Envy... for the green logo, the industrial space, the superb decor, the long wooden tables, the pending silver lamps with yellow lights, the high stools, the set of tables, the sexy lighting and the beautifully lit fridges used as decorative items. Envy is one of Amsterdam’s most envied restaurants recommended by the Guide Michelin for more than five years in a row. Envy is also one of "Trip Advisors" and "Booking.com" favorites.
Envy, a modern restaurant is designed like a long corridor where a kitchen welcomes you followed by a long set of tables and high stools. Decorated with style and finesse using the simplest of materials, the most special part is the wall of fridges looking like paintings.
The concept proposes a sharing menu: 4, 6 or 8 tasting plates or a-la-carte option. This restaurant focusing on the quality of its ingredients has been open for ten years.
- White asparagus
- Steak tartare
- Langoustine
- Makarel
- Artichoke
- Scallion
- Wild salmon
- Lobster
- Dutch dairy cow
- Iberico cheek
IPA beer, sparkling water and I waited for the order.
Finesse, style and art is how you can describe this restaurant’s food. Dinner starts with an amuse bouche and a soup of asparagus, snails on crunchy wanton chips and wasabi cream.
Dinner is served and plates properly introduced: portions are really small, a casual fine dining experience where plates are a decoration of food to satisfy your palate.
The langoustine with black radish and kimchi served with a bisque offers a journey from sour to acidic to extremely spicy in every bite. White asparagus, three blocks of ham, a creamy egg and a very sour kick; Interesting ingredients build together to create much more than a plate, more of an experience. Tender Iberico cheek with parsnip and a demi-glace sauce. Wild salmon with strawberry adding to it a refreshing smell and a touch of sweetness with tarragon and a creamy mousse.
Service is slow! There were only a few tables tonight and yet every plate needed more than 20 minutes; I don’t want to imagine the restaurant during busy nights.
Desserts are very awkward! Beetroot risotto or the tortellini are both bizarre, flavors the mind isn’t used to. The stickiness of a risotto with an excess of sweetness is disturbing. The tortellini is unpleasantly chewy and disturbing as well. Desserts are too complicated for my taste to say the least.
Service: a bit bizarre to say the least, waiters are professional but take too much time to answer. Service is too slow for plates that small and a restaurant not fully booked.
Loved the decor, enjoyed the food, appreciated the service but honestly nothing major will bring me back; plates are too small and not even shareable, service is slow and plates not fulfilling.
