To echo Beverly M.'s lovely review― I'll admit that as a Texan who spent a lot of time in Mexico, I was skeptical when a friend suggested having Mexican food in Amsterdam. Much to my delight and surprise, Bacalar exceeded every expectation.
We arrived on a sunny afternoon even though it was forecasted to rain (the weather is also always a surprise in Amsterdam, as you know). We were offered a perfect seat outside.
The cocktail menu had plenty of mezcal, and I tried the Bucho Maracuja - smoky and beautiful to boot. I had to stop myself from trying too many cocktails, as they all sounded fantastic.
We ordered a tostada of sweet potato and cauliflower- exquisite, and vegan-friendly. Then came our meat dishes: tacos de lengua (stunning presentation, excellent texture) and tacos de cocinita pibil (so tender and juicy, can't say I was neat about eating these). The pickled accoutrements with all of our dishes were on point, and the corn tortillas were the perfect temperature. Salsitas had some heat to them (rare in Amsterdam), but I could have used more.
Service was friendly, and our server was responsive and detailed when giving suggestions.
I'm absolutely thrilled to have found a good Mexican place in the Netherlands, and I've been recommending Bacalar to everyone. I can't wait to go back. read more