Single/Mingle.

EUROPIZZA
Look, if you’re going to spend Singles Day eating pizza, do it while eating really, really good pizza. And do it sitting at one of the coolest venues in town. 

Not on your couch. 

Europizza is the embodiment of everything that makes eating in the North so special right now. It’s young, fun, creative and shows a little bit of a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Like most places in the North, however, it is consistently backing up all of that with a quality that cannot be questioned. The pizza, in particular, is really just a platform for the kitchen team to use as a vehicle for showcasing seasonality and flavour profiles. The toppings are an expression of whatever the team is enjoying. Nduja. Chicory. Leek. Rainbow chard. Walnuts. Broccoli. Comté. These are all examples of what you may expect to be presented on top of your pizza. 

To recap: bad pizza on the couch = no. Good pizza at Europizza = yes. 

Europizza has a few silent sleeper hits too. They are about so much more than pizza and you should absolutely consider kicking off your dinner for one with one of the specials, or ending with one of the desserts. (Both? Hey, why not? It’s Singles Day after all.) Hint: If they are doing their take on the Caesar Salad, do not hesitate. Order it immediately – individually dressed romaine leaves with blitzed breadcrumbs and fried cabbage leaves, all topped with shavings of parmesan.  Read the full Europizza review here.

TROEF
It’s a pretty standard formula in Amsterdam. A restaurant opens with a cool logo. That logo is stencilled onto a gorgeous front-facing window. The restaurant has a one-syllable name. The menu consists of 15 small plates and servers (artfully wearing smart aprons, or branded “workwear” from brands like Carhartt in an effort to be more laid-back) advise you – strongly advise you – to order “three to four plates per person”. Natural wine is by the glass but mostly by the bottle. And there is some countertop seating with views of the open-plan kitchen. 

So, like, why is Troef different? 

It’s not. It’s just better. 

And, while this may not be the most obvious option for a solo dinner, I’m here to argue that it is exactly what you should look for in a solo donner. 

Because nothing says I am happy and comfortable and content with my own relationship status quite like a plate of oysters. Nothing says it quite like potato rosti, dressed with luxurious caviar. Nothing says it quite like a luscious bowl of rich crayfish, mussels, cockles and Dutch shrimps, kicked up with spicy ‘Nduja. 

Nothing says all of this quite like ordering – and drinking – fizzy, elegant bubbles. Raise a glass to yourself on Singles Day. Read the full Troef Review here.

HAKATA SENPACHI
On the other end of the sliding scale is this wonderfully low-brow, yakitori-ya. Built around a ubiquitous hibachi grill, Hakata Senpachi produces various skewers of flame-roasted dishes, all crammed with deep, rich flavour. The handling of the chicken, alone, lets you know you are in an authentic yakitori-ya, with the skin, thigh, wings, heart and ground meatballs all getting treated as the unique and speciality cuts they are. Pork belly, shiitake, eel, prawns and aubergine are all treated with the same respect. Elsewhere, sushi, noodles, gyoza and various rice dishes provide a diversity that is surprisingly wide. A comprehensive sake and whisky collection is a strong supporting act to the big flavours on show. 

To eat food like this, by oneself, is an act of self-care. It is comforting and it is a celebration at the same time. Perfect for a dinner when you don’t need anyone else at the table. Perfect for a dinner when you don’t want anyone else at the table. 

BAR PIF
If a wine bar seems like an obvious place to hang out by yourself for a few hours, while you eat and drink delicious things, then don’t let me stop you. 

But choose a good one. 

Bar Pif is that one. Soft-boiled eggs are dressed with intense XO sauce and offset with mayo. Shaved charcuterie is dished up with pungent mustard sauce. Curried fried chicken slaps with Tandoori spices but finds room (oddly successfully) for Japanese-styled Kewpie sauce. Aubergine hits new depths with a mushroom reduction and is then lifted with bright basil. 

Of course, this is best enjoyed with a glass that stays full and, here, you have many choices on how you want to achieve that. Rhone Grenache, Burgundy Chardonnay, South African Chenin Blanc, or a classic Beaujolais. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure book with every option being a happy ending. Because Singles Day should be a comedy, not a horror story. Read the full Bar Pif review here.

Single/Mingle

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Andy Fenner

Celebrated food journalist, restaurant critic, and brand strategist with an impressive culinary background and passion for sneakers.

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