Gebr. Hartering

Exquisitely prepared food — we went for a birthday dinner on a Sunday evening — DECADENT!!!

We really like Gebr Hartering, we’ve been twice and managed to get comfy seats in the small downstairs area. It’s not a cheap (nor a small) meal. Between 6 – 7 courses and the service sometimes is ‘Dutch Frosty’. But it’s such a nice way to spend a long dinner and they have really good wine. It’s a place to settle in for 3 hours and just indulge and relax. The style is French/​Dutch modern, if that means anything. More at:

As a fancy mid-​week treat (well Tuesday to be clear), we stumble in for a meal that’s a little bit out of the way. I mean it is really just a moment from the Waterlooplein but for whatever reason, as you’re crossing the canals, this little spot always feels slightly further out.
First order of service, bread, butter and olives. All of this? Gooooood. Bonus amuse bouche of roasted and oiled peppers? Amaaaaaazing.
Then it was deciding what and how we wanted to eat. There is la carte and two different set menus for the night but for me, it’s the set menu all the way! This way, I can focus on what’s coming and not worry to much about whether I ordered the right starter with the right main and so on.
The two different set menus for the night varied slightly– I dubbed them Greedy (4 dishes) or Extra Greedy (6 dishes) and for a little extra, if you liked the sound of a slightly different dish (from the opposing menu), you can make a few tweaks to what was on offer.
So a set menu with all the best bits? Err, yes please. Two please. And all of this? Subliiiiiiiiiime. Checking off quickly, beetroot and goats cheese salad, yass. The cabbage with anchovies and almonds, omg yaass! Then two different styles of meet, slow cooked and flame grilled in front of us, yaaaassss! Finished off with crème brûlée and cheese, ohmygoooourd yaaaaaassssss!
And here comes the only strike of the evening because everything else was incredible. Since the restaurant wasn’t completely full that evening, our waiter regretfully informed us that he wasn’t able to offer too many different types of wine by the glass, as that meant opening more that might not be finished and. uhm… #firstworlddrinkingproblems basically.
Didn’t matter though, it was still a glorious evening with all the pluses. Next time we’ll try for a Saturday evening visit for the lux wine treatment, just to be sure!

Stop what you’re doing and go immediately to my new favourite restaurant in the world.
Best food, best wine, best location.
These guys should be given a Nobel prize in culinary arts.
Punto. Basta.

Gebr. Hartering is literally a hidden gem. You walk in and feel like in your neighbours living room. Your neighbours with the amazing gastronomical skills. The way they advise you about the daily specials and the fantastic wine. The way the chef juggles the pans in the small kitchen. It all looks so nonchalant.
And then THE food. I cannot praise ambachtelijkheid enough. Food prepared with love, respecting the season and the local producers is just the way it’s supposed to be. Meat from farmers who knew their animals by name (at least I like this idea). Parts from the whole animal, as little waste as possible. Creatively mingled with other exciting ingredients into stunning dishes.
I have to admit, I was impressed. I didn’t expect it but Gebr. Hartering became one of my favourites.

My attention was drawn to Gebr. Hartering by the server at the Hiding in Plain Sight (HPS) cocktail lounge which is next door. She said it was one of her favorite places to eat in Amsterdam. It was only after she recommended it that I realized it was also featured in my LUXE «travel guide».
The food was amazing. Much of it was prepared on a charcoal grill and the seared, carbony flavor of the technique was therefore solidifying theme running through all of the courses.
We ordered a four course tasting menu, and expanded to the full seven course tasting menu after our first two dishes.
The very first amuse was a lightly charcoal grilled leek that was sublime.
The second amused of crispy Kale and charred anchovy bones with anchovy sauce surpassed the first course, and I especially appreciated this quite derivative and revealing take on a «Ceasar» salad.
The first course was a headcheese (a coldcut composed flecks of all sorts of pig face and ear) with tasty accouterments of mustard and roast garlic).
The second course was charcoal grilled octopus that was perfectly prepared and paired with other flavors.
The third course was a charred brill (fish) with yummy sunchokes.
We added the grilled rib steak that was thinly sliced and scrumptious.
We finished with dessert… a divine crème brûlée with just a little bit of pepper, followed by an über delicious scoop of coffee ice cream flavored served with a few slivers of sliced pistachio and a few strands of candied orange zest.
This was the perfect way to end our visit in Amsterdam… but I might suggest you start yours here.
If you are deciding between Greetje (old dutch across the street) and Gebr. Hartering (new dutch) I’d have to encourage you to choose Gebr. Hartering.