In 1980, Floor van Ede opened its doors on the Van Baerlestraat in Oud-Zuid. What began as the city's most successful breakfast and lunch restaurant has since grown into a place that can be put under the heading ‘nouveau classique’: classic French brasserie cuisine, but without giving you the feeling that the clock has stood still.
The cuisine works with the seasons. In spring there are asparagus on the plate, in winter oysters, and if possible lobster. In addition to those seasonal dishes, Van Baerle runs on a mix of classic brasserie dishes and some more inventive contemporary cuisine. Vegetarians are also welcome, vegans are not. For groups, there are set menus of three, four or five courses, or a gourmet menu if you really want to eat through.
But the wine list is at least as decisive as the food. The list focuses on Old World wines, mostly French, and wine guide Grootspraak has counted Van Baerle among the city's best wine restaurants for years. Multiple awards have been won there as well. The staff thinks along about food-wine combinations, so when in doubt: just ask.
The wine list here is as serious as the cuisine, which is exactly the point.
Van Baerle is open six days a week, Monday through Friday and Sunday. On Saturdays, the door stays closed, which is a rather idiosyncratic choice in the catering industry of Oud-Zuid. Those who can't be there anyway can also takeout. More than 45 years after opening, Floor van Ede is still turning heads, and in this city that is no small feat. The wine list here is as serious as the cuisine, and that's exactly the point.