Eating out, I didn't feel like it for the past few months....
A string of disappointments over sky-high prices for mediocre to bad food combined with even worse service ensured that, especially at home, I enthusiastically stirred the pans again non-stop.
Until last month. When I ate out no less than seven days in a row. A coincidence... also somewhat embarrassing, to be honest. This series started with a day when I was so tired that I spontaneously suggested we eat out again. We ended up at an Indian restaurant where I ordered my all-time favourite biryani along with mango lassi. It was so delicious and so lavish that I couldn't say porridge for the rest of the evening. The next day, my daughter and I couldn't choose what we wanted to eat so we suddenly found ourselves at a table at FEBO. Does that actually count as eating out? We took fries, of course. But what kind of pale noses were they? I complained right away. ‘Um, these fries aren't fried properly’. The fry specialist looked up irritated and replied: ‘Madam, the fries look pale because we just changed the fat’. I drifted off and then ate the tastiest fries ever. That makes one think. On day three, I went out to eat at Fumi with my team. With some reluctance (I abhor “all you can eat”), I let myself be persuaded anyway. And thankfully so, because it was a succession of goodies and the bill was more than affordable. Invited by friends, on day four I had lunch at IJver on the NDSM terrain. There I ate such a surprisingly delicious sandwich - smoked pastrami with chicken gravy - that I can hardly wait to go there again. So far, so good.
Cheered too soon. The fifth day followed the giga dip. Again by invitation (ahem... popular say J), we had reservations at a new casual bistro-style restaurant run by a star chef. Upon entering, no one looked up or around. Five staff members were extremely busy with... yes, with what actually? Once at the table, again after endless waiting, an employee approached and asked: ‘Can I help you?’ Hello friend, what do you mean by help? We are not in the dentist's waiting room. We laughed away our annoyance and ordered some dishes. After all, you don't want to spoil the evening beforehand. Fair is fair, the food was up to standard. But gosh what an all-around lousy service. We waved ourselves off, no one looked up or back again. Out of piety, I will not mention the name of this restaurant. However, I can assure you that it is hard for me not to lash out. Especially when I heard how many euros this evening cost. Expensive for little. The next day more than made up for this deception. At Café de Tros, the reception was exactly the opposite of the previous evening. ‘How nice that you are here!’ For the full 100%, the waiters here understand how to give your guests a genuinely warm welcome. Worth a nomination as far as I'm concerned. Go there soon and enjoy a great evening with fantastic food and only nice people. By day seven, I was growing quite dense and was spoilt for choice by eating out at home. Crisp fresh sushi of the highest standard. A worthy end to a week full of highs and only one low.
Full and sweet, I then necessarily went on rations to avoid having to buy a whole new wardrobe. The moral of this story? There isn't. There is, however, a clear conclusion. Eating out? It's still a bit like roulette. You never know in advance how the ball will roll...
Marianne Kuiper
Founder Efficient Hotel Partner & Music Meeting Lounge
Intermediary in finding and booking the perfect location
