some bites. Which was ironic as the plates, cutlery and mugs were filthy.

Not the restaurant’s fault, but the people who gathered with their cigarettes on the tables around us (instead of any of the many empty tables further away) didn’t help us enjoy the meal more.

It’s worth noting that the reviews for this place changed from typically 5 stars, to 1 star a couple of years ago. Something has changed since those recommendations I received when I was new...

Visited this place for the first time so my comparison would be to my general experience with Dutch pancakes.

The food: there is a variety of choices to pick from so if you prefer savoury or sweet, you will find something. Also noticed that they have gluten free option available too. I got the natural pancake and topped it with powdered sugar and sirup. The flavor was nice but the sirup is nothing like Maple sirup. The pancake it self was a bit thicker than I was expecting but by no means bad. It tasted good and was satisfying.

They have other options too on the menu so if you do not want pancakes, don't worry.

The restaurant: Location is absolutely stunning and a beautiful place to visit when it's nice and sunny weather. It is located in a park so you are surrounded by beautiful trees and a fountain. Very friendly staff and also option to sit indoor or outdoor. Pet friendly both...