Like many tourists, when travelling we stick to the well-known sights and also try to find some hidden gems. The same applies to restaurants in towns we visit. When in Amsterdam, the well-known restaurants like The White Room, Vermeer and Bridges serve great food and always draw a crowd. Here too, there are hidden gems and we went to see if Graham’s Kitchen is one of them.

Graham’s Kichen is in the city center and is a small restaurant with an absolute tiny kitchen. Next to the entrance is a bar where guests are welcomed into the restaurant. Because of the steps that lead up to the “first floor” (which is really about 1 meter or 3 feet higher) the restaurant is not suitable for people with walking disabilities. Disappointing, because it is a nice restaurant, but it is one of the old features of the building so it cannot be held against the restaurant. The lovely red leather seats are comfortable, but tables a bit on the small side. There is enough room between tables to not be disturbed by your neighbours.

On the evening of our visit, some time ago already, we were given a choice of a menu or a-la-carte dining. As usual, the set menu it was. It started off with a small amuse bouche, quickly followed by the first course. Where I am usually not a big fan of pumpkin or sweet starters, the pumpkin with baklava was interesting. The pumpkin was a puree, which was a bit sweet. Some slaw brought the necessary acidity to the dish. The spices in the baklava were there, but in the right proportions to complement the dish instead of overpower any of the other components. Not a dish I would have picked myself, but I am happy to have been served this to start the meal.

Some of the best known British dishes, next to shepards pie and scones, are probably the Yorkshire pudding and roast beef. This is exactly what the chef put on the menu for main course. Combined with grilled vegetables, this was something I had not eaten in a long time. Where the beef could have been a hotter, it was cooked well, juicy and tender.  Some horseradish brought a nice kick to the dish and a rich and flavoursome gravy completed it. This goes to show that when executed well (let’s forget about the temperature of the beef for now), classics can be a good (but safe) choice for the menu.

For dessert pear was the chef’s choice. Really the only thing to say about this was that I probably would have chosen a different colour plate. The dish itself was excellent as the pear ice cream really tasted of pear, unlike some of the ice cream you get in ice cream shops (which sometimes tastes of washing up liquid). Fennil and almond were a welcome addition, but I could have done without the port. Where there was not too uch port there, the flavour was a bit strong compared to the rest of the dish. Dispite the port, I liked the dish and it was by far the best dish of the day.

For the three course meal, you spend approx. EUR 40 and with some drink, you will have a good meal for approx. EUR 50. The restaurant does not compare to Michelin star places or some other good restaurants in Amsterdam. The food is definitely nice, but for the amount spent, I think there are better choices in the area. We keep looking for our hidden gem in Amsterdam…..