On a recent trip to Amsterdam we decided to visit Lion Noir, which can be found located centrally in the city. Lion Noir is quirky restaurant that is split over two levels, offering eccentric décor which didn’t go unnoticed.
When we arrived at the restaurant we were greeted warmly and shown to our table. We decided to indulge in an aperitif whilst we perused the menu, and settled on two glasses of the delicious Veuve Clicquot; the bubbles made for an ideal start to the evening.
To begin our culinary experience, I chose the tuna tartare which was served with poached quail eggs, sesame, avocado cream, shiso tempura, lime caviar, srirach mayonnaise and horseradish. This made for an absolutely wonderful dish, with the flavour of the wonderfully fresh tuna being accentuated perfectly by the other elements of this dish. My partner chose the pheasant rouleau with winter truffle, baked duck liver, chicory salad, brioche and parsnip, complete with a Pedro Ximenez reduction. This was a complex dish with wonderfully rich flavours and it was wonderfully presented.
“The menu promises a lot, and luckily the cuisine does not disappoint.”
For our main course, I chose the duck breast with polenta fries, candied duck leg croquette, madame Jeanette, sprouts and a duck liver and Madeira sauce. My partner chose the Black Angus steak served with chestnut cream, chantenay carrots, silver onion, baked mushrooms, baby broccoli, boeuf bourguignon stuffed wonton and a red wine sauce. Both of these dishes had an abundance of wonderfully deep flavours, and the respective meats were cooked perfectly allowing them to simply melt in the mouth.
To accompany our meal, we opted for a bottle of the 2014, Mercurey Rouge Chateau de Chamirey, Burgundy, France. This wine was medium bodied and offered a smoky palate of rich red fruits.
The staff throughout our evening at Lion Noir were extremely welcoming and we were left wanting for nothing. The menu promises a lot, and luckily the cuisine does not disappoint. We wouldn’t hesitate to return on our next trip to Amsterdam and would thoroughly recommend you to do the same should you find yourself in the area.
The Bill: £68 per head
