Nikki van Dijk’s favorites #5

Sommeliers, butchers and pub owners, as well as cookbook store owners, bartenders and chefs share where they like to eat and drink in their own city.

Nikki van Dijk runs hospitality business Mess together with Roeland and Tijmen. Their mission? To turn R’dam into a world city. They already have Biergarten and The Suicide Club, and from next week, Ayla as well. This new venue from the trio is located in the center of Rotterdam and is open 365 days a year from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. You can eat international tapas with a high comfort-food factor.

Where do you go for breakfast outside the house?

I like having breakfast at Picknick. They were the first to serve a great breakfast in Rotterdam, alongside the hotels. I like having the açai bowl there, but if I arrive later, I usually order the burrata with pumpkin and lentils or the breakfast board with bacon, eggs, etc. Oh, and if you still have room, the sausage rolls are highly recommended. You can also eat delicious pancakes in Vroesenpark. You do have to sleep in, because it doesn’t open very early.

What is your favorite bakery?

I get bread at Vlaamsch Broodhuys and go to Urban Bakery for something sweet. The owner of this bakery used to be a pastry chef at FG Restaurant (**) and you can taste it. Their apple pie is my favorite, but they also have good muffins and orange cake.

And your favorite butcher?

I don’t eat at home much myself, but when I cook for a lot of people, I go to the Turkish butcher on Bergweg. They have a good meat section where they cut the meat beautifully. The marinated lamb and chicken thighs are especially recommended.

Do you also have a favorite hole-in-the-wall?

I have two favorite holes-in-the-wall. One is Beijing Bao, where you eat Chinese street food. They have amazing pork and cilantro dumplings. The other is Gamasot, where they serve delicious Korean pancakes and very good soups. It is a shame, though, that neither place serves alcohol.

Where do you get the best burger in town?

I’m naturally a little biased, but Biergarten has an amazing chicken burger on the menu. I like it with extra bacon and avocado. The classic burger is made from the neck cut of dairy cow, which is so tender and delicious.

It’s a celebration— which restaurant do you celebrate at?

Japanese restaurant Yama is one of my favorites; the sushi is so good. The chef has an incredible eye for detail; every action is a ritual. They only work with set menus, though.  His girlfriend is the hostess, by the way, and she is wonderful at what she does. Make a reservation in advance, because it is always full.

Where do you drink the best cocktails?

Dr. (Westerstraat 25) is a speakeasy bar. You have to register in advance, so you go there for a ‘doctor’s appointment’. Based on what you’re in the mood for, they make you a suitable ‘prescription’.

Where do you go for a beer after work?

When I’m off, I go to Fenix Food Factory for a drink. And in the evening, to Rijk van Kralingen, an old-fashioned neighborhood pub with a true Rotterdam native behind the wooden bar.

Where do you get your late-night snack?

I think Jaffa on Witte de With for something with lots of garlic and spicy sauce.

Image: Picknick, Yama, Bao – Nikki photo: Jesaja Hizkia