Cantina L’Esquina: delicious Mediterranean dishes in Amsterdam

The new Cantina L’Esquina has opened within walking distance of the RAI in Amsterdam. A wonderful neighbourhood restaurant with a Mediterranean influence and matching dishes. And an added bonus: the large terrace with sunshine all day long.

Cantina L’Esquina is impossible to miss. The restaurant, with its striking red awnings, is located in a corner building on the lively Scheldeplein. The name is a direct reference to the location—restaurant The Corner occupied this spot for years. Same corner, new name and new owners. And they are no strangers in Amsterdam’s Rivierenbuurt. Michiel Deenik, Neal Valentijn and Robin de Veen are known for restaurant The Traveller (on the other corner, across the street) and the neighbouring restaurant Visaandeschelde.

Robin worked at The Traveller for 3.5 years, but dreamed of having his own business. He is now one of the restaurant’s co-owners. For Robin, the circle is completely closed, by the way; the previous owner took over the business from his father, Ruud de Veen.

Colourful interior

The interior has been renovated, but not everything has been changed. It has become wonderfully colourful, though. That’s the signature style of the renowned agency Too Many Agencies, which also designed  Café Visscher in Leiden and Amsterdam restaurants Secret Garden, Gio’s by the River, Lolo and, most recently, THE SIREN with plenty of colour. The interior of Cantina L’Esquina is cheerful and colourful, combining low dining tables with seating at the bar.

Large terrace

The biggest draw is the terrace. Because, honestly, what a lovely place to sit. It is spacious (there is room for 75 people), lively and, when the sun shines, it shines here in full force. The idea is for the terrace to remain open not only in summer, but for much of the year as well, with heaters and a canopy. And are you wondering what that queue is which forms next to the terrace as the evening progresses? It’s for ice cream from Pisa, one of the Italian spots in the Rivierenbuurt—hence the area’s nickname the ‘Little Italy’ of Amsterdam.

No complicated fuss

You will also find Italian vibes at Cantina L’Esquina. Here, you can enjoy tasty bites in a relaxed atmosphere. The menu features dishes from various countries around the Mediterranean, such as Spain, Italy, France and Portugal. No complicated fuss, but dishes that let the ingredients speak for themselves.

Everything is served on classic plates bearing the restaurant’s name. The gold edges have already faded a little, and that’s intentional. Because, as Robin explains, Cantina L’Esquina may be new, but they still want it to feel as though they have been there for years.

We start with a few good bites, such as typical Spanish croquettas with jamón, fried calamari and prawns with garlic. A quick note about the use of garlic here: don’t expect overpowering clouds of garlic, because everything is perfectly balanced.

Secreto Ibérico Sobrasada

There is nothing but praise for the main courses too. We order the daily special—Secreto Ibérico Sobrasada—and it is a bull’s-eye. Sobrasada is a raw, smoked sausage from the Balearic Islands, made with ground pork, paprika, salt and black pepper at the ends (the latter to deter insects), and matured in a pig’s intestine. Secreto Ibérico refers to meat from the shoulder of the Spanish Ibérico pig. Here, the meat is sliced thinly and is incredibly tender and flavourful. The combination with the smoked sausage is heavenly.

The pulpo, served with crispy slices of chorizo, is also delicious. There are vegetarian options too, such as a great combination of green asparagus with artichoke, Parmesan and egg.

Spanish beer on tap

Alongside cocktails—no Amsterdam establishment can do without them anymore—the menu also features wines from Spain, Italy, France and Portugal, because ‘What grows together, goes together’. The house beer is Spanish Estrella Galicia on tap, making the restaurant the first in the Netherlands to serve it this way.

Good desserts

Be sure to save room for dessert, because they are excellent and very generous here. The Pêche Melba, a brilliant dessert created by Auguste Escoffier for Australian soprano Nellie Melba, features plump vanilla ice cream, freshness from the raspberries and rich sweetness from the peach. The tiramisu with amaretto is also a hit. And that they pay close attention to presentation is clear from the finishing touch on the tiramisu: a decorated ladyfinger, a tribute to the iconic Italian dessert classic.

Cantina L’Esquina is a wonderful addition to the neighbourhood and is easily accessible by both public transport and car. The restaurant is open from Monday through Sunday, 11:00–01:00.

Cantina L’Esquina, Scheldeplein 2, Amsterdam

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