[Food Review] Restaurant De Kas, Amsterdam's famed sustainable eatery, boasts a Michelin star and an extra green star
On Monday 24th of April, the release of Michelin guide's 2023 list of starred restaurants for the Netherlands included a change in the list, but De Kas successfully secured the spot on both listings – one star and the green star for it sustainability – which they had been awarded last year.
(Be sure to check out the video below for a one-minute video of Restaurant De Kas)
I first heard about De Kas when visiting Park Frankendael for Puremarkt. My friend mentioned that the restaurant in the greenhouse had an interesting farm-to-table concept, and after reading positive reviews, I decided to give it a try. The restaurant's reasonably priced menu and glowing comments piqued my interest.
De Kas' "From plant to plate" concept is evident from the moment you enter the restaurant. The greenhouse features a farm with herbs and vegetables, some of which are used in the dishes served. However, most of the 300 varieties of plants used by the restaurant are grown at their farm in Beemster Polder.
The interior of the restaurant exudes warmth, thanks to the woody and white furniture, and clever use of the greenhouse structure with lights.
As a welcome dish, we were served Tapioca chip and celery dip, which had a pleasant texture and sour taste. This was just the beginning of the sourness that continued throughout the meal. The bread was satisfactory, but not as impressive as the bread from French or German restaurants.
While the red radish struck me as an unconventional choice for a welcome dish, it proved to be a pleasant surprise. The staff suggested I try the radish with the dipping sauce, and it surpassed my expectations. All of the appetizers were refreshing, and I particularly savored the spring rolls. However, I noted that the appetizers featured sour, tangy, and tart flavors, which were consistent with those of the welcome dishes.
As I perused the menu, I realized that I had made an error in choosing my beverage. I ordered a glass of lemonade, not knowing that each dish would also have a sour flavor. If I had known, I would have opted for a different drink.
The first course arrived, and it was a salad made with burrata cheese and grapefruit with Champagne vinaigrette sauce. It was a visually stunning dish that also tasted amazing. The vegetables were incredibly fresh and flavorful, and each had a distinct taste and texture, however tI felt that the continued sourness of the sauce slightly overpowered the dish's appeal
The second course featured radicchio, herbs, vegetables, sauerkraut, and hazelnut salsa. Although the sauerkraut added a sour element to the plate, it didn't overshadow the dish's beauty and was well-balanced. I appreciated De Kas's attention to detail, including the colorful presentation of each dish, which reflected the colors of nature.
The last course was codfish served with vegetables and herbs freshly harvested that day, and couscous. The dish had a nice umami taste and was not sour, a welcome change from the previous dishes. The freshness of the ingredients was evident, and the dish was well prepared.
Although the serving time was longer than expected, the overall experience at De Kas was pleasant. Initially, I didn't take the farm-to-table concept seriously, but the freshness and expertise with which the vegetables were prepared changed my mind. The restaurant's strong suit is the beautiful combination of taste, texture, and color in each dish. The price was reasonable, with the 3-course menu costing €45, making it a worthwhile Michelin-starred dining experience.
Restaurant De Kas
Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE Amsterdam
+31 020 462 4562
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