The Seafood Bar - Amsterdam

Maybe the most important research you can do when planning a trip is deciding where are you going to eat. Accommodations are secondary since who spends time in their room? But food is key and my research said we should run not walk to The Seafood Bar as soon as we hit the ground running.

Fortunately there is a new second branch (2 weeks old) of The Seafood Bar right in the center (Centrum) of Amsterdam at Spui 15, easy walking 15 minutes from our B and B.

Solli, my traveling companion, prefers to eat organic, pasture-fed and bio. I was thrilled when I checked the website.

The Seafood Bar uses exclusively day-fresh products of the highest quality. Our products are 100% natural with no additives.

When possible we use biological and Fair Trade products that have a transparent and responsible origin.

Wherever we can the fish we serve is line caught, MSC certified, selected and prepared with great care.
All music to Sollie's ears.

You're looking at the seafood display in the back. The owner was formerly a fish monger so freshness is key. Three years ago he opened the first TSB at Van Baerlestraat 5.

The glistening seafood reminds of classic 17th century Dutch paintings.

There are elegant displays where ever the eye lands.

I asked the owner who designed the restaurant. You can almost hear the waves crashing. He said he'd done it.

Because we were the first guests to arrive and a photographer was shooting at the bar, they asked if we'd mind waiting before sitting down. Then they gave us 'consolation' Zeeland oysters. Delicious.

We knew exactly what we wanted. The menu is on the website.

First, the out-of-this-world lobster soup (9,50) made from pulverized lobster shells!

Was it good you ask?

We'd set our hearts on the 'Fruits de Mer' plate (22,50).

Sitting up front at the marble bar, we didn't miss a trick and asked endless questions. The staff were adorable.

Ta Da!

Pretty incredible if you love seafood.

No wonder Dutch paintings are full of abundance.

The owner asked us to try his new chilled ceviche soups - salmon with coriander, cod with mango, scallops with blood orange.
Beautiful artistic plates.
Then we ordered a large canal boat to cart us away.
We didn't eat till breakfast next day and even then it was not easy.
A big dank u wel to The Seafood Bar for treating us like princesses!
And thank you to Pam and Ted for sending photos of their framed Paris Sketch letters.