Meo's Colosseum | Surinamese Restaurant in Amsterdam — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Together with Eze The Glocalizer (@eze_theglocalizer) I went to visit Meo’s Colosseum to try out their menu for Black Love of Food (@blackloveoffood)!

This is not a fully vegan restaurant, but it has vegetarian/vegan options. And the authentic Surinamese flavours still come forward amazingly. It’s really an old-Dutch cafe type of vibe in terms of building style and wooden bar etc. But there are a lot of African and Caribbean elements woven into the decoration and interior. An interesting place to say the least. They have a beautiful community based collaboration going on with another Surinamese clothing brand: Patta!

What did we taste?

Drinks: Ginger Beer Markoesa drink

— Both intense and sweet! Which is something you’ll mostly get at a Surinamese place. Eze and I both have a sweet tooth so this satisfied us amazingly. The Ginger Beer was authentically made following a Surinamese recipe. The Markoesa drink is like a passion fruit lemonade. One of my favourite things ever to drink, so I was a happy girl!

Appetizers: Breaded fried plantain with peanut sauce (Bakabana) Cassava fries with salted shredded cod fish (Telo Bakkeljauw) Home made fries (which they gave us extra!)

— Classics! Probably the best bakabana I’ve tried till date. Very nice and crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. And not too greasy as well. Peanut stew was delicious, and I’m picky when it comes to that. The Telo Bakkeljauw was really nice too and a bit of a surprise. I’ve tasted many different versions of bakkeljauw but this one seemed a little less sweet than I’m used to and also more fresh. So less artificial flavor enhancers (big fan of that)! The Telo becomes a bit dry when you leave it to cool for too long, but that’s just how it works with fried cassava. The potato fries were simply amazing with a nice mayo to accompany it.

Mains: Surinamese authentic noodles (Bami, vegan) Vegan Roti

— Both really amazing. Eze hasn’t tasted much Surinamese cuisine before and therefore went on quite an adventure. I’m not new to the kitchen however but the flavors were really authentic and great, even with the vegan versions. Then you know what’s up. They know how to cook here and you feel the love being put in the dishes. We loved it and the portions are large!

We literally didn’t get to desserts because we were stuffed lol.

Meo’s Colosseum, thanks so much for your hospitality and love. May many more people come to invest in this black-owned authentic place in one of the hearts of Amsterdam (Oud-West). Shirley is such a warm person with a beautiful vision and she deserves all the support she can get!

You can find the video of our experience on our page...

Last week we visited a Surinamese restaurant with high hopes, but unfortunately the experience left us underwhelmed.

When we arrived, it took quite some time before we received the menu or were able to place our order. The staff seemed occupied, and although I had a question about the menu, the person assisting us did not know the answer.

We ordered two roti chicken and one roti tempeh. The roti chicken was okay, but it lacked sauce /juicyness, which made the potatoes feel a bit dry. I also missed the usual side of pepper /spicy sauce and pickles. These were not served with the dish, which was a pity. Perhaps they assumed we would not want it, as many Dutch guests prefer their food mild, but for us it would have made a big difference in flavor and balance.

The food took quite a while to arrive, and no one came by asking for another round of drinks. The staff member appeared quite busy chatting with colleagues, which made the service feel inattentive.

As for the roti tempeh, my table mate allowed me to try a bite, but unfortunately it was not enjoyable. The seasoning was extremely strong and lacked balance. We missed a touch of sweetness to round it off, and in the end neither of us wanted to finish it. That rarely happens and felt like a real shame.

All in all, the food and service did not meet our expectations. I would not return and would rather order takeout from another...

If you’re looking for amazing Surinamese cuisine with an incredible variety of dishes, Meos Colosseum is the place to be! The food is always absolutely delicious, with so many choices that you’ll want to come back again and again to try everything.

The atmosphere is welcoming and warm, thanks to the amazing team who work there. Everyone is friendly and makes you feel right at home. A special shoutout to Shirley, she’s incredibly kind, helpful, and always brings a smile to every visit.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Surinamese food or just discovering it for the first time, Meos Colosseum is a must-visit. Trust me, you won’t be...