Good times, great food & “Gezelligheid” at Troef.
By Neil Roake
Schollenbrugstraat 8, 1091 EX Amsterdam
BOOK NOWRestaurants are packed again with people seeking the conviviality of community and making the most of their dates, reunions, family and friends gatherings and by the looks of the table next to us… seduction. His Gucci loafers outstretched and her legs clad in white leather knee-high boots, folded into a sexy twist, said it all. Besides the art of seduction, there’s a lot to take in at Troef with its open kitchen creating an energetic buzz. Service is slick from a plethora of blue-stripe-aproned servers. A lone diner sat close by and ordered dish after dish which seemed excessive and sad not to share the spoils with another. However, he turned out to be the head chef, Raymond Plat, taste testing and adjusting his menu, plate by plate – always a good sign that chefs taste their own creations.
A lot of restaurants don’t survive because they are not owner-managed. In Troef’s case, the 4 solid gold partners (Niels, Raymond, Willem, Roderick), all with ace track records, are hands-on, running it from the floor upwards. They know first-hand who their guests are, what works for them and what doesn’t. I would think this is their Trump card, although they’ve probably got a lot more up their sleeve. One of the hits of the evening was a Dutch take on that old chestnut, the Caesar salad. Dutch Wilde Weide cheese and croutons, packed onto Dutch leaves of Red Chicory and served with a little drama over crushed ice. Nice touches are the complimentary olives and the dill-packed herb butter served with their bread. Now that the sun is shining a little brighter, the freshness of the Panzanella salad with watermelon, cumin, strawberry and tomato with moreish basil-packed dressing is lip-smacking. Fish lovers will have a good time choosing from a selection that boasts Sea Bass Tartare with trout caviar, Mussels with sweet & sour cucumber or a splash-out – whole crayfish for 58 euros. Meat lovers can enjoy tenderloins and ribeyes with béarnaise with a bowl of their Dikke Frieten with grindings of the long pepper. There is luckily no talk of sharing dishes! A big win for those of us who prefer to enjoy our own meal, as is.
Troef is a gathering place for the hunters and gatherers of good times and gezelligheid! Cosy up to the bar, share a table for two or when the weather behaves, hit the terrace and let the good times roll in a classy kind of way.
Troef
The Place: Modern with French med touches.
The Space: The previous pizza joint has been transformed into a slick space. Wooden tables inlaid with brass and leather, rattan oak chairs, slick tile work and an open kitchen. Tables for everyone from round to long to seductive tables for two.
The Base: €60-80 for 3 courses.
The Face: Older, younger, good-timers looking for more fun.
The Ace: The wine room opposite the kitchen with space for 3000 bottles. Walk in and pick out a bottle. Prices range from €30 to 900 for a Mouton Rothschild, a Premier Cru Classé from Bordeaux.
The Veg: As a vegetarian, the menu was adequate and refreshing to see the ubiquitous Celeriac moving out of the limelight and being replaced with Kohlrabi. Served as tagliatelle-style ribbons in a truffled sauce with thyme and pumpkin seeds.
Opening Times: Tues to Sat: Dinner 17:30 – 23:00
Images from troefamsterdam.nl and @troef.amsterdam, © Troef
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