I finally got the chance to try out restaurant 212! It has been on my bucket list for a long time so I was very excited!
212 is a 2 Michelin star restaurant in Amsterdam, run by Richard van oosterbrugge and Thomas groot, two powerhouses of Dutch gastronomy. They have only a few tables Arnout the open kitchen, where you can see the team in action! They serve either a 5 course tasting menu or à la carte. We went with the tasting menu.
Our first amuse was already on the table when we arrived, which was a nice subtle addition. It was a cheese stick with oude Beemster (old Dutch cheese),orange, and fennel. Nice humble start 7/10
Second amuse was North Sea crab served in the claw, with sour cream and lavender. This one was fucking amazing with deep flavors. You almost feel disappointed because it is only a small amuse instead of a full plate! 9.5/10
Third amuse was a ravioli filled with shiitake mushrooms, and foie gras and umeboshi on top. Very interesting flavours here and the ravioli really exploded in your mouth! 8.5/10
Final amuse was built up in 3 layers, first a gelee made from a turbot consommé, then a layer of imperial caviar, and finally finished table side was ice cream made from oysters and hazelnut. Very intense flavours here with a lot of fishy notes from the oyster ice cream and caviar. Perfect portion because I wouldn’t want more because of how intense it was. 8/10
Our first course was mackerel filled with a salad of quinoa, and a sauce made with tomato and elderflower. Very fresh flavours and a very good first course to start with! 8/10
Second course was an open ravioli of flat oyster with cabbage, salted lemon and sauce made with oysters and kamille mile. Didn’t like that we got oyster again in the menu. This one did not hit the mark for me either, very mild flavour and nothing really stood out. 6.5/10
Third course brought me fully back in! Seabass puffed on the scales, with eel, cauliflower, and a beurre blanc made with sauerkraut. This one was a big step up from the last course! Very deep flavours en the crunch from the puff scales was super interesting! This one has been on the menu for quite some time and I can understand why! 9.5/10
The main course was lamb grilled with wild garlic, together with clams, asparagus, and nori with a lamb jus. Very much a spring dish that you cannot go wrong with! Nice flavours and very sufficient as a main course! 8.5/10
Before dessert, we were offered to extend our experience with a cheese course, which of course I did not pass on. They bring out this cheese trolly which perfectly connect with the table. You can choose 5 cheeses and it comes with different breads and jams! You can almost never go wrong with a cheese board! Very nice. 8/10
Our pre dessert was a small spoon with ice cream made from chocolate & Roquefort, a type of blue moldy cheese. Very interesting combination, even though I do not like blue cheese that much! 7.5/10
For dessert, you have 2 options. Their signature apple dessert with ginger and salted caramel, or a strawberry dessert with goats cheese ice cream. I choose the apple, which was very flavourful, and I can see why it has become a signature, also from the unique presentation! I did which it was a little bit bigger! 8/10
For friandises, we got a signature Dutch classic, oliebollen, together with madeleines, canele’s, and baba au rum, before finishing off with a couple of chocolates all filled with different flavours. At this point I was so drunk that I forgot what all the fillings were, but they were very good! (Expect for the orange one, I really disliked that one). All in all, a very good ending to our meal! 8.5/10
This was an amazing experience, and I can see why they have held 2 stars for so many years now! It is up there as one of, if not the best restaurant in Amsterdam! Service was very personal and attentive, with a lot of dishes being finished table side, which is always a nice addition. In terms of wines, we skipped the wine pairing and just ordered a couple of bottles for the whole table. The wine list is very French focused, with only a few options from places like Spain and Italy.
All in all, I had a great evening! If I had the money, I would definitely visit it again soon to try some of the à la carte options!
by kayvtrigt