dutchgrub
What others said: Tripadvisor.com Iens.nl Mark Bittman for The New York Times: “This was the most expensive restaurant of my visit, but it also featured the most interesting food.”
lue Pepper Reliable restaurant reviews by foodies for foodies. This month we visited Blue Pepper, a sophisticated Indonesian restaurant in the centre of Amsterdam. By: Dutchgrub
lue Pepper is a contemporary Indonesian restaurant that really stands out from the crowd. It serves rijsttafels (rice tables), the most popular authentic Dutch/Indonesian dish, but elegantly served as individual dishes rather than the usual ‘family style’. It’s located near the centre but distinctly removed from the tourist crowds.
7.5
Round-Up Cuisine: Indonesian Neighbourhood: West Atmosphere: Sophisticated modern Price pp: €60 to €100
Details Open 6pm-10pm, closed on Tuesdays Public Transport: Tram 7 or 10 to Raamplein, or a 5 minute walk from Leidesplein Parking: Q-Park Amsterdam Byzantium or Credit cards accepted: Yes Wheelchair access: Yes *Price/Quality ratio
Blue Pepper Nassaukade 366 +31 (0)20 4897039 www.restaurantbluepepper.com Map reference: 8 C6
52
Amsterdam
magazine
Blue Pepper opened to much critical acclaim ten years ago. A Michelin star past at restaurant Spandershoeve in the 90s, an Indonesian fusion menu and an über-cool blue decor have earned executive chef Sonja Pereira rave reviews from local critics and international food experts alike. It’s lost some of its edge over the years but still serves great innovative food.
And indeed it’s blue! Inside, the walls and the ceiling are painted solid marine blue. The decor is further highlighted by the cold light from small halogen lamps and the small, tunnel-like space. We quite liked the cool vibe but can imagine that others may find it oppressive.
Happy Taste Buds? Customer Service Interior P/Q* ratio
Q-Park Amsterdam Europarking
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‘The service was somewhat sluggish’
The Outcome
Final Score:
Michelin background
Modern twist
The food was great. Blue Pepper works with prix fixe menus ranging from The Sultan and I, which offers 20 individual dishes at €70, to a lighter and cheaper Summer Special at €44. The dishes are Indonesian with a modern twist. We loved the amuse-bouche of chicken won tons, with just the right crunchiness in the crust and lots of different flavours. Monkfish with lemon grass, shrimp with jackfruit and a spicy glassnoodle soup with a quail’s egg were other highlights. Blue Pepper is happy to substitute some red meat dishes and also offers a vegetarian menu upon request. The wine list is short but broad, including several New World options that go well with spicy food.
Free tap water
The service was somewhat sluggish as there was only one waitress serving. But overall we enjoyed the slow pace as the individually served dishes kept us entertained. The option to pay by credit card, free tap water and air conditioning are other plusses that unfortunately are still not standard everywhere in Amsterdam.
Photo © Blue Pepper