Plantbased badass: Meatless District
By Andy Fenner
Bilderdijkstraat 65-67, 1053 KM Amsterdam
BOOK NOW“Plantbased Badass” reads the sign hanging above the kitchen pass. Below that are traditional butcher’s hooks. Very badass. Instead of carcasses, or primal cuts, however, these hooks simply hang decorative lights.
This is the contrast throughout this clever eatery. It feels like you’re in the trendiest part of New York’s meatpacking district. Dark, stained wood. Repurposed industrial fittings. Hanging lights that could be part of a car workshop. Leather chairs and crystal tumblers. It’s…well…it’s cool. Very cool.
Instead of the famous/infamous meat of the aforementioned suburb, the menu is entirely built around plant-based food. A burger revolves around a pea-protein bun and gets additions of vegan “cheese”, but also sports classic, expected toppings like dill pickles, red onion and tomato. It’s smeared with a housemade sauce that would convert even the meatiest of meaty meatheads. Another “burger” showcases a kimchi pancake-type-thing that reminds one of a latke. Fried until crispy, it is covered with a robust gochujang mayo and a smoked tofu that adds a bacon-y note. It’s really, really, really good.
Breakfast is covered with clever substitutions for sausages and eggs, with a sandwich menu offering up fillings like mixed shrooms (portobello, king oyster and chestnut), fried and served with pea guacamole on sourdough toast. Again, meat is not missed here. Not at all.
Dinner is more ambitious, with MD producing skilled versions of tuna tartare, bouillabaisse and even fois gras (cleverly dubbed “Faux Gras”). All using vegetables and plant-based ingredients, it’s inventive stuff.
An organic wine menu and a very well-considered cocktail menu add to the feeling that you could bring anyone here, even a non-vegetarian. I like the fact that they use real food, not additive-laced ingredients. They seem less obsessed with pretending to be meat, and more focused on simply producing delicious food.
We need more vegetarian menus like this.
Meatless District
The Space: Dark, moody. Meatpacking-district-vibes.
The Base: €40 – 50 pp
The Face: Vegans and veggies but not in a hippy-tie-dye-we-live-on-a-commune way.
The Ace: Massive shoutout to the sweet potato fries. This is served with an appropriate mayo:chip ratio (no tiny ramekins here). Order a bunch of these to shut up any hardened carnivore.
The Veg: Umm…duh.
Opening Hours: Sun-Mon, Wed-Thurs 17:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:30-23:00
Images from meatlessdistrict.com, © Meatless District
BOOK NOW
Similar Tastes
-
Bottleshop
-
Amsterdam East, Birthday, Brunch, Cocktails, Date night, Day Drinking, Dutch, Eat at Bar, Family Friendly, Fine dining, French, Fun, Good for Groups, Impress Friends, Late Night, Modern, Natural Wine, Solo Dining, Terrace, Troef, Vegetarian, VibeyTroef
-
Kaap & Tein
-
Amsterdam East, Birthday, Casual, Cocktails, Date night, Dutch, Eat at Bar, Fine dining, Fun, Good for Groups, Hip, Impress Friends, Late Night, Modern, Natural Wine, Solo Dining, Terrace, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vibey, VRRVRR