Gorgeous bar with pickled vegetables on display.
The person who invented brunches should get a medal stat! I absolutely love brunch, so much that my birthday party last year was brunch-themed. So, on my quest to find brunch places I found two amazing ones in the two major Dutch cities, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. This is the documentation of my experience, a tale of two vegetarian brunches…
Rotterdam: Bertmans
I encountered Bertmans through browsing on Instagram and decided one day in the name of blogxploration, to check it out with my always willing to explore new places husband. The place is modern in a nonchalant kind of way which makes it cozy. Wooden tables, brick walls and a bar/kitchen which has on display their many pickled vegetables and gives it a lovely touch. We decided to sit inside, although their outdoor terrace is very lovely and has a major advantage: sunshine almost all day! Major points scored.
The Menu
The menu include freshly pressed juices, smoothies, egg dishes, vegetarian and vegan alternatives, as well as some options for meat eaters. Everything is absolutely fresh and the ingredients on the menu are the poster child for the healthy movement which we are all experiencing today. They offer breakfast choices which are served until 12.00, brunch choices until 17.00, with the exception of the egg and salad and dashi and egg, which are both served until 14.30 and snacks until 17.00. They are extremely strict with the time, so if you want to order dashi and egg at 14:40 (which happened to us!), it will not be possible, so keep it in mind. Aside from their vast menu, they also offer daily specials which we both ordered. My husband went for the avo-on-toast with ginger, scallions and poached egg, I for the couscous salad with cherry tomatoes, arugula, oregano with a lemon dressing. His choice was the winner for me! The perfectly poached egg oozed on top of the toast and the caramelized scallions with ginger provided the perfect balance to the dish. My choice was also very fresh, simple, yet well executed and an excellent alternative for vegans. For drinks I tasted their yellow smoothie which is a lovely tropical concoction with a cheerful yellow color and their home-made pinky rose, floral ginger and orange drink which was presented in a big beautifully decorated wine glass. For dessert they offer a variety of healthy alternatives and the vegan dessert range from SUE Food. We ordered the passion fruit square from SUE which was delicious, as always with SUE and their brownie which had pistachios and rose petals.
The Verdict
Bertmans is certainly a place to return. Friendly staff, relaxed ambiance and wonderful food which also happen to be good for you. I will want to return to taste the egg and dashi and sit in their terrace to enjoy the sun. If you find yourself in Rotterdam, do not miss this place!
Amsterdam: Restaurant Fraîche
This was a lovely encounter suggested by a friend who knows what’s good in Amsterdam. Fraîche is an extremely cozy place located in the Jordaan in Amsterdam. It has the feel of a French bistro with its sun room in the front and wooden chairs and tables.
The Menu
Fresh and seasonal. The chef owners Noah and Anthony make a point of locally sourcing their ingredients and this to me makes a huge difference. They offer weekly a la carte menu, but let’s stick here to what’s important in life, brunch. For brunch they really take the cake with the menu; mostly American fare with some European influences. Their vegetarian option on the menu is extremely tasty and satisfying and include: fluffy pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs which were divine, home fries, vegetables and what made the dish, the most delicious cheddar biscuit I have ever tasted. For omnivores, the menu include anything from a full English to chicken and waffles. I also had the pleasure to taste their home-made doughnuts and oh my gawd! These were full gourmet doughnuts! Traditional doughnut with a crunchy caramel and spun sugar on top and white chocolate with a crumble topping. They might sound sickly sweet, but trust me they were delicious and surprisingly not too sweet. Their Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s are also delicious and quite famous!
The Verdict
This is a super cool place with a well executed menu and comforting options. This is a place to go on a Sunday and have a hearty brunch! The place sit 38, so I recommend making a reservation in advance if you want to make sure to have a spot. You can also make a reservation online which is very handy. I shall return to this place for sure!
Information:
Bertmans
Address:
Zaagmolenkade 15
3035 KA Rotterdam
Tel: 010 844 88 60
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bertmans.rotterdam
Open from: Mon-Thur, 9.30-17.30, Fri-Sun, 9.30-18.00
Restaurant Fraîche
Westerstraat 264
1015 MT Amsterdam
Tel: 020 627 99 32
Website: www.restaurantfraiche.nl
Open from: Wed-Sat, 18.30-23.30, Sun brunch, 12.00-16.00
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