When a friend recommended DE PLANTAGE to me, I knew immediately knew I’d like it. First of all, it’s INSIDE the zoo. Well, by that I mean it’s in a public part of the zoo that you can visit without paying for an entrance ticket. If you’re lucky, like we were, you also get to have a casual capybara sighting on your way there! (Check out my Amsterdam Instagram highlights if you don’t believe me!) If Mr. Capybara isn’t out and about, you will definitely be able to see some birds, particularly flamingoes. The flamingo enclosure is within throwing distance of the restaurant, although it was unfortunately under renovation with some scaffolding around it when we were there. Hopefully that has all cleared up now and you will be able to see these wonderful pink birds from your outdoor dining table.
DE PLANTAGE is beautifully set up in what looks like could have been a huge greenhouse. There are big windows all around the building, complete with indoor tree! However, if it’s a warm summer’s evening like on the night we went, you don’t want to be sitting inside. You want to nab one of outdoor tables so you can listen to the birds while the sun dips behind the tall trees.
The three of us each had very different dishes. Benedict probably had the heaviest dish of the evening – Breast of duck with Beluga lentils, grilled little gem, baked peach, pancetta and mirin (€21.50). I must say peach and duck is an interesting combination and quite creative compared to the usual citrus and duck! The duck is served quite rare, so beware if that isn’t your thing.
I had the Risotto with marinated chanterelles, fresh marrowfat peas, green herbs, sea lavender, poached egg and parmesan (€19.75). You’ll know from my German travels that I simply cannot say no to chanterelle mushrooms! As soon as I see them on the menu I have to order that dish, no matter how bloated it’ll make me feel. Yes, I’m trying to eat a Low FODMAP diet here! But sometimes I allow myself to indulge and just deal with the consequences. What a wonderfully, delicious summer dish! All ingredients were perfect except I could’ve done without the poached egg actually. It added a kind of ‘breakfast’ feeling to the dish – but I’m eating dinner here! Aside from that, 100% would order again.
Have I ever told you that DS really likes garlic bread? It’s kind of like me and chanterelles. Who can say ‘no’ to garlic bread dipped in delicious seafood soup?! DS’s Chowder of clams, mussels and whiting with leek, fennel, lime, herring roe and garlic bread (€20.50) was totally delicious. Perhaps not something I would order on a summer’s evening, but who am I to judge! I love that it wasn’t just a clam chowder. The added mussels and whiting really took the dish to the next level.
To finish, we all shared the Selection of four cheese with molasses figs and kletzen bread (€12.50). Yes I have a sweet tooth but I also love cheese! I was a bit surprised at how small the cheese pieces were, but the most surprising thing was the molasses figs! They were unlike anything I had ever had before. They tasted like they had been heavily soaked in some tasty alcohol.
All in all, we had a wonderful evening chilling out at DE PLANTAGE. I love European summers, most of all when you’re enjoying a meal outdoors. Of all the places we went to in Amsterdam, I really think everyone needs to have this on their to-do list! I imagine it would be really beautiful in winter too, sitting warm and cosy by the window.
DE PLANTAGE
PLANTAGE KERKLAAN 36
1018 CZ AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS
http://caferestaurantdeplantage.nl/en
