Blij aan de Vecht — Restaurant in Utrecht

Being relatively new in town, one of the many ways to know Utrecht better is through its local restaurants. Blij is about 10 minutes away from my doorstep. It has a really good view of the canal and there are tables and sitting area outside, when the weather allows it. I was greeted by friendly staff, who acknowledged my reservation via Social deal and showed me to my table. The first impression is that I feel almost at home. It's amazing how the place is a combination of cosiness, elegance and simplicity. The Sam Sam menù is a very good formula because it allows to try more than one item, by having half portions. I got crispy mussles (amuse-bouche) on the house, crunchy with a tangy dip. The starter duo of Salmon-sushi à la Blij + the Tuna tataki was refreshing, with a little zing, followed by a tasty, flaky cod, lobster ravioli and a lovely salad that was an absolute surprise: not just the almonds but also the dressing of a balsamic vinaigrette. Service with a smile!!! Great value for money and among the best Sunday night...

Stellar restaurant. Absolutely awesome. I reserved two weeks ahead and told the guy we had one lady in our party with a healing jaw fracture. He said he would tell the kitchen and they'd see what they could do to work with that. Well... We went there and it was like they'd had a meeting that afternoon how to pamper my friend. Special attention from waitresses to menu suggestions, special instructions to the kitchen, special attention by the manager who came to see if everything was ok... I don't think I've ever seen a more attentive crew in my life. And that with a house packed to the rim and in full rush hour. Wow. Super kudos to the team, we felt so welcome.

And the food was awesome too. Original tastes, great choice, beautiful plates, fast service (even with a full house). Very obviously an efficient manager and a proud team. Very very well worth every euro we spent. Easy 5 stars, will most definitely...

I've been to Blij restaurant many times, but my last visit left me feeling very disappointed. It all started with my reservation - I booked a table for 5, but on the day, I was offered a table for 4. After some discussion, we finally got a table for 5.

However, my biggest disappointment was related to the new concept. It felt like every other restaurant; there was nothing unique or different about it that sets it apart from rum clubs or street food clubs. I used to love the small, unique dishes that were not typically found in other restaurants. But now, the food is basic, yet the prices have increased. To make matters worse, we got everything at different times, which made it even less enjoyable.

I’m leaving 2 stars as a reflection of last visit in the comparison to previous ones.

I will not come back if the concept will not be changed back to how...