To end our recent time in Amsterdam on a high note, I debated a few restaurants (including a return trip to Bridges<\/a>, which I’ll cover in a later post), but ultimately decided on Vinkeles<\/a> (and yes, I’m also dying<\/em> to stay at the hotel it is connected to, The Dylan<\/a>). \u00a0For the only time in the trip I was able to wear heels (damn them taking up valuable space in my luggage and silly me for thinking I would get more use out of them!), I (gratefully) tottered just around the corner from our AirBnb<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reservations?<\/strong> \u00a0Made online with no problems. \u00a0Note that I did have to put a credit card forward to hold and confirm the booking.<\/p>\n

Ambiance?<\/strong>\u00a0 The restaurant is located after walking through the lobby, through another restaurant (?), and down some stairs. \u00a0While I love how almost everything in Amsterdam is historic (and therefore charming), I’m not sure how an allowance for additional toilets or a separate entrance weren’t planned ahead for (the restaurant obviously has no control over this fact, merely stating that it is a proper walk to visit the loos). \u00a0Long treks through the hotel notwithstanding, the hotel apparently used to be a nunnery, and the dining area is in what used to be the kitchen where the nuns used to bake bread (true story). \u00a0The dining room is intimate and quite posh.<\/p>\n

Food? \u00a0<\/strong>Wowzers. \u00a0Beautifully presented and masterfully created, each course was almost too gorgeous to eat. \u00a0My only notes would be about balancing the proteins. \u00a0I recall more fish\/seafood than I expected and, in my opinion, one too many courses in a row. \u00a0Additionally, while perhaps for a more refined palate, towards the end of the service, there was a dish (which I have since blocked out of my memory) that was a strange texture and had shavings of cold duck breast on top. \u00a0Both Hubs and I tried our very best to finish what was put in front of us, however, I couldn’t tell if it was the taste, the temperature, or my lack of worldliness, but it was one I could have dealt without. \u00a0The rest of the courses were absolutely divine.<\/p>\n

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Service?<\/strong> \u00a0Impeccable. \u00a0With steep steps and high heels, I was literally escorted up<\/a> (and down). \u00a0I once again tried to joke about serving New World wines, which was not well received. \u00a0Perhaps I should give up this attempt while dining at nice restaurants in Europe.<\/del> \u00a0Either way, I appreciated when the chef came out to explain one of our dishes – a nice touch. \u00a0Additionally, there was a very good balance of pacing in the meal – something I’m coming to respect is a special art form in itself.<\/p>\n

Cost?<\/strong> \u00a0We enjoyed the\u00a0Menu Alliance 5 Course (complete with amuse bouche(s) and desert, which was an additional charge, not that we were asked). \u00a0The meal was EUR90.00 per person with a wine pairing option at EUR47.50. \u00a0We also may or may not have had a glass of Veuve while waiting in the lounge…<\/p>\n

Hubs parting thoughts: I will never eat cold duck breast shavings again…<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To end our recent time in Amsterdam on a high note, I debated a few restaurants (including a return trip to Bridges, which I’ll cover in a later post), but ultimately decided on Vinkeles (and yes, I’m also dying to stay at the hotel it is connected to, The Dylan). \u00a0For the only time in the trip I was able to wear heels (damn them taking up valuable space in my luggage and silly me for thinking I would get more use out of them!), I (gratefully) tottered just around the corner from our AirBnb. Reservations? \u00a0Made online with no problems. \u00a0Note that I did have to put a credit card forward to hold and confirm the booking. Ambiance?\u00a0 The restaurant is located after walking through the lobby, through another restaurant (?), and down some stairs. \u00a0While I love how almost everything in Amsterdam is historic (and therefore charming), I’m…<\/p>\n

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