Restaurant 21 — Restaurant in Amsterdam

We stumbled upon R21 in Amsterdam through Google Maps, and what a serendipitous find it was! Visiting from the US, we happened to book during a special “chef showdown” event—a collaboration between the chefs from R21 and L’Église in Zwolle, where both the menu and chefs were kept a surprise.

The experience was incredible. Each dish was crafted with impeccable techniques that elevated the flavors and surpassed anything we’ve tasted in Amsterdam. The dishes showcased creativity, precision, and balance of flavors. The presentation of every plate was stunning and the value for the price was simply remarkable.

The vibe was intimate and lively, made even better by the warm and knowledgeable staff. The sommelier carefully explained the wine pairings, which complemented the meal perfectly, while our server shared fascinating details about the event. Though we were the only table unknown to the chefs, they went out of their way to make us feel incredibly welcomed, adding a personal and heartfelt touch to the evening.

R21 is currently a Michelin fork establishment, but it’s clear they’re on a trajectory toward even greater recognition. This was, hands down, one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve ever had, and we can’t...

I really wanted to love this place because the reviews on Google maps are basically love letters, but our experience unfortunately was almost the same as the one 1 star review that was also a customer via restaurant week. I was so surprised during our meal that I went to check for the lowest ratings and was sad to see our experience was not unique.

Fantastic ingredients, but puzzling execution. The restaurant week menu seems to be a mediocre offering compared to their normal menu. We had duck as a main which was not great, the fat layer was scored as if to crisp it but it was chewy and felt undercooked, truly sad because it was otherwise nicely flavoured.

The highlight of the night for our table was the fantastic butter and a mushroom tartalette that we ordered from the “bites” menu. We also enjoyed the dessert which was panna cotta with blood...

My husband and I were so lucky to be able to eat here on our first night in Amsterdam. It is our first time visiting the city and there are so many options for dinner. I don’t think we could have selected a more wonderful restaurant. The decor is elegant yet unpretentious and understated, and I appreciate this because it allows my senses to be fully focused on the food. The flavors and textures of the dishes are among the best I have ever had. We were welcomed by Orlando at the door and every person we interacted with thereafter was warm, observant and professional. My husband, unfortunately, had major jet lag as we had our meal, and we needed to speed things some of the courses up a bit. They were so understanding and considerate. I wish to eat here again one day, and know this restaurant is really going to be so...