I’ve met Odette before. She used to come by Café Restaurant Amsterdam when I still worked there. I can see that she took some inspiration from here for her restaurant Buffet van Odette. And rightly so. Sticky toffee cake should be on menu’s everywhere.

You can have lunch and dinner at Buffet van Odette. In the afternoon you can eat things like an omelette with truffle-cheese, raisin bread and old cheese, quiche or a salad from the buffet. And that is a plate full of delicious. Lentils, hummus, mackerel salad and Hartog bread. From five ‘o clock onwards it’s time for the amazing dinner menu. I’ll begin at the beginning. Liesbeth and I had planned a dinner weeks before. Somewhere outside, plenty of food and wine, chatting galore and cigarettes were our demands (disgusting, I know, and I’m mostly a health freak so even worse).

Buffet van Odette has one of the prettiest terraces in Amsterdam. On the Prinsengracht, under an awning if the sun is too bright and the warmth heaters go on at night, so you can sit forever. Many people cycling or walking by, so plenty to see (I love that). The menu. Very clear. Five starters, five mains, five desserts. We had eaten here before for Liesbeth’s birthday, so were familiar with the wines from last time. A delicious Picpoul de Pinet. Not too heavy, nice and crisp and you can drink it all evening (oof I should have known better).

We had the artichoke and charcuterie to share. All the dishes are made in a tiny kitchen, the products are mostly organic where possible and the waiting staff are young, hip Amsterdammers. As main course we had a (substantial) poussin with little roseval potatoes and asparagus with salmon and a poached egg. Finger licking good.

We saved just enough space for the sticky toffee cake. A batter from dates, butter and sugar with oodles of caramel sauce. Definitely a dessert to share, because it is very rich and I’m afraid you’ll need to run at least 70 laps around the Prinsengracht to work it off. Come on, it was Friday, so weekend when everything is allowed. I am giving you the recipe to the irresistible dessert. I can’t imagine anyone not liking it. By the way, it’s even nicer with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

Otherwise you’ll just have to go and have dinner at Buffet van Odette. Will you let us know what you think?

Buffet van Odette
Kitchen open from 10.00
Closed on Tuesday