Restaurant Felix 360: dining out like a culinary roller coaster
It used to be a printing house, the headquarters of the Communist Party and a party venue for alternative youth in the sixties, and since the end of last year Felix Meritis on Amsterdam’s Keizersgracht has been a restaurant. Boom, then corona hit, and Felix’s sommelier, chef and maître were at home. Not for long, because they had a brilliant idea: a 360-degree food experience with all the trimmings, in the circular concert hall.
There were takeaway meals and wine pairings, but everyone was still happy that the restaurant was allowed to reopen. Unfortunately, keeping a metre and a half between all the guests in the restaurant feels a bit like playing tag in a jungle gym. Luckily, Felix Meritis has a concert hall, a large circular space that will not be used for the time being, because of course events are not going ahead either. During a brainstorm, the overenthusiastic sommelier Saskia Smeenk, chef Floris van Straalen and maître Sander van Loenen Martinet all came up with the same idea at almost exactly the same time. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ Saskia asked the maître. ‘Let’s do it!’ The concert hall became a restaurant, and not just any restaurant: the trio creates an evening-long experience in which music, visuals and food intertwine and enhance one another.
Mysterious menu
The menu is shrouded in mystery. A card on the table, visual projections on the walls, music from the speakers and an aperitif of champagne with a splash of this or that – the party can begin. How can I describe the experience without spoiling it? Summary: we receive a letter from the crab that later ends up on our plate, there are lollipops and M&M’s, a brilliant piece of meat and Ramses Shaffy sings to us. Sounds like an LSD trip? Correct, but sober – or, well, more or less, because the wine pairing packs a punch.
Mama, just killed a man
Sommelier Saskia Smeenk has composed a wine pairing like Bohemian Rhapsody: top-notch and impossible to pin down genre-wise. When she recommends a wine, you already know you’re going to drink something delicious before you’ve even put your nose in the glass. Her enthusiasm is so infectious that she could probably even tempt dyed-in-the-wool teetotallers into having a sip. Are you the designated driver? Saskia has also put together a non-alcoholic drinks pairing. A surprising grape juice, tea, or even a blend of bell pepper, elderflower and apple with every course.
On the roller coaster
We get a bitterbal on a pile of ribs, a snowball and the entire Vaalserberg, and then suddenly the appetisers are put back on the table. Huh? ‘We go 360 degrees around, so you end up where you started.’ That’s true, but when we’re standing outside, it feels as though we’ve done a few loops on a roller coaster: what an experience, what flavours and what impressions. Want to experience it too? Felix 360 degrees can be experienced from Tuesday through Sunday. More information and the option to make a reservation can be found on the website.
