True Indian hospitality at Miri Mary
By Frank Dekker
Van der Helstplein 15, 1073 AR Amsterdam
BOOK NOW“Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts is an undeniable modern classic novel that made me yearn to travel to India. I’ve often heard about the hospitality and kindness in India, just like Prabaker in the book. And would you believe it if I told you I’m experiencing some of this right now in Amsterdam?!
However, as I find myself sitting against the wall, quite low and closer to the ground than is typical by Dutch standards, a cute little table with a woven seat mat has me sitting slightly differently than usual, creating an exciting start to the evening. (Of course, there are plenty of ‘normal’ tables and seats too.) A rustic, mosaiced round table will soon be covered with Kaali dahl, garlic naan, and, of course, I have to try the spiced tandoori chicken.
The interior reminds me of an old classic English lobby, with a wooden bar and golden bottle racks, while the restaurant itself has a modern twist. Cocktails have a touch of Mother India, as Miri Mary calls them “Indianised” cocktails! Personally, I’m not much of a cocktail person, yet the Coconut and Kaffir Lime Negroni and Mary’s Gin & Tonic with cardamom and saffron are calling my name, “Frank.. Dude.. come and get me”. But my excitement for the traditional lemonade called nimbu paani wins! Summer is here, it’s time to smile! It’s the drink that tastes even better on these extra hot summer days. Some might say it’s the sign that summer is here! In the Northern parts of India, it’s being sold on every street corner. I can imagine this sweet, sour, and salty lemonade taking over the streets of Amsterdam.
The smell of freshly baked bread from the oven makes one truly feel alive! In my opinion, bread is life! Literally! I mean, there’s a French proverb: “Bread is the song of the earth.” So when I smell fresh-baked bread, I simply want to hear the crunch. The crackling sound as I take the first bite of my slice of Garlic Naan in this case is like music to my ears.
Before I get carried away talking about the music of Miri Mary, please ask one of the staff members about the Tandoori and simply listen, look, and give thanks!
The Kaali dahl at Miri Mary (12-hour smoked black lentils) is a true example of tremendously good food made with patience and not too much ‘poespas* – incredible! India is the origin country of the Ayurvedic philosophy, and according to this philosophy, copper utensils have a lot of health benefits. The incorporation of this style at Miri Mary makes me feel like they’ve brought a little of India to Amsterdam. Even the coaster on your table makes you wonder, and in my case, I asked what it’s about. But I’ll leave that to wonder. What I won’t leave to wonder about are the tandoori mushrooms with saffron cream – just order it and celebrate the chef!
I’m a true coffee lover, and it makes me even happier that tomorrow morning, after my “Indian in Amsterdam” evening, I can grind my Indian-sourced coffee beans at home! I still am a big fan of the Monsoond Malabar from Karnataka, Kerala, and the Nilgiri mountains of Tamil Nadu. Miri Mary sources coffee bean Attikan from Karnataka, so I had to take 250 grams of beans back to the home front.
My evening ends with the delight of the panna cotta and mango, but I’ve already made up my mind to be back soon. I might bring one of my favourite novels, Shantaram. As much as I can recommend for you to read the book, likewise, I recommend Miri Mary. Even better, bring Shantaram to Miri Mary and start your Indian travel in Amsterdam.
Miri Mary
The Place: A wonderland of timeless recipes combined with a modern twist.
The Space: Warm wooden interior, cosy vibes.
The Base: €50 – 70 pp
The Face: Young, friendly, and energetic.
The Ace: Miri Mary was born out of the frustration of missing her food and flavours from home. Well, that frustration has become a success!
The Veg: Plenty of veg options.
Opening Hours: Mon-Tues 17:30-23:00, Wed-Thurs 17:30-23:30, Fri- Sun 10:30-16:00, 17:30-00:30
Images from mirimary.com, Miri Mary
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