Looking for a funky, playful fine dining restaurant in an up and coming part of Amsterdam? You’ll find all those buzz words in one place at REM-Eiland Restaurant in Amsterdam’s Houthaven.
A review of REM-Eiland Restaurant Amsterdam
REM-Eiland building
The building itself is an old (illegal) broadcasting station, with red and white cubes hoisted on grey poles. The REM building was relocated from the North Sea to Houthaven. The Houthaven neighborhood is just a short walk from Amsterdam’s Jordaan, Westerpark and even Central Station. Yet, somehow it feels like you’re in a whole different world. Think Rotterdam, with Amsterdam charm.
REM-Eiland is not just a playful fine dining restaurant. On the first floor, you’ll find the bar and kitchen, on the second, the dining room and on the third, a former helipad now rooftop bar with incredible views overlooking the IJ.
We went for dinner on a cold winter night, but I am very much looking forward to coming back this summer to enjoy a Friday or Saturday night. I hear they even have guest DJs.
The service
I eat out often in Amsterdam. And typically, you don’t find the best service in the city. Well, REM-Eiland stood out from the moment we stepped in the door. From the host to the bartenders to the sommeliers to the servers, everyone was simply lovely. Even the chefs in the kitchen were kind in directing me to the bathroom when I looked utterly lost. If you’re looking for great service in Amsterdam, definitely go to REM-Eiland.
REM bar
The bar is an eclectic narrow space. On one end is the kitchen and on the far side, some lower tables with board games. We started out at the bar, each enjoying a cocktail, me the spicy margarita and Mike one of the seasonal specials. We got to chatting with the very friendly bartenders, and soon enough, our table was ready upstairs. I wish we had had more time to spend at the bar, as the service and overall ambience was creative. The bar bites were also enticing, but I knew we were about to have a six-course dinner so I abstained.
REM-Eiland restaurant
After our cocktails, we headed upstairs to our table by the window. We had a perfect view overlooking the IJ. We enjoyed watching the ferries and shipping boats go by. In fact, I felt a bit like we were outside of Amsterdam altogether.
The menu
You can choose between a la carte or four, five, or six-courses. As you already know, we decided to go all the way. Six courses with a half wine pairing. This means we were served a half glass of wine with each course. The half pairing is only €30 per person, a great deal. In addition to being a deal, getting the pairing really extends the length of the meal, as the sommelier describes each wine in addition to the servers describing each dish. A full experience.
There was one wine in particular that surprised us both. I can’t for the life of me remember the name, although at the time I was convinced I would never forget it. The wine is made in the Netherlands. It’s slightly sparkling and full of interesting notes (okay, yes that’s a terrible description, I know, but I liked it, that’s good enough for me).
The courses change regularly with the season and from week to week, so I won’t bore you with all the details of a dish you may never eat. Instead, I’ll tell you about a few of my favorite courses.
Menu highlights
First highlight, the bread. Yes, I love bread, we all know that by now. This was a tear apart warm-centered gooey sourdough with a crunchy crust just how I like it. It was served with a yuzu butter. I wish I didn’t love bread so much, I always spoil my dinner. So I limited myself to just one slice…ok, ok, I had two.
Next highlight, the second course. A spin on pea soup, or in Dutch, snert. The snert was served with a fancy scallop, garlicky bread, grilled lettuce and potatoes and paired with a drier white wine.
My third favorite dish was a langoustine risotto. I adored this dish and would have licked the plate clean if it were appropriate to do so in public. Last, a sea bass with an interesting earthy matcha puree and kale chips. Mike hated the puree, my matcha loving self, loved it
Go to REM-Eiland
I’d recommend REM-Eiland for a special occasion or rooftop cocktails with a view. Overall, the service, atmosphere and price were hard to beat in Amsterdam. I can’t wait to go back to REM-Eiland this summer for cocktails and DJs on the rooftop.
Make a reservation at REM-Eiland. Looking for similar places to eat in Amsterdam? I can recommend Restaurant De Kas, or explore some of my other Amsterdam blogs.
