RIJKS* x Renaissance open pop-up restaurant in Koepelkerk Amsterdam
There’s little chance that restaurant RIJKS* still needs any introduction, just like chef Joris Bijdendijk. Oh man, the food there is so delicious… And during lockdown, they proved that they’ve also mastered delivery. They were the first restaurant to deliver their starred meals to people’s homes, with great success. Sitting still is not for Joris Bijdendijk and his team, that much is clear.
Because now they’re coming up with a new (temporary) concept. Or rather, concept… A new location. And what a location! The entire RIJKS* team is moving to the Koepelkerk in Amsterdam for the time being. It’s a truly beautiful location; I didn’t know what hit me when I walked in. You can make a reservation on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and enjoy a five-course dinner with matching wines selected by sommelier Max van Bockel.
The best beurre blanc ever
And that five-course menu is truly finger-licking good. The first course is a green gazpacho with burrata that was so perfectly seasoned (if you ordered RIJKS*’s home-delivery menu, this one will look familiar), followed by scallop and then roasted beetroot with Tomasu beurre blanc… And that beurre blanc, my God. It’s just that I had to behave, but I would have loved to lick my plate clean. Funny: I seriously saw a man three tables away drinking the leftover beurre blanc from his plate like a bowl of soup. I couldn’t blame him.
Tender beef cheek
The tender beef cheek will probably also look familiar if you’re a RIJKS* fan, and it tasted if possible just a little bit better in this setting. It’s served with fries and salad. In any case, you don’t have to worry about leaving hungry here: the portions were genuinely quite large (and I’m a pretty big eater). Dessert was served with a sherry that, according to our waiter, looked more like motor oil, but whose taste was genuinely excellent. He was absolutely right, too. It didn’t look very appetizing, but it went down really well. If you still have room, you can also choose a cheese board from Kef. Delishhh.
So do I have absolutely no criticism? Well, just one thing; I didn’t understand the music at all. When we came in, Snoop D O double G was playing, and we ended with a rather unusual techno/trance playlist. It was a bit all over the place, but I’d be happy to volunteer as a DJ, you know. If the food is included, of course.
The five-course menu costs €60, and you can make a reservation via this site. Extra tip: absolutely order the pata negra beforehand… SO delicious!
