Spectrum — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Over the past years, we’ve frequented many Michelin-starred establishments. During our latest visit to Amsterdam, our dining experiences included Bougainville, The White Room, Spectrum, Ciel Bleu.

Food

The dinner commenced promisingly with two distinct interpretations of Dutch shrimp. The first, a rich and harmonious blend of shrimp and black pudding, offered delightful contrasts. The second, featuring creamy macadamia and a sharp pickle, provided a refreshing counterbalance to the shrimp's sweetness.

Unfortunately, the "Snail" dish fell short with an overly tough texture that overshadowed its flavors. The "black truffle | codium" was visually striking but failed to impress taste-wise. The "Basque Cheesecake" was a disappointment, as the truffle and honey overpowered the delicate cheesecake flavor.

The Blue Lobster was a visual masterpiece that fortunately delivered on taste as well, impressing with its richness and complexity. Both the "Langoustine" and "Duck" courses were exceptional, showcasing peak ingredients and skillful preparation.

The vegetarian "Watermelon" dish was an absolute revelation, showcasing the chef's brilliance in transforming humble ingredients into a culinary masterpiece. I'm consistently impressed by vegetarian options and believe they truly test a chef's creativity and execution.

I appreciate Spectrum's ability to strike a balance between innovative dishes that push culinary boundaries and classic foods that guarantee satisfaction. This approach ensures a diverse and enjoyable dining experience for all.

Service

Spectrum has always been renowned for its impeccable service, but our recent experience elevated it to extraordinary levels. The staff's attentiveness and knowledge were unparalleled, creating an ambiance of refined luxury.

Spectrum likely offers the best, most comprehensive, personalized, and welcoming service you'll find. The restaurant operates with a family-like atmosphere, treating patrons as cherished guests rather than mere customers.

Cas, the restaurant manager, is a true maestro of hospitality. His welcoming nature extends beyond the restaurant doors. Cas is dedicated to fostering a thriving team environment, and this positive energy is palpable and infectious among the staff and guests alike.

Spectrum's service transcends mere task fulfillment or rigid Michelin-star protocols. it's about creating an unforgettable experience. Cas and his team have perfected the art of hospitality, and their contributions to our evening were as memorable as the food itself.

Wine Service

Cas also took on the role of sommelier for our evening. Despite our careful pre-selection of wines, he thoughtfully inquired about our preferences to ensure the perfect match. The bottle we ultimately chose was not only exceptional but also a rare find, as it was the last of its vintage. This added a touch of exclusivity to our dining experience.

Ambiance

Spectrum boasts a classic, clean, and spacious French-style ambiance. The space is inviting and encourages lingering, offering a perfect balance of intimacy and connection with the surrounding environment.

Value

Spectrum occupies the higher end of Amsterdam's already expensive dining scene. While the restaurant's innovative cuisine, and impeccable credentials justify premium pricing, it faces stiff competition from other establishments. However, these competitors often fall short when it comes to the level of service Spectrum provides. Considering this, Spectrum offers good value.

Verdict

Spectrum offers a commendable culinary experience, with a fair price point and an exceptional atmosphere. While individual opinions may vary on the food and overall value, the service is unequivocally and consistently outstanding. For these reasons, Spectrum earns a five-star rating in my book. I eagerly anticipate a return visit and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam or the surrounding area.

Best wishes to Cas and the entire team....

Many months after visiting this restaurant I’m still telling everyone how spectacular my experience was at Spectrum Amsterdam. Spoiler alert: this was hands down my favorite restaurant experience of 2023 in Amsterdam. This is what I tell everyone:

🥷Service (10/10) I rarely give a 10/10, but the service was impeccable. Right when you walk into the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, where you'll find restaurant Spectrum, the service kicks in. They took my coat and led me to the bar for a drink. I forgot my phone in my coat, No problem. They didn't make me go back for it. Just asked which pocket it was in and brought it to me. Amazing.

🤗What was interesting is that at the time they were working with a few “new” team members. If they hadn't told me, I would have never found out. Compliments to the people who trained them. The team at Spectrum restaurant really seemed attuned to each other. Fun fact, the junior sommelier was 18 y/o.

👀Adding to the amazing experience, we got an exclusive peek of the kitchen and wine cellar. Thank you to the team for this amazing add-on experience…

🍴Food (10/10) We took the regular tasting menu and the vegetarian tasting menu. Both were incredible, but the vegetarian menu was my favorite.

The food was very experimental, but with recognizable flavors. If you’re a foodie, you will LOVE this restaurant. 
A lot of the dishes shared a common thread, which was sweet/savoury/sour. I made me think of Asian food.

😍The dishes that still to this day stuck with me: (Vegetarian menu) Mashed potato (literally, kitchen staff comes to your table with a hammer and mashes the potato) with freshly shaved white truffle, cinnamon and egg yolk (vegetarian menu) WATERMELON with lemongrass, tomato, horseradish, pistachio, mint - It made me think of a croissant because of it’s shape
(vegetarian menu) Chocolates: they made chocolates with a reference to a few of the dishes we ate that night. It even came with a card. We treated it like a little game. SO FUN!

🥂Drinks (9/10) I started with one of their signature cocktails, Tulipa. It was a foamy mildly sweet cocktail with vodka, rhubarb amaro, grapefruit juice, elderflower, aquafaba. I loved it.

For the wine I chose a classic Meursault from 2019. First glass missed some body, but after some oxygen the acidity lowered and the oak and butter came through. Tip: give it time to air.

Later I wanted a pisco sour. They had it and let me choose what pisco I wanted to be used. The pisco sours were too mild for my taste, but the fact that they cold show me 2 types of Peruvian pisco's warmed my heart (since I am partly Peruvian). Another surprise effect.

💫Atmosphere (8/10) The restaurant is in the basement of Hotel Waldorf Astoria. It is intimate as it only hold around 10 tables. The interior is very minimalistic. I typically don’t like that, but since the food is so experimental, I understand that an other interior might give an overwhelming feeling. I think it’s well though through and balances the overal experience.

Conclusion (9,3/10) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wrapping up, Spectrum Amsterdam is more than just dining; it's an unforgettable experience that still has me raving months later. The innovative flavors, attention to detail, and personalized drink selections just added to the magic of the evening. Fun fact: we had so much fun we were the last ones at the restaurant... (see last picture lol)

It's EASILY my top Amsterdam restaurants of 2023. Here's hoping it gets that third Michelin star it so clearly deserves. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'll...

We had the pleasure of dining at Spectrum in Amsterdam. I don’t usually go for the vegetarian menu but this vegetarian menu was intriguing and I am very happy we made this choice.

Service from start to finish was perfection. Nestled within the Waldorf Astoria one would expect the typical pretentious Michelin restaurants I find are quickly checking - something I gleefully welcome. Spectrum was friendly and approachable yet still refined with an upscale vibe which we very much enjoyed.

The menu was so creative and not just in description but in execution which, as I mentioned, with a vegetarian menu is very difficult to accomplish.

Among our favorites were:

Green Asparagus: perfect balance of flavors, textures and beauty.

Celtuce: cannot even describe the magnificence of this dish. Every bite was different and completely unexpected het somehow homey and comforting altogether.

Watermelon: my personal favorite. Wow. Cruncy. Fresh. Comforting and heavy yet also light and uplifting. Beautiful plating but the masterpiece were the horseradish pearls. Wow.

Persian Lemon: one of the best desserts I’ve had at a Michelin meal. I find that it is very difficult to find creative yet decadent, delicious and beahtiful desserrs at many Michelin restaurants - you either get one or the other (many times neither) and, rightfullt so, bringing a complexity of flavors and feelings that come together in perfect harmony is a very difficult task. Spectrum has managed to create a dessert that is visually appealing and intriguing yet also matches the impression of the eyes through taste. Bravo.

Lagniappe: at the end of the meal we were given truffles with flavors from dishes we had tasted. Now, I normally don’t love this but these were outstanding and it was such a fun and creative way to remember each dish we had. I am mad at myself for losing the menu with the colored guide because it was so whimsical.

Worthy mentions:

Black Truffle: while the creativity was there, something was missing to make this dish a star. Delicious, sure. Beautiful, absolutely. Did I think about it days after? No.

Amsterdam “Dame Blanche”: I loved the playfulness of this dish considering you wouldn’t expect a fine dining restaurant to give you a marijuana leaf shaped chocolate. It was unique and definitely memorable and a nice ode to Amsterdam.

Misses:

Shiso: this dish was oversalted and almost inedible. Beautiful to see yet a complete miss. I hope they edit this dish because I was very surprised and had the rest of the experience not been outstanding, I would’ve been very upset to have been served something nearly inedible.

We had a marvelous time at Spectrum. Sure it was almost a four hour meal, but it was fun. It was eye-opening. It was beautiful and it was a delight...