R21 - fine dining without any fuss
in short…
a gorgeous restaurant in Amsterdam’s historic Lastage district
chef Orlando David combines fabulous food with warm hospitality
the perfect start – a glass of champagne with brioche and smoked eel
A chef with South American roots, trained in European Michelin-starred cuisine, cooking with local Dutch produce.
The combination is just as exciting as it sounds.
Orlando David’s restaurant, with the unpretentious name R21, won our hearts straight away.
Set in a beautiful historic Amsterdam house on the edge of the Lastage district, it is laid out over three adjoining rooms.
Each is as elegantly furnished as the next, yet the refined restaurant does not feel intimidating.
The welcome could hardly be warmer, and a glass of champagne is served here with French nonchalance as a delightful aperitif to accompany Dutch Zeeland oysters.
If you continue eastwards on a stroll through Amsterdam’s historic centre, you’ll cross small bridges and old canals to reach the Rapenburg peninsula.
In the Middle Ages, this was home to the shipyards and associated industries. From the end of the 16th century, the area gradually became a residential neighbourhood.
Today, it is pleasantly quiet here when we’ve had enough of the bustling old town.
On Peperstraat, the windows on the ground floor of number 23 glow warmly and invitingly.
Orlando David’s priority is to ensure his guests feel at home and would like to return. And as far as we’re concerned, he succeeds perfectly.
The team at R21 is fun and friendly and at the same time highly professional.
With every dish, we’re told exactly what goes into it.
And we learn that Orlando loves working with wild herbs and making his own oils and syrups.
So the sea bass ceviche with popped corn and avocado on a wooden skewer is topped with flowers, herbs and seeds.
The fermented celery and the langoustine with beetroot are also artfully garnished with flower petals and delicate herb leaves.
The veal cheek with wild chanterelles and Jerusalem artichoke melts in our mouths and is served with a wonderfully intense red wine reduction.
o round off the menu, we’re served a delicious chocolate mousse with pistachio crumble and buttermilk ice cream.
Although that alone could have been the perfect finish, we simply can’t resist the Dutch cheese platter.
Anyone who hasn’t yet discovered the art of Dutch cheesemakers and might think that young Gouda is the answer here really must have a change of heart in Amsterdam.
We are certainly big fans.
To explore Dutch cheeses beyond the R21, we highly recommend De Kaaskammer, the fantastic cheese and fine food shop on the edge of the Negen Straatjes.
With our coffee, we’re treated to one last little something from the kitchen – warm madeleines.
And that’s just right - for us, even with all its refined elegance, the R21 has a very special warmth about it.
And we’re always happy to come back here.
