Nieuw Amsterdam new menu launch

Nieuw Amsterdam is located on Hardware Lane in a space that was previously occupied by an Irish pub (Pug Mahones for those playing at home). It goes without saying the decor has drastically improved, with a nice contemporary yet industrial vibe with some exposed brick. 

We were there to try out Nieuw Amsterdam’s summer menu. The place serves a modern take on American-inspired food. Starting off with the Zucchini Flower Poppers, this had zucchini flowers stuffed with jalapeno and cream cheese, all fried up to look like a chicken drumstick. We then moved onto their take on chicken nuggets - breaded and fried chicken terrine served with garlic aioli. This was nice and crunchy though we must admit we were a bit thrown off by its squared off look!

Given those two fried dishes, what came next was the Salmon Ceviche, a freshly done ceviche served with some fresh ingredients such as coriander and watermelon. The watermelon was a cool addition and we think it goes great with the salmon. 

Moving onto mains, our favourite was the grilled octopus. Mixed in with leek, pickled potatoes and squid ink aioli, we really loved the combination of flavours and textures. Sticking with the sea, we then tried the Rainbow Trout which had an amazingly crispy skin, which we are absolute suckers for!

We aren’t sweet tooths, but we admit that our favourite dish came when dessert rolled around. The Banana  Split of course is an American diner classic but this was served with a great peanut butter custard, banana rum and probably our favourite (and surprising!) addition - coconut ice. The coconut ice really gave a nice freshness to the dessert which left us feeling nice and fulfilled by the end of the meal but not stuffed.

If you’re more of a sweet tooth, you can go the complete opposite way with the Blondie, which is a very sweet and rich white chocolate brownie served with dark chocolate ice cream and strawberries. 

Of course, the venue is also known for its bar so make sure to check out their extensive beer and cocktail menu. Our favourite was the Jammy Hendricks, a gin based cocktail with some nice flowery aromas - great drink moving into summer!

Be sure to take a stroll down Hardware Lane and try Nieuw Amsterdam’s new menu and then stay for the cocktails for a great evening. 

By Simon Ly.