GIN

Wow, this was just an amazing experience … amazing, beautiful food and people.
I left Amsterdam and now live in London, so immediately it is difficult to keep up with new restaurants in Amsterdam. Having to pick one restaurant to dine with friends when back for a few days I was just very lucky to find out about Gin.
Gin calls itself a bistro, is owned by Jin, Chinese from origin, and therefore is called Gin.
Jin also likes gin and serves some special gins in his restaurant, so there is the other reason for the name.
Jin is an inspiring, creative chef and during our evening he regularly came to our table to explain what we were about to eat and also why he had created this specific dish. He shared some small stories about himself, his life and the cooking of his mother which inspired him to craft the beautiful, every month changing, menu.
I love it if in a restaurant I don’t have to choose anything and just eat and enjoy what I am given by the chef. The December menu, existing of 5 dishes, we had was just wonderful. The food was of excellent quality and the dishes were fun and creative and very tasteful. By using some non standard ingredients most of the dishes have a small twist and in most of the dishes I think I found a small link with the Asian cuisine.
A lot of attention was given to the drinks as well, starting with a local Gin & Tonic (made in Schiedam, but made by a guy from Amsterdam), then followed by a lot of wines, all of them explained by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable sommelier.
I can just highly recommend this place, try to get in before it gets too popular and busy.

That’s really annoying to diner for almost 3 hours. I wish I could spend this time another way. But the main course was fantastic. That’s why I highly recommend it in case you are not in a hurry. Wine list is also great!

I think we went on either an off night or expected a little more from GIN. I can look back at the pictures to remember what we had, but there was nothing memorable enough to recall more than that. Nothing that really wow’d us.
There are a few things I can say which might redeem them and might warrant a second visit. One, there was a table of 10 to 12 guys who must’ve all been getting the tasting course. This certainly must’ve caused the extreme wait times we saw. Two, the menu changes each month it looks like, so maybe in January it will be better. I feel that with the size of the kitchen there is no way they could keep up with full capacity. It could do with a removal of around 10 seats. For our five courses plus two quick starters it took nearly four hours! It was getting so close to midnight and we were tired of sitting there so we just told them to cancel the last course and bring up the check. I have NEVER done that in my life during a course menu.
To end on some positive notes. It was my birthday, so they gave us complementary glasses of Cava. This Cava was really to die for too! The staff are very quick serving drinks and bringing out the dishes. Along with a comprehensive explanation of each dish and wine, this was a very welcomed change. I would give it all another try but I might wait until January or February.

The name might bring to mind a cocktail bar serving gin and tonics, but this «neo bistro» is not a bar. GIN refers to the name of the founder Jin Hu, who is trained as a sommelier. He has assembled a team of creative chefs and professionals recruited from celebrated restaurants like Librije, Noma and Vinkeles.
The restaurant serves a set dinner nightly Mon-​Fri with 4 – 5 courses based on seasonal ingredients. We sampled several things but what stands out in my memory is the duck with popcorn and the dessert of smoked pineapple. The clams in a“net” of seaweed was also tasty and fun.
Wines can be paired with each dish and I recommend you do.
GIN also serves a fun Sunday brunch created from leftovers from the week. Such a great idea!
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