Lekker500 — Top 500
Restaurant Scheepskameel stands as one of Amsterdam’s enduring culinary institutions. Housed in a spacious industrial building on the former Marineterrein grounds, it serves excellent, modern cuisine. Quite exceptionally, the wine list features German selections exclusively. The atmosphere is lively without ever tipping into chaos, allowing for easy conversation amidst a pleasant hum of chatter. The staff is attentive, welcoming, and deeply knowledgeable.
We opt for several dishes from the concise menu, where vegetables take center stage. A standout is a delightfully crisp rösti featuring garden peas, pea shoots, romaine lettuce, pancetta, and a rich noisette sauce. Among the mains, you’ll encounter an unusual yet superb combination of roasted red beet and grilled asparagus accompanied by lamb kidneys, a soft-boiled egg, cauliflower, and sorrel sauce, paired alongside a succulent pan-roasted chicken ballotine served with wild garlic, lightly blanched kohlrabi, and a refreshing Noilly Prat sauce. Simply outstanding. Both desserts are classic and delightful: a tartelette with cream and fruit, and a shortcake featuring balsamic-marinated strawberries, milk ice cream, and shiso cress—modestly speaking, a delicious dessert. We are joined by a friendly sommelier who provides expert guidance and insight into the wines. We enjoy carefully selected, vibrant bottles such as the 2021 Grüner Silvaner from Knewitz and a dry Chardonnay from Bassermann-Jordan’s Ruppertsberg vineyard. The portions aren’t particularly generous, and we missed a starchy accompaniment, meaning you’ll likely need to order multiple dishes, which makes the bill rather steep. Yet, the Scheepskameel is more than worth it.