Hotspot: Feel like you’re on holiday in your own country at Boótoe
Feel like escaping to the Caribbean without having to travel to the other side of the world? With all kinds of delicious BBQ dishes and an extensive rum menu, you’re in for a treat at Boótoe in Amsterdam-West.
We walked in and then
We instantly felt cheerful: not only because of the colorful interior, but also because of the friendly welcome.
Most expensive drink on the menu
The pitcher of Venezuelan rum punch (€39.50 for 1 liter) with Diplomático Mantuano, Plantation pineapple, pineapple and orange juice. We didn’t taste it, though, as we went for the Caribbean Paloma (€8.50) and a Mexican Paranubes rum (€6.00).
Most notable drink on the menu
The rum tastings, where you get three different types of rum. You can choose between the ‘Flight to the Islands’, featuring a rum from Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica (€14.50), or the ‘Mid-South Flight’, featuring a rum from Mexico, Nicaragua and Brazil (€15.00). Add some cassava chips and you really feel like you’re on holiday.
Most notable dish
Do you love jerk spices? Then you’re in the right place. Jerk chicken, jerk sirloin, grilled corn or sweet potato fries with jerk sauce: they have it all. But definitely try the salt cod croquettes from the snack menu too (7 for €7.25).
Interior
If the colorful picnic benches outside don’t cheer you up, the interior certainly will. Fifty shades of green are alternated with yellow, pink and red. There’s no shortage of color. Admittedly, the pink wall with green slats reminds us of an extremely long Hangman word. Or Morse code. But it has its charm. It may sound like a huge riot of color, but it’s really not that overwhelming. Wooden chairs and tables, black rattan stools and tropical plants keep everything balanced.
Intimacy factor
If you don’t mind gnawing on chicken and licking your sticky fingers on a (first) date, this is a great spot. Don’t expect ‘Oh sole mio’ romance, but rather genuine Caribbean conviviality—so it’s also a lovely place to hang out with friends.
Ideal for
Anyone who wants to escape the Dutch autumn and winter for a while.
Music
Exactly what you’d expect: reggaeton, dancehall and everything that makes you want to sway your hips and shake your booty.
We’ll come back for
The pitjel with satay sauce. And the rum dessert pairing, where rum is paired with pineapple, chocolate or coconut. Unfortunately, we had no room for that this time.
Value for money
The portions are generous, the food is well-seasoned and, thanks to the way the menu is structured (BBQ, sides and sauces can be ordered separately), you can easily tailor your order to your appetite.
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