New restaurants in Amsterdam

New year, new list! Check out the new restaurants and hotspots in Amsterdam you really shouldn’t miss. In no particular order:

1. Eddy Spaghetti
Places from Riad Farhat (i.e. Biertuin, Smokin’ Barrels) are almost a guaranteed success and Eddy Spaghetti seems to be no exception. You can find this brand new Italian restaurant at the Krugerplein in Amsterdam Oost, that is getting just as fun as the Beukenplein. You can’t make a reservation, but the list of Gin & Tonics, wines and vermouth (the new ‘it’ drink, according to Riad) makes waiting a lot easier. Afterwards you’ll enjoy the ultimate burrata with homemade focaccia, spaghetti with langoustine and artichokes or panna cotta with raspberries and pecan crunch. Everything very affordable. Off to Eddy we go!
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2. Sir Hummus
You could already read about Sir Hummus in my list of food trends for 2015. This first hummus restaurant in the Netherlands is now finally open and I am already a big fan. Owners and brothers Guy and Dori are originally from Israel and think Amsterdam is pretty much an ideal place to live. With two exceptions: the bad weather and the lack of good quality hummus. These enthusiastic guys offer the perfect solution for this last issue with their brand new restaurant Sir Hummus, where it’s all about authentic hummus. They serve it with warm pita bread and pickles, but also in meals with “magic egg” or slow cooked beef. The basic recipe has been endlessly perfected and with result, because this hummus is crazy good. Incredibly creamy and luscious, very rich and at the same time so much lighter than the supermarket versions. The two brothers are very humble and really want to put focus on the quality of their product. What a genuine love for food! Good to know: all hummus is also available to take away.
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3. CT Coffee & Coconuts
I think there’s no place that’s been Instagrammed as much as CT Coffee & Coconuts, because it seems that every woman in Amsterdam goes here. Understandable, because CT is a big and lovely place, with a good menu and indeed a very photogenetic interior. The owner of Hutspot had been in love with this building on the Ceintuurbaan for years and was more than happy when it became available. In this gorgeously renovated spot you can come over all-day for breakfast dishes: from poached eggs with bacon to cure your hangover to coconut pancakes for the gluten free girls. But they also serve smoothies from a coconut, pumpkin soup with dumplings or burgers. You just want to spend the entire day here.
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4. Ô MAI
Real Vietnamese food used to be pretty hard to find in Amsterdam, but nowadays the spots just keep popping up. You could read here before about Nghia N Nghia, Viet View, Pho House and Pho 91 and now we also have Ô MAI at the Utrechtsestraat. This place is packed since it opened its doors and it’s easy to understand why. The interior is fairly basic – with the exception of an origami cranebird filled wall – but the food is impressive. On the menu you’ll find Vietnamese classics like pho, spring rolls and bahn mi (Amsterdam fell in love with these amazing spicy baguettes a few years later than New York) and of course Vietnamese ice coffee. Everything is made with care and respect to tradition, with lots of attention to details. And that shows: even the dipping sauces and pickles are worth a visit.
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5. The Breakfast club
The owners of Bar Brouw recently opened The Breakfast Club, next to the Foodhallen in Amsterdam West. Of course they serve an extensive breakfast and brunch here, but you can also pay a visit during noon or evening. Co-owner Benjamin was inspired by Scandinavian health food concepts and wanted to bring a piece of Scandinavia to Amsterdam. The Breakfast Club will satisfy every health freak with lots of juices, different grains and a wide range of dairy choices. But (luckily!) they also have dishes like ricotta flap jacks with honeycomb butter, Parisian croissants or buttermilk pancakes.
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6. Koffie Academie
Just opened on the Overtoom: Koffie Academie, a lovely new coffee place. With a homebuilt wooden interior (owner Lam used to be an architect), amazing sandwiches and coffee beans from i.e. India, this place is just a little different. Besides the coffee, all furniture and art objects are for sale as well. And in a few weeks Koffie Academie will be indeed an academy, because several coffee courses will be taught here.
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7. My Little Patisserie
French ex-marketer Audrey Krief followed her dream and took a prestigious patisserie education in Paris before starting her own patisserie. Luckily, she decided to open it in Amsterdam, where you can now find My Little Patisserie in the Eerste van der Helststraat. The place is specialized in cream pastries like choux, mille-feuilles and éclairs. Because what’s better than the combination of soft cream and crispy pastry? The beautiful tarts with just as pretty names (‘reve en chocolat’ or ‘my little fleur’) are baked fresh every morning. The same goes for the croissants: Audrey is a Parisienne after all.
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(picture credits: My Little Patisserie)

8. Café Carbon
It’s more than clear that the people in Amsterdam love their grilled chicken, see the popularity of concepts like Rotisserie Amsterdam and Van het Spit. Another new place to enjoy a great grilled chicken is Café Carbon in the Van Woustraat. Carbon is a mix between an Amsterdam brown cafe and a steakhouse and focuses on beer, meat and wine. It’s a concept of the owners of places like Huf and Bar Breitner, so I’m sure this will be a success.
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9. Guts & Glory
Daalder chefs Guillaume de Beer and Freek van Noortwijk have some fabulous plans for 2015 together with Daalder owner Frans van Dam. At the end of January they will open Guts & Glory on the Utrechtsestraat, where each month one ingredient will be the center focus of the menu. These gentlemen will be busy, because Guts & Glory will be open seven days a week and they will also still be involved at the amazing popular Daalder. I can’t wait!
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