On a recent trip to Amsterdam, we chose to visit The Duchess; and we’re pleased we did. The Duchess has a fine reputation for serving up impeccable Mediterranean cuisine, with influences from Italy to Southern France; all in a decadent ambiance complete with tiled flooring and exquisite chandeliers offering a candlelit dining experience.
When we arrived we were greeted warmly, and as we decided to begin our evening with a drink in the bar, we were shown to two front row seats at the bar, where we sat and watched the bar staff perform their craft. To kick-off our evening, my partner decided to order a Verbena Kir, which saw a mix of house made verbena liquor, topped with Perrier Jouët. Although not the most complicated of drinks, it was expertly created, and the verbena liquor was a real treat. I opted for the Pistachio Sour, which was a beautiful blend of Bombay Sapphire, citrus and pistachio orgeat.
We simply couldn’t resist one more bar-side treat, so we chose two of their Tomato and Soda cocktails, which saw a mix of Ocho tequila infused tomato, citruc acid, sugar and soda. We were also tempted by a couple of their Bloody Mary oysters which were complete with tomato, chilli and horseradish – a real delight!
“Every one of these dishes was as delicious as the last, with beautifully fresh flavours and the perfect balance of flavours.”
Following our aperitifs, we were shown through to our table in the main restaurant where we took our time browsing their impressive menu. To start, we chose four dishes from their Hors D’oeuvres section, including prawns in warm olive oil, marinated beetroot salad with salted whipped cream, crunchy zucchini with fresh truffle, and lobster and king crab salad with avocado and plumb tomatoes. Every one of these dishes was as delicious as the last, with beautifully fresh flavours and the perfect balance of flavours. This really set the tone of what was to come for our main courses, and we were left in great anticipation.
For my main course, I went for the grilled lamb cutlets and figs. There was really nowhere to hide with this dish, however its simple elegance was outstanding, with the grilled lamb cutlets being cooked to perfection. My partner chose the peppercorn strip loin with mustard sauce, which was equally faultless. As sides, we added The Duchess’ famous mashed potato with truffle that was just divine.
To accompany our meal, we chose a bottle of the 2016, Ca'Marcanda Magari, Bolgheri, Italy, which was the perfect addition. Being extremely smooth, it was exceptionally easy drinking, with a well-balanced palette of strawberries and cherries. Unfortunately, we left no room for dessert, but we were well satiated from such a wonderful dining experience.
Overall we had a lovely evening at The Duchess and will certainly be looking to return. It comes highly recommended by us as a fantastic choice of restaurant should you be looking for a great dining experience in Amsterdam.
The Bill: £65 per head
