The Bottom Line
On the corner of a charming canal in Amsterdam's western canal belt, Proeverij 274 offers an inspired, international menu of fresh food prepared in imaginative ways. After my first meal here, I swore it was the best dinner I've had in Amsterdam yet. And the best part is that the high-quality food and presentation don't come with the typical accompanying high-brow atmosphere. Proeverij 274 keeps the ambience cozy, friendly and somewhat informal as it delivers delicious cuisine. (See below for the full review.)
Pros
- Delicious, refined food.
- Quaint, canal-side location.
- Food made with fresh products.
- Non-stuffy atmosphere.
- Not touristy.
Cons
- Small menu (usually five main courses).
- Meals can take a while.
- Not open for lunch.
- Small size -- make reservations or wait a while.
Description
- Address: Prinsengracht 274, Amsterdam
Phone: +31 (0)20 421 18 48 - Kitchen open:
Daily 6 - 10 p.m. - Location: Jordaan neighborhood, in the western canal area.
- Trams: 1, 2 or 5 to Prinsengracht (head west on canal); 13, 14 or 17 to Westermarkt (walk to Prinsengracht, head southeast).
- Scene: Feels local. Couples, groups of friends in an intimate setting of candlelight and canal views.
- Décor: Simply set wooden tables, richly-colored area rugs, Art-Deco-era chairs covered in green velveteen.
- Good to know: Make reservations to avoid waiting. If it's close to closing, check with the kitchen for what they're out of.
- Payment: Accepts major credit cards.
Guide Review - Proeverij 274 - Amsterdam Restaurant Review
Proeverij 274 feels relaxed and warm, with its simple wooden tables and the feel of a traditional Dutch eetcafé. What comes out of the tiny kitchen here will surprise and delight you.
Our group of four started by browsing an excellent wine list, deciding on a South African red (which we enjoyed three bottles of). For starters, we shared the Caprese salad (fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes) and the nightly special of grilled prawns. While both dishes sounded a bit basic, they tasted anything but. Caprese salad is on so many menus these days that I don't get that excited about it. But Proeverij gives the Italian-flag-colored dish a reason to stand proud. The mozzarella was a perfect balance of creamy and salty, while the tomatoes glowed with in-season redness. And the huge tiger prawns didn't fight with their simple citrus-butter sauce.
My main course was the table's favorite -- duck breast marinated "Chinese style," served with shitake mushrooms and an orange-oyster sauce (€ 23.50). The surprisingly large portion sat atop a mound of some sort of mash, all of it ladled with a silky sweet-and-sour sauce that should be bottled and sold. I stole a taste of my vegetarian husband's tofu fritatta with sweet potato pie, macacdamia pesto and truffle mascarpone (€ 21.50). Presented like several little presents on a spotless white plate, the combination was flavorful enough to make the biggest of carnivores forget it's meat-free. My friend also had the vegetarian main course and her husband was equally as pleased with his veal (which I don't eat, so I didn't taste).
In the end, we were all too full of food and wine to try one of the desserts, but I'm sure they don't disappoint. Proeverij comes from the Dutch word proeven, meaning "to taste" (the 274 echoes the restaurant's address). To say the least, the food here lives up to its name.
Our group of four started by browsing an excellent wine list, deciding on a South African red (which we enjoyed three bottles of). For starters, we shared the Caprese salad (fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes) and the nightly special of grilled prawns. While both dishes sounded a bit basic, they tasted anything but. Caprese salad is on so many menus these days that I don't get that excited about it. But Proeverij gives the Italian-flag-colored dish a reason to stand proud. The mozzarella was a perfect balance of creamy and salty, while the tomatoes glowed with in-season redness. And the huge tiger prawns didn't fight with their simple citrus-butter sauce.
My main course was the table's favorite -- duck breast marinated "Chinese style," served with shitake mushrooms and an orange-oyster sauce (€ 23.50). The surprisingly large portion sat atop a mound of some sort of mash, all of it ladled with a silky sweet-and-sour sauce that should be bottled and sold. I stole a taste of my vegetarian husband's tofu fritatta with sweet potato pie, macacdamia pesto and truffle mascarpone (€ 21.50). Presented like several little presents on a spotless white plate, the combination was flavorful enough to make the biggest of carnivores forget it's meat-free. My friend also had the vegetarian main course and her husband was equally as pleased with his veal (which I don't eat, so I didn't taste).
In the end, we were all too full of food and wine to try one of the desserts, but I'm sure they don't disappoint. Proeverij comes from the Dutch word proeven, meaning "to taste" (the 274 echoes the restaurant's address). To say the least, the food here lives up to its name.