Gossler & Florin; a jewel in the Jordaan
By Seger Abels
Lindengracht 90, 1015 KK Amsterdam, Netherlands
BOOK NOWWe said it once, and we will say it again: the Jordaan is at the top of the list when it comes to Amsterdam’s prettiest areas. And the vibes? Immaculate. This, of course, can be debated, and I invite you to “fight me in the comments,” but our opinion is this: the Jordaan area is always just “right,” no matter what time of year. When writing this article, we are reminiscing about a visit to the Jordaan on a perfect ‘beginning-of-summer’ sun-filled evening. Life doesn’t get better than finding yourself here.
And then, somehow, it gets better when you know a meal is awaiting you at Gossler & Florin, a neo-brasserie style restaurant where the threshold is low and the quality is high. The aim of G&F is to offer high-end food (and wines, and service) without the sometimes oh-so-stuffy environment, the obligatory chef’s menu, and the sommelier that just keeps on going with the fancy-pants name-dropping. So what do they offer then? In this cozy, café-like brasserie, you can enjoy high-level cuisine without any fuss. Former head chef of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Daalder, Nigel Eccles, draws inspiration from international classics and adds a modern twist to familiar dishes like lobster, côte de boeuf, risotto, and sweetbread. The best part is that at G&F, you can also enjoy your meal at the bar or on the sunny terrace. The excellent wine list, with many options available by the glass, invites wine lovers to stop by for a good glass of wine and a delicious bite to eat!
When entering, the place feels laid-back but also immediately breathes quality. A nice ‘G&F’ embroidered napkin is the first sign that things here are not “just” being done, but always with thought and care. This fact keeps being the red thread throughout the whole evening. The wines are great, but with the beautiful and well-chosen glasses, they are even better. The food, of which we will share some highlights, all comes on outstanding plates which enhance the flavours and are eaten with beautiful cutlery. In the urban hospitality jungle of Amsterdam, which we of course love, filled with scrapped-together tables and chairs, it’s nice to sit in a well-built chair and at a table that is levelled and doesn’t need beer coasters under one of the table legs.
The chef draws inspiration from international classics and gives them a modern twist. Take, for example, the scallops à la Rockefeller, a preparation we, of course, know from oysters but here the scallops get that treatment. Very tasty. To stay in the seafood section, go for the clams in tomato sauce if they are still on the menu, and please do order the bread to go with it as you want to soak up all that tomato sauce. The main courses of the evening ranged from perfectly executed Côte de Boeuf to cooked-to-perfection cod with Hollandaise and bisque. And yes, that is quite a creamy and full dish, but with just a dot of very sour yuzu gel, the dish suddenly is perfectly rounded up. Chef’s kiss!
A favourite of one of the owners and in her words “not to be missed” is the veal sweetbread with a bouillon of shiitake and cauliflower. We, of course, listen to insider tips like these, and we are glad we did. Crispy, yet soft and bursting with flavour.
The wine list is extensive and filled with classic wines already starting at €32.50 (which is more and more rare in Amsterdam) and going up to €200. Also here we listened to the waiters on what to drink with what dish. The whole “wine arrangement trend” we feel is fading away, but when done right this can still be a true treat.
The Jordaan area already had everything and more to offer, but with G&F, a quality high-end restaurant is added to that offering, and we are here for it.
Gossler & Florin
The Place: Classic French dishes with a modern twist.
The Space: High-end and high-quality.
The Base: €60-75 pp
The Face: Corporate hotel guests meet local foodies.
The Ace: Keep a close eye on their ‘four hands dinners’ with famous chefs.
The Veg: The veg offerings are just as tasty.
Opening Hours: Tues-Thurs 17:30-01:00, Fri-Sat 12:30-01:00, Sun-Mon closed
Images from brasseriegf.nl, Gossler & Florin
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Gossler & Florin
Gossler & Florin; a jewel in the Jordaan