On Albert Cuypstraat, at the foot of the Sir Albert boutique hotel, sits Izakaya. Not your average Japanese restaurant with sushi rolls for tourists, but an Asian Kitchen & Bar that brings together two culinary worlds. Japanese tradition as the base, South American impulses as the surprising element. It works, and it's exactly what De Pijp needed to make it a little more adventurous.
The concept comes from the mind of Yossi Eliyahoo, the Israeli-born entrepreneur behind The Entourage Group, known for restaurants MOMO, Mr. Porter and The Duchess. Restaurants and bars that are just a tooth sharper than the rest. The kitchen is open, the interior looks sleek and dark, with materials you'd expect to find in a New York bar rather than an Amsterdam market side street.
It's all about sharing here. You order small plates, slide them to the center of the table and eat interchangeably. That suits how the dishes are set up. The Robata grill gives meat and fish a smoky depth you don't get from a regular oven. The Hibachi fire bowl does the work for Japanese hotplate dishes, keeping the heat close and intensifying the flavors. At the table, you decide what to order and when, with no set menu.
House-infused Shochu cocktails and tonics made with Japanese spirits as a base: tighter and less sweet than what you're used to.
The Pijp has plenty of restaurants. But Izakaya plays in a different category. The combination of grilling techniques, the fusion approach and the bar that is serious about Shochu infusions gives the restaurant its own position in the neighborhood. The Sir Albert building helps with that: you step inside and you know you're not at your average neighborhood restaurant. The atmosphere is international; so is the cuisine. And that doesn't feel forced here.
Also check our list Best Japanese restaurants in Amsterdam and don't miss a Japanese gem with the tastiest dishes.