Expectations exceeded at Bloem op IJburg
By Andy Fenner
IJburglaan 1289, 1087 GJ Amsterdam
BOOK NOWExpectations. They’re tricky. The danger, naturally, in having them, is the possibility that they are not met. That means disappointment. This is especially true in food, with so many establishments putting healthy budgets into creating “the brand.” Now, look, I love a cool brand as much as the next dude. Give me a cool logo and a snappy story and a well-convened interior with nicely designed menus. Yes, please. I’m into that. That said, it does mean that you have a certain pre-perceived idea of a restaurant before you arrive.
But do you know what else I’m into when I go to a restaurant?
Really delicious food.
I know. Crazy.
Now, I tell you all of this because I did not have massive expectations when I visited Bloem op IJBurg. A fairly…random…location. Not much signage. None of the bells and whistles splashed across their social media pages. Not much at all really. Low key. Like, low, low.
And guess what? It humbled me. In the best possible way. Overdelivering with every bite.
Bloem op IJBurg may not have any of the Instagram-worthy fittings and fixtures that seem to replicate one another, as “hot” restaurants open up. No. Instead, it has someone who greets you with a big smile and a handshake. It has real, attentive service. It has an owner in the kitchen, on the pans. It has character.
It also has delicious food.
The menu is scribbled on a blackboard and rotates often, sticking to the traditional Italian headings of Antipasti, Primi, Secondi and Dolce. (Insalata for bonus points.) This means you’ll see a diverse range of ingredients and techniques on offer. Yes, you can go there and order a lasagne. Yes, it will be amazing. But you can order a dozen oysters, or a grilled ribeye or a crown of chicken, stuffed with truffle mousse and garnished with shaved truffle. (I did exactly that by the way and it was fantastic.)
You can order a pizza with mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. Of course you can. But you can also order a plate of linguine vongole, with a generous amount of clams and a perfectly balanced sauce. You want some parma ham and melon? Of course they do that here. But you can also get a perfectly prepared cut of beef (this also changes, depending on what is good) to share. In other words, they do a lot here ranging from quick and easy meals to more indulgent ones. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure book, except this is a story of Italian food. And every decision you make ends up being a good one.
Did I mention the tiramisu? Do not tiramiss it. It’s the real deal.
Do not judge this one based on anything, except the food and the hospitable people serving it. Come to think of it, maybe more restaurants should be judged on that.
Bloem op IJburg
The Space: Low-key, no-frills Italian.
The Base: €50 – 70 pp
The Face: Chilled, unpretentious people, who seem to know that their local is very, very good.
The Ace: In the warmer months, ask the bartender to make a scroppino. A tart, lemon-and-vodka-and-bubbly delight, these guys do a good one.
The Veg: Lots of options scattered throughout the menu.
Opening Hours: Tues – Sat 17:30-21:30, Sun-Mon Closed
Images from bloemopijburg.nl, ©Bloem op IJburg
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