Vinkeles, Amsterdam

“Jurgen van der Zalm really took us by surprise with this menu, as I hadn’t expected to experience such minimalist cuisine. The fact that the descriptions of the dishes sometimes raised expectations higher than they could be met, and that one couldn’t always taste all the ingredients listed – never mind. Despite this, the dishes were, on the whole, very harmonious, and often unusually deep and complex, particularly thanks to the excellent sauces. The fact that, of all things, a component of the main course – which was actually a good idea – didn’t work out due to the temperature should not happen in a kitchen of this calibre, but the service made up for it with a confident response and, in fact, it only slightly detracted from the overall impression. In general, the service was exceptionally attentive and warm throughout the evening. The wine list, in keeping with the establishment, features all the finest and most expensive wines, but also offers plenty of alternatives in the double-digit price range. And it is to the sommelier’s credit that he asks about your price range in advance – something I greatly appreciate and which spares the guest any unnecessary embarrassment. In any case, we felt we received excellent advice.” (Published in November 2025)

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