Zoldering — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Zoldering was a disappointing and underwhelming birthday diner. Ironically its Michelin star could be mistaken with a one star Google review..

There are culinary disappointments, and then there’s Zoldering. A place that masquerades as fine dining while charging New York rent for a dinner that wouldn’t pass muster at a tired French bistro on the outskirts of Toulouse.

To kick things off we had a chicken liver toast that started the night at its paroxysm at the peak of what could have been but left us rolling downhill.

The food was a sad parade of bored dishes, each more forgettable than the last. The steak tartare was a crying for help as it was seen choking under a heavy avalanche of fried onions. It was culinary waterboarding.

The fish starter was passable just like lukewarm warm water on a summer day. But the lamb chops were seasoned with all the passion of a tax accountant, they tasted like a sunless Dutch January day: gray, bland, and borderline depressing. Even the Jerusalem artichokes, a vegetable with so much potential, were rendered utterly boring.

And yes, the wine list was respectable, if only because it distracted us from the main act.

Service? Adequate. But ambiance? Forgettable. Zoldering lacks the soul, the swagger, the grit of a Michelin starred restaurant.

Whatever panel handed them that star should revisit with a blindfold and a fresh palate. Until then, Zoldering remains a monument to culinary underachievement. Overpriced, overhyped, and...

One Michelin star wine bar/restaurant. We came for wine and nibbles so here is what I can add:

We did a spontaneous walk in later into our evening. The place was still bustling but the welcoming waiters freed up some space for us and we were seated in the first floor dining room. As we already had a full dinner elsewhere that evening we just opted for wine and snacks.

So first off, the wine list. The selection is broad yet focussed on interesting producers, with dozen or so choices I´d immediately pick. Prices seemed quite friendly, with mark ups around one over retail for what I have seen. I opted for a slightly aged Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru - Sold out. Second try was another slightly aged white Burg, sold out again. The presented wine list, both online and the printed copy handed out were out of sync with the actual selection. The sommelier apologized and this might be just bad timing, but generally this should not be happening, especially if this applied to almost all older vintages of white wines from Burgundy. After some back and forth a 2019 Chassagne village wine made it on our table, which was a good yet not on pair alternative.

Food wise we just had a very good pate and some nibbles with cheese, so I can't comment on the full dining experience.

Atmosphere was bustling and lovely, food and wine was very good, so overall a place I will definitely return to one day when in town. For a full meal, and maybe some...

Okay, so I finally made it to Zoldering on Utrechtsestraat, and wow, I'm still thinking about it! the food and wine were just amazing.

Every single course was just… chef's kiss. The squash blossom, local asparagus, oysters, rib eye, chicken, and octopus were all cooked to perfection. The octopus was perfectly tender, and the sauce was divine, or The rib eye was juicy and flavorful, and the accompanying vegetables were perfectly roasted

The sommelier knew their stuff. They picked out some wines I would have never chosen myself, and they were perfect with the food. That le pied de samson viognier was particularly delicious.

Honestly, the whole vibe of the place was great too. It was Cozy and intimate, It's definitely a place I'd go back to in a heartbeat. If you're looking for a special night out in Amsterdam, Zoldering is it. I can't...