NENI
NENI was always one of those “yes, I know I have to get there but it’s SO far”. Look, it’s not that far, but I love cycling around – for max 15 minutes. Especially during winter. However, with Hayden working around the area and raving about NENI, I was finally convinced to cycle for like…25 minutes.
NENI brings Eastern Mediterranean food to Amsterdam, and it does so with love. The name itself is made of the family’s initials: Nuriel, Elior, Nadiv & Ilan, the sons of chef Haya Molcho. Apparently their roots are partly Romanian, so now I’m biased and will call them restaurant of the year.
Relax, I won’t – read on.
First thing you notice about NENI is its size – located in the former Citroen garage, the venue is huge. It also sends a good vibe, spacious, easy going but somehow classy – well, classy enough to check your coat! No, that does not mean you can’t wear jeans.
Alright, all settled in, staff was already approaching us with our beers and a complimentary starter. I have no pictures of that because I was hungry – obviously, after those 25 minutes of cycling, oof.
The concept at NENI is sharing is caring – meaning all food should be in the middle of the table, for everyone to try. This happens to be my favorite concept, especially when I’m trying to review a place, I feel like it gives me the best angle to do so. However, when each one of these “tapas” costs around 10-15 EUR, let’s just say that there probably won’t be that much testing going on.
We started with Nuriel’s Falafel and the NENI Hummus. The hummus was much to my taste, meaning that you could really taste the tahini in it. It was good, but not extraordinary.
The falafel, however, was hands down the best I’ve ever tried. It’s important to say that I’m not vegetarian, so falafel is not always my first choice, but I had my fair share. The combination between coriander, chili, ginger and lime is sublime. Citrusy, fresh, crispy on the outside – absolute perfection.
Moving on, we’ve tried the Chicken Shawarma and the Jerusalem Plate as mains. The shawarma, next to the falafel, is what really stood out. Chicken beautifully cooked, the combination of mint and garlic cream was dreamy. Both Hayden and I agreed that this wins.
The Jerusalem Plate was very flavorful, as the chicken spices took over the dish. Tasty, not overly impressive.
The bill set us back 60 EUR, including 2 small beers each. Not that much, one would think, but keep in mind that you won’t leave with a full stomach, depending on your choices. For example, we felt satisfied enough, but the complementary pita + the pita that came with hummus definitely helped. There are plenty of things that I’d love to try here, but for me, it’s a bit pricey to properly explore.
Fear not! There’s other options if you’re looking to visit NENI on a friendlier budget: their lunch menu, as well as the brunch option are both better value for money.
Put this place on your list if you need plenty of plant based options, and not your average “here’s a salad for your needs”.
Overall, good food for a reasonable bill as long as you don’t expect to eat too much. NENI did not disappoint and I’d be happy to return for brunch at some point. I’ve heard wonderful things about the cocktails too!
Value for money: 7 (dinner menu)
Food Quality: 9
Location: 6 (Stadionplein 8)
Service: 9
Website: https://neni-amsterdam.nl/
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