Hotspot: the lively Bar Fisk is your go-to if you love fish
Bar Fisk in Amsterdam’s De Pijp has been a favorite spot for fish lovers for years. Not only because of the delicious fish dishes – Bar Fisk breathes fish, from the interior to what’s on the plate – but also because of the lively, welcoming atmosphere of Tel Aviv and its equally vibrant flavors. I like to end a lap around the Albert Cuyp Market at Bar Fisk, and you will too, right?
As soon as you enter, it’s immediately clear: Fisk = fish. The lamp above our table is made from a fishing rod, the underside of the wooden bar has a scale structure, and even fish have been drawn in the restroom. If you didn’t know beforehand, it’s instantly obvious now: if you love fish, this is where you need to be. Take a seat at the long bar, which flows seamlessly into the kitchen, and watch the bartenders and chefs work right in front of you. Always fun to have a front row seat, I think. Want a little more privacy? Then grab one of the high tables.
Cocktails
Bar Fisk is also known for its delicious cocktails. The cocktail menu at Bar Fisk is light, herby, and fruity, with a focus on fresh ingredients developed to stimulate the taste buds. We start with a virgin cocktail, because even more than in a cocktail with alcohol, you can recognize the master’s touch in this one. It’s scorching hot, too, and from experience I know it’s better to start slowly. It comes with a breadstick, some matbucha (a cooked salad of tomatoes and roasted bell peppers, seasoned with garlic and chili pepper), harissa butter, and a little cabbage salad. Wonderfully refreshing!
Perfect for sharing
The dishes on the menu are meant to be shared and cost between €9 and €18.50; for the latter price, you get a whole sea bass. The focus is on fish, with a small number of vegetarian and meat dishes, all modern Israeli. If, like me, you can’t choose, you can leave the menu selection up to the kitchen. With the ‘Full Experience,’ you get a surprise menu for the whole table (€42 per person). Be sure to order an Israeli wine, too!
2x excellent!
We start with sashimi of corvina with tiger’s milk, crumbled pistachio, and a spicy oil. Truly delicious! The fish is incredibly fresh, the pistachio adds a lovely bite, and the oil is beautifully herby. Excellent! The smoked halibut with salted egg yolk is also a hit. The pickles that come with it are genuinely sour, so they’re for serious pickle lovers. The potatoes with dill are wonderfully soft.
Plenty of fisk in the see
But there’s more fish to come. The salted mackerel with eggplant and cherry tomatoes is so delicious that I actually don’t want to share it at all. Luckily, I don’t have to, because I’m allergic to scallops, so my dining companion gets to eat those all by herself – and she isn’t exactly upset about that. But my favorite dish is still to come: the sea bream fillet with chickpeas, yogurt, and pine nuts. An unbelievably delicious combination: crunchy and creamy, rich and fresh. OH. BOY.
I have almost no room left for the roasted cauliflower with spicy chimichurri and smoked almonds, but once again: divine. And oh, we’re not done yet, because the next dish coming out of the kitchen turns out to be for us too: fried calamari with tahini and the fresh Arabic herb and spice blend baharat. Brave as we are, we order a dessert as well. The cheesecake, with pita bread as its base, is made with labneh (strained yogurt mixed with salt) and the typical spice blend za’atar (my favorite, on everything!). Unique and very tasty! The date pyramid is for true salt lovers.
In short… go!
Because at Bar Fisk, they keep the dishes simple, yet fresh and surprising by choosing ingredients bursting with flavor. Think: bunches of herbs and fresh, mostly local, market vegetables. You can taste the lively influences of Tel Aviv throughout. The fish dishes are absolutely delicious, but vegetarians won’t be left out either; here, they put the same passion into their vegetable dishes. Count on around two to three dishes per person for a full stomach and a very enjoyable evening. The portions are generous: we shared seven dishes and two desserts in total, and that was more than enough. And when the weather is nice, the terrace is absolutely worth a visit too!
Bar Fisk, Eerste Sweelinckstraat 23, Amsterdam
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