Izakaya

Staying at the Sir Albert Hotel we were skeptical about the restaurant attached to the hotel. The concierge said it is one of the top ten restaurants in the city but our expectations were still low. We were so wrong. It ended up being one of the best meals we’ve ever had anywhere, period. Skip the guesswork and just order these five things (in this order): Crispy rice with spicy tuna tartar, baby spinach salad with grilled shrimp, Chilean sea bass (entrée) with Yuzu soy and Truffles infusion, side of roast cabbage, and chocolate snow with Vanilla Ice Cream and Honey roasted Macadamia Nuts for dessert. Some of these plates we wouldn’t have ordered if the waiter didn’t recommend them and we are so glad we took their advice. It all came to around 100 euros including a couple glasses of wine and the portions were perfect for a couple to share. Contemplated eating here a second night in a row to try more, decided not to and regretted the decision.

Let me get the bad out of the way up front, the place is a little expensive for what you get. I have eaten at some of the best Sushi places in the world and for some reason this is the one place were I consistently wonder how I spent so much for so little. Really the only thing holding back that last star for me.
The above out of the way, I am a big fan. Some really interesting dishes. The small concept dishes meant for sharing really work. Great place to bring a number of people and get to try a lot of great stuff. The Crispy Rice with spicy tuna tartar is a must and probably my favorite item on the menu. Great Tempura and Sushi Roles too. Make a reservation if you are coming for dinner but definitely worth the trip.

love love love this place!!! eveything on the menu is really good! The fish is very fresh and what really impressed me was that they had fresh wasabi that you had to make yourself!!!

We enjoyed a great meal here on a Sunday evening. We did not have reservations, but were able to sit at the bar. The service was excellent, everyone was very attentive. We ate:
Spicy Peruvian Tuna on Chips– Delicious!
Salmon, Yellowtail and Sea Bass Sashimi
Vegetable Tempura
Spicy Tuna Temaki– some of the best tuna we’ve had
Beef Toban– Seriously, the sauce on this is to DIE for
Would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Awesome dinner, friendly staff, but not cheap! Still we be back despite the €. Be ready to drop € 100 for small plates, but I would do it again.

Hip atmosphere, good service, great cocktails.
Spicy tuna to die for!
The desserts were impeccable! In fact on our way now to get more dessert after a poor dinner at the sister restaurant MoMo!!!

Dined here last weekend with my mother in law as she was visiting us and staying at Sir Albert. We were a party of 3. We had a really nice experience! Their concept is shared small plates, japanese/​asian fusion — I think inspired by the traditional Izakaya, hence their name =) Modern and trendy.
We chose to sit outside since the weather was nice and cool. Its a different vibe outside, more laid back so if you want to feel more hip and cute then the vibe indoors will be just that. I will also add that there was a really noisy obnoxious table of 6 or 7 people seated outside — I am also pretty sure that they were visitors. Perhaps they felt more loose sitting outside being with friends? But just because of that one time won’t deter me from sitting outside the next time… but something to keep in mind that again, more of a laid back vibe outside in my opinion.
Nice, sleek, modern design overall. I would say the dress was mixed, but more business-​casual I suppose.
Very attentive and knowledgable service – not just from our server, but also from the others that brought out our dishes. Normally what we are used to back in the states but now living here, this was very very welcoming ;)
Food was great. The seafood was cooked just right, and the duck we had was like butter. Presentation was really nice.
What we ordered:
Cocktails to start (I can’t remember the exact names, sorry!!) — cucumber saketini, basil gin mash, and a pink prosecco cocktail. Yum.
We ordered a la carte, but you have the option of ordering the chefs tasting menu of 7-​courses or your server can build a menu for you. Neat!
Okay…so I am copy-​pasting entrees from their menu that I remember we ordered:
BABY SPINACH SALAD
with grilled shrimps
SOFT SHELL CRAB TEMAKI (this is one handroll but you also have the option to get this as rolls so you can share with others)
UNAGI & HONEY COMB ROLL — So good!!!
PAN FRIED BABY SQUID
with Yellow Jalapeño Dressing
SCALLOP, INANIWA PASTA — served cold. Delicious.
with Yuzu emulsion.
SOY BRAISED DUCK
with Green Apple and Foie Gras
We also had two other dishes that the server recommended and modified just for us. Really cool. Both were seafood. Everything was delicious.
To end our dinner– I had an espresso martini (SO good!!), mother in law had port, and my husband had whiskey, neat. So, if you want one of their specialty dessert cocktails I really recommend the espresso martini (they can make it decaf as well.)
I highly recommend. Husband and I plan to return for a date night soon.

Excellent service, excellent food and drinks! We had a great time here! The atmosphere was fun and hip! The menu is amazing and so are the cocktails! The food server was great with the recommendations, over and over he gave us ideas of what to choose! The menu features shred items so order 2 starters, 2 sushi rolls and 2 main courses! And make sure to try their Chilean sea bass! Good service starts right when you step in! Oh! Make reservations, it’s quite busy and popular!!! ;)

Had lunch here earlier. The place was completely, and i mean completely empty so I sat at the bar. Service was understandably prompt and the bar man was chatty in a friendly way. I had the gyoza with wagyu and foie gras as a starter, which was succulent and juicy though would have loved a crispier skin with less oil. The chirashi Don is the best I’ve had in Amsterdam. It comes with otoro, salmon, octopus, tuna, what looked like mackerel and yellow fish (?). Nice accompanying bowl of flavourful miso and pickles. Highly recommended when you’re in the neighbourhood, I’ll be back.

My husband and I were staying at the hotel, Sir Albert, that the restaurant was in, and decided to try it out for dinner one night. We ate there on a Thursday, and were able to get the reservation the day of. We did the omakase chefs menu (7 courses), which was the perfect amount of food– not too little, and just on the edge of too much.
Everything we had was really delicious and fresh. I would highly recommend doing the omakase as well if you’re just visiting Amsterdam, so that you get to taste all the wonderful things the chef has to offer.
The restaurant is a little bit of a scene, and we almost didn’t eat there because I didn’t pack my tight little black dress or stilettos ;), but I’m glad we went anyway. The waiters were very nice and attentive regardless of the fact that we weren’t dressed to the nines. They explained each item that came out, and were happy to answer our questions. The music was loud, but not so much that we couldn’t have a conversation, and the people watching was very entertaining.
They do a simple breakfast service in the morning, but that’s more of a service for the people staying at the hotel than for the general public, and the food, while good, is nothing like the dinner menu.
However on Sundays, they do a brunch party for most of the day. Since we were staying at the hotel, we got to view the goings on as we were coming and going. The music was even louder, the dresses were shorter and tighter, and the heals were higher. They had dwarves greeting people at the door, and a drag show. The curtains were all drawn, and you had to be on the list to get in. It seemed really popular like how I would imagine Studio 54 was in its hey-​day. Not sure what kind of food is served, but people really seemed to be having a good time.

Super hip and cool. Sunday brunch is a bit wild for such a small space but if you are in the mood for ultra loud music and people dancing all around while you dine then this is the spot to be Sunday afternoons.
Dress to impress. Food is very good. Service was fast and friendly. Junmai Daiginjo saké was wonderful, semi sweet and smooth. Chilean sea bass and duck were delicious. Sashimi is ultra fresh yummy!
For me … I’ll be back but for a regular evening meal where I will be able to hear the conversations over the music. ;)

This place is clueless. They have a policy to kick out their customers after a pre determined amount of time. Regardless if they have slow service and you are mid meal they will ask you to leave. During a meal tonight they said we have to leave even though we had not finished our bottle of wine. The manager came over to the table and explained that it is their policy to the tables over every two hours regardless of where you are in your meal. I think they take too many reservations and then feel pressure to turn the tables over quickly to support this policy. In the end, the service makes this place a no go. I will never come back. They are rude. They are unintelligent. They do not respect their customers!

This is my second time here, and we ordered the same way. We handed the menu back to the waiter and said… Surprise is. And what a surprise it was… Again!
The corn fritter was delicious. Perfectly coked and light. The beef would nearly melt inside your mouth! I loved the foie grad dumplings… But I’m a sucker for foie gras.
We had the sea bass and it was a hit with the crew. The duck was… Ok. The scallop with mushroom were to die for. So many other dishes I’m losing track.
The cappuccino brûlée was better than promised.
The other surprise was the bill. 350 euros for 5, and I think we had 3 – 4 beers on the tab.
Hot spot. Make your reservations. They have two sittings. If you don’t mind eating late you will not be rushed. On the first seating they will start moving you to the bar around 9pm.
Would go again!

How about that, an Izakaya in the middle of Amsterdam.
An izakaya is a japanese tapas bar. Think tapas but japanese food. As with tapas, the drinks is a must and this place is well stocked. I enjoyed a few of their Japanese whisky. Sake selection seems to be limited. Most local were drinking wine and champagne.
Its dressy, and the crowds look great. Reservation is a must, unless you come early and sit at the bar, which I did and I think that was the best seat in the house. Eye candy galore.
I ate whatever the server recommended. The star was a razor clam sashimi with white asparagus with some white awesome sauce. Portions were smallish, so it went quick. Also in season were their white asparagus, which came with shitake mushrooms. also fantastic. The grilled meats were so so. somehow, it hard to beat US beef.
Pricey it is, but very entertaining and a good place to spend some time picking thru small plate, drinking fine whisky and people watch.

More choices on the brekkie menu, if one doesnt want to have the whole buffet! The restaurant is a bit cold because of the constant opening of the automatic doors. The customer service also failed to satisfy.
We ended up not ordering any food so cant say anything about it. Coffee was really good though!

Classy atmosphere, hip music, wannabe cool people, nice cocktails and great Japanese fusion cuisine. Staff is okay, but they insisted I’d take off my hipster hat… Sigh.