Taste
French flair at Lindengracht
There are spots where everything is perfect, from the moment you step inside to the last crumb on your plate. Bistro Féline is one such place. It feels like an evening in Paris, but in the heart of the Jordaan. A new-style bistro where you don't just eat, but enjoy, taste, discover – from […]
There are places where everything is perfect, from the moment you step inside to the last crumb on your plate. Bistro Féline is one such place. It feels like a Parisian evening, but in the heart of the Jordaan. A new-style bistro where you don't just eat, but enjoy, taste, and discover – from Bolletje to bisque.
Text: Bart-Jan Brouwer
Image: Bistro Féline
On the Lindengracht, nestled between the historic facades of the Jordaan district, you'll find Bistro Féline: an intimate spot where Paris and Amsterdam collide. An elegantly decorated space with a marble bar, soft lighting, and a limited seating capacity of around fifty. Chef Dennis Huwaë, who earned his stripes with Daalder*, puts his own signature on bistro classics. And it's not going unnoticed… Michelin already calls Féline "one of the most promising new addresses in the Netherlands." After a long evening at one of the tables, we understand why. We start with one of the highlights: an oyster with caviar, parsley oil, and smoked crème fraîche—truly, you'll lick your shell! The citrus version is also convincing: fresh, accessible, and refined at the same time. A glass of yuzu sake is served with it, unexpected but exceptionally effective. The parade of surprises continues with Wagyu charcuterie, followed by Jordanian meatballs – a daring blend of shrimp and veal, breaded in Bolletje rusk and served in a pan with jus de veau. Not a simple snack, but Amsterdam's high-end cuisine. Once the pan is wiped clean with bread, a triptych of brioches arrives: with onion compote and comté cheese, with smoked wild Alaskan salmon and dill cream, and with morels and poultry pâté. The brioches are perfectly buttered, smoky, and layered – all delicious (we eat them in small bites to savour them as long as possible). The evening unfolds like a carefully composed piece of music: a spicy bisque with kaffir lime, a scallop Rockefeller with spinach, béarnaise sauce, and parmesan gratin, followed by main courses that excel in flavor and texture: monkfish with pear and Pernod, and lamb neck with Mona Lisa potatoes. The accompanying Viognier and Burgundy enhance the experience without being overpowering. Even the side dishes are surprising: not your standard vegetables or fries, but barbecued cabbage, avocado with sun-dried tomatoes, and Hasselback potatoes with onion cream. And then, for the finale: chocolate moelleux and a playful twist on the time-honored stroopwafel, both irresistible. Bistro Féline isn't a place you stumble upon. It's a destination, a culinary journey you'll remember for a long time.
