Ron Gastrobar Oriental can be found located in central Amsterdam, near to Vondelpark. This restaurant sees celebrity chef Ron Blaauw at the helm, who has developed a menu full of delicious Chinese-inspired dishes. Being located in such an enviable location makes this restaurant a popular destination for many, and on the night we visited we were pleased to find the place buzzing with a wonderful atmosphere.
When we arrived we were greeted warmly and shown to our table. We were keen to sample a cocktail or two, so decided to indulge in an aperitif. I chose a Negroni, which saw a mix of Bombay Sapphire, Campari and Rosso Martini. My cocktail was expertly prepared and was a fine example of the classic Negroni, affirming that the bar staff certainly know their stuff. My partner went for the Thai Basil Smash, which was a blend of Bombay Sapphire East, lime juice, St. Gemain and Thai Basil. This aromatic cocktail was big in flavour, offering a delicious start to our evening.
To begin our meal, we decided to share the Chang Fen, which saw rice noodle filled with seafood; in this case, squid and shrimps, and soy sauce. We thoroughly enjoyed this dish. The seafood was cooked to perfection, and the flavours were clean, delicate and perfectly balanced. It left us in great anticipation of our main courses.
“Everything from the dishes to the drinks and the service was nothing short of faultless, and we will certainly look forward to returning during our next visit to Amsterdam.”
For the main event, we decided to share their Hong Shao Zhu Wu Hua, which saw pork belly served with sweet and sour sauce and green apple, we also ordered their Xiang Kao Xian Zhu Pai - Ron’s famous spare ribs without the bone. Both of these dishes were outstanding, with the meat simply melting in the mouth. The bold flavour of the sweet and sour sauce that accompanied the pork belly was a real highlight. We also shared a portion of their fried rice with XO sauce, which also didn’t disappoint.
To accompany our meal, we decided on a bottle of the 2015 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Cedres, Rhone, France, and we’re very glad we did. This wine was deep garnet in colour and certainly ticked all the boxes. It was full bodied, full of red fruit flavors with a balance of minerality. It made a fine addition to our meal.
Overall we were very impressed with Ron Gastrobar Oriental Amsterdam. Everything from the dishes to the drinks and the service was nothing short of faultless, and we will certainly look forward to returning during our next visit to Amsterdam. We would highly recommend it to anyone looking for Chinese-inspired cuisine.
The Bill: £43 per head
