Nomad

Ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by telling you this is a very special week! Yes, this goes against all sorts of SEO (put the keyword in the first paragraph, bla bla) but it doesn’t matter. It has been 1 year since I wrote my first review on Eat And Tell Amsterdam, about Luna. Big thanks to all of you who stumbled upon this blog ever since.

Moreover, it’s my birthday!!! I’m not usually as excited about this, but it’s a a round one, and I feel like it’s important for whatever reason. I’m 25 and as hungry as ever – obviously.

Alright, now that we’re done with the introduction, let’s get to the “eat and tell part”. I have started my birthday celebrations last night, with the birthday dinner. Hayden and I went to Nomad, a place that was completely new to me.

So, funny story – I got these Social Deal coupons ages ago thinking they are for Nomads – yes, that’s a different place. At least I double checked like 4 hours before dinner was scheduled…

Nomad is located in IJdok, which means it comes with a beautiful view. The restaurant (almost) on the water overlooking Amsterdam North and the IJ is a perfect spot for a special occasion. As they say it themselves, “fine dining with a view”.

Nomad does not have a set menu. You choose between a couple of options, from 3 to 6 courses, and you get to be surprised every day. You will only know what you eat when the course arrives, and all ingredients will be explained to you. Your food is cooked by Chef Joaquim, who prepares European dishes with a contemporary twist, inspired from around the globe.

Not having a menu has not bothered me at all, I like the concept and I like surprises, am very open to whatever it may be. However, not having a drinks menu was a bit off to me (since there is no wine pairing available or at least it wasn’t communicated). Therefore, you have to kind of guess what you want and also how much that will cost. Hayden got a gin & tonic, I got a Verdejo, and the night began!

We were welcomed with an appetizer similar to bruschetta, with spinach from Tanzania. The subtle garlic tones and the oily but crunchy bread were very good and made me wonder “how can I get bread to taste like this?”. Waiting for suggestions.

Our first course was duck with a pumpkin puree, wasabi, orange and spots of mayonnaise. I enjoyed the crispy on the outside and tender on the inside texture of the duck, and I thought it combined well with the puree. Hayden found it a bit too dry – I’ll trust him, he’s more of a duck person than I am. However, look at how aesthetically pleasant this is.

After a drink refill that came promptly, we received our second course. Beef stew with pumpkin puree, potato puree, zucchini, mushrooms and wasabi (oil?). We both preferred this one. The stew was long and carefully cooked, in I-wish-I-knew-what. The meat was tender and juicy. The crumbs you see on top were salty and garlicky, and all these ingredients I would never put together mixed beautifully. Potato puree AND pumpkin puree?

The journey ended with a coconut dessert inspired from Thailand, with a banana and cinnamon cream/paste (inside the leaf). The coconut foam had a subtle taste, and the green little plant there was nothing I have ever tasted before, but an explosion of aroma, slightly minty. Again, beautifully put together.

Three courses and an appetizer later, the night came to an end around 22:00 PM. The courses were nicely laid out throughout 2 hours and there was no sort of pressure. The staff was extremely nice and attentive.

Hayden and I were pleased with the food and the whole experience and I would recommend the spot for a special occasion or just a nice dinner. Of course, if you happen to go there, your menu will be completely different. I can attest that the ingredients are fresh, nicely mixed and the aromas coming together will probably impress you. Also good to mention that the 3 courses was the minimum offer and we did not leave hungry at all.

As mentioned, we happened to have Social Deal coupons for this (by mistake). The full price would be 39 EUR for 3 courses. Our 20 EUR for a 3 course deal was a very good catch.

Value for money: 8

Food Quality: 8

Location: 10 (IJdok 87)

Service: 10

Website:  https://nomadamsterdam.com/

Have a suggestion, question, or just want to hola at me? Find me here: sayhello.eatandtell@gmail.com