Yamazato — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Exceptional service, our waiter Chihomi was extremely friendly and attentive to all of our needs; never had an empty drink, made sure we were happy with our course pacing, was quick to apologize for the kitchen taking slightly longer on one of my courses, described every dish in detail even when we both had different menu sets, and gave us plenty of suggestions for things to try and do in Japan since we said we were wanting to visit soon :-) Very fun to talk to and a warm personality! Left us with a little personal note thanking us for coming (I love the little miffys she drew at the bottom! so cute)

We had the Icho Kaiseki and Aoi Kaiseki multi-course meals, with printed out menus to take home for each. There was not a single course on either that I disliked, I chose Yamazato because of my personal love for Japanese food but knew it would be a bit challenging for my spouse who is not as keen on seafood but he absolutely loved everything too. Presentation was beautiful for every dish, but the flavours are what really impressed me; every course had simple ingredients, but made with the highest quality of each. Some of my favorites were: beef sukiyaki (I loved the broth so much I asked to have the rest poured into my bowl so I could finish the last few spoonfuls!), grilled salmon (wonderful flavour and cooked perfectly), sushi (this was an added charge on my meal specifically in place of the rice for the Shokuji course which was suggested by Chihomi, it was all delicious but I'm still thinking about the fatty tuna almost a week later!)

We also had the drink pairings which were exceptional, shout-out to Paul Berger who served our drinks and explained each in detail, down to exactly which part of the course would make the perfect bite with each drink and information about where/how each was made.

Want to also include the other staff in this review, everyone working here was very attentive and asked us how we were enjoying things as the night progressed. Little touches like helping with our chairs when we got up/came back from the bathroom go a long way, it really feels like the whole crew is trying to give you the best experience possible which I really respect as a fellow food service worker/manager myself!

Overall a perfect dinner experience, we spent 3+ hours comfortably dining and chatting with eachother and the staff :-) Would...

Earlier my rating was just one star (not like the Michelin-one, but the Googlekind). We were very disappointed with our earlier visit. The food was not bad, but this is a high end restaurant with a Michelin star we expected more. However, the restaurant contacted me because of my review and were ashamed that we were disappointed. They suggested to return on another occasion and try again complementary to the chef.

I need to acknowledge that even superior chefs can have a bad day so we were very willing to try again and accepted their offer gracefully N thankfully. They were very friendly on the phone and in their e-mails.

And of course we understood that they would want me to change this review. However, they never even suggested it. We really felt they wanted to give us the experience that we came for the first time. And I honestly need to say that they succeeded. Sure, they will have put an extra effort hoping for a better review, but everything was really up to standards.

Still, the interior is somewhat outdated, but our seats were much nicer than the last time. This part had no carpet and that was a big difference. Tables are still a bit old and damaged.

Personnel was again really nice and now more professional, and we were explained (we asked) about the differences between workexperience that explained the different colors of the dresses.

The food was excellent this time. And our disappointment with the last time (especially the rice) was forgotten.

Last time we paid € 1.300,- in total (this time only for the drinks € 300).

The wagyu steak was excellent this time and we all were very excited about all tastes of all courses.

This time we were not rushed to an end and were asked if we wanted to wait for our next course.

This time we got what...

I had an unforgettable birthday dinner last Sunday. During my stay at the Okura Hotel three years ago, this restaurant caught my attention, and upon a friend's recommendation, I was excited to finally dine here. Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted with warmth and hospitality. The interior, ambiance, and atmosphere were all excellent, and the female staff, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, added a wonderful touch to the experience.

The food was exquisite: beautifully presented, thoughtfully explained, and tasted incredible. Our favorite dish was the Wagyu steak, which might just be the best Wagyu we've ever had.

The service was the best we've experienced at any Michelin restaurant we've visited so far. I would like to extend a special thank you to the main host, Chihomi, and her colleagues, who took such great care of us that evening. Not only was Chihomi incredibly kind, but she was also very attentive to every detail. For example, my partner noticed that Chihomi immediately recognized he was left-handed based on how he placed his chopsticks and glass of sparkling sake (which is a must-order), and later adjusted the plates, chopsticks, and glass accordingly. He mentioned that he had never had staff notice he was left-handed in this way at any other restaurant. We also appreciated how they asked about and took into account the pacing of each dish served, making sure the flow of the meal was perfect.

As a sweet surprise, I was given a miso chocolate cake in addition to the dessert for my birthday. And to top it all off, we received a small origami crane for good luck at the end of the meal.

Thank you, Chihomi, and the entire team at Yamazato. We’re already planning our...