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Pesca offers a dining experience unlike anything I've tried before--truly unique and incredibly enjoyable. When you walk in, you're greeted by their in-house fish market, where everything is visibly fresh and beautifully displayed. You simply choose the fish or shellfish you want, they assemble your order, print a ticket, and you continue on to the wine shop. Before going any further, I want to highlight how impressive the fish market is. It feels almost like stepping into a wholesale seafood market, complete with checker-tape pricing. The staff will tell you exactly how each item can be prepared. For example, when we ordered a dozen mussels, they explained all the options and recommended a coconut curry preparation--an excellent choice and absolutely delicious. Once you have your ticket, you head into the wine bar. The team already knows how your meal will be prepared and offers thoughtful wine-pairing suggestions based on your selections. From there, you're taken to your table, where the outstanding service continues. We were served a beautiful basket of fresh bread almost immediately, along with our chosen wine. By the way, did I mention how beautiful the place is! For starters, I ordered a dozen oysters, and each pair was prepared in a different style. Every single one was outstanding. The mussels in curry sauce were so good that I needed extra bread just to savor every drop. Finally, we had monkfish--an impressively large piece, perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and absolutely incredible. From start to finish, the entire experience was exceptional. The team at Pesca, and truly the people of the Netherlands, know how to do it right. Hats off to this outstanding restaurant. I only wish we had one where I live--I'd be there every day. Actually, it would be dangerous to have Pesca too close...I'd go bankrupt:)
Wow!! That's all I kept saying!! When you fist walk in with the fish marker right there you really get a feel for what awaits you.. Some of the freshest seafood I have ever had. and I live near San Francisco!! You honestly can't go wrong with a single choice! It's a total vibe! I love being able to see into the kitchen and watch what you choose being cooked just for you!! If you don't come you will absolutely miss out not only on the experience but the food!!!
I visited Pesca during my husband and I's first trip to Amsterdam, and to this day I still think about it often. I've traveled quite a bit around the world, and by far this is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. From the moment you arrive, you are greeted by a wall of fresh seafood displayed on ice, almost like a fish market. You get to hand-select your seafood and then choose how you want it cooked, which makes the whole experience so interactive and fun. We ordered prawns that were perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and the oysters were some of the best I have ever had in my life, creamy, fresh, and topped with unique Asian-inspired garnishes I had never tried before. But the highlight of our meal was the fish cooked on the Green Egg. Honestly, when it first arrived, I didn't even take a picture because it wasn't the most eye-catching dish. But one bite completely changed my mind, it was smoky, tender, flavorful, fresh, and absolutely unforgettable. The service was wonderful, the drinks were excellent, and the entire experience was memorable from start to finish. I often joke that I would fly back to Amsterdam just to eat at Pesca again, and honestly, I think I would.
We had a very excellent meal here! The decor and theme of the place alone is worth a visit. It's fresh seafood but displayed in a 'movie theater' type of way and your show is the meal. The bathroom is even decorated in the theater style so be sure to stop in there too! We had a large group of 10 so they had created a tasting menu for us. The starter bread was delicious (but beware that if they offer you more and you say yes, it is an extra charge). The seafood was incredible! Started with raw courses with oysters, a tuna ceviche, and salmon/ikura - all were so good and the sauces accompaniments were amazing. Cooked/fried options were calamari sticks, salmon (cut in triangles), and then 2 grilled fish prepared a classic salt/lemon and in a red sauce. Sides we got perfectly fried thick cut fries, butter lettuce salad with edamame, and bruleed eggplant with ricotta and pomegranate (a little to sweet for me). Water is a little confusing in Europe too where they ask for still or sparkling, and is not free. You have to explicitly ask for tap water (another surprise on the final bill). You leave with getting to pick a mini ice cream pint to take home, which is a great touch! All of this food plus some cocktails for a group of 8 was about $75 per person. Stuffed and satisfied. A must when visiting Amsterdam.
Love it. The food taste, quality, service and decoration. No menu, pick any seafood you want from the seafood market, the chef will do the magic cooking for you.
Loved this restaurant! It started by choosing your fish, and we had the most adorable kid explain everything to us so we could get just what we would like. The food was delicious, and the whole experience was just so fun. I really appreciated the fresh fish selection.
Excellent fish, and a fun and unique atmosphere. Everyone who helped us was fun and all-in on the idea this is a fun dining experience. Everything is high energy!
This place was worth the flight from the U.S. to the Netherlands! The setup at Pesca is both inviting and invigorating! You enter the stage and make your seafood selections. While they send those to the kitchen, you select your sides and beverages. Everything is top notch from the cuts of fish to the wine pairings. Once all sections are made you are seated and can "watch the show" of your meal being prepared. Every team member we encountered was jovial and helpful! Every morsel of food brought to our table was delight for the tastebuds! So fresh, so flavorful! This is a high recommend and I legit can not wait to take my next trip to Amsterdam...I will forever be a fan of this place!
Oh so extraordinarily satisfying big feast of my selected fresh seafood for dinner even I am by myself first time in Amsterdam! Superior service assisting in selecting your desired seafood & wine ! Attentive service throughout and cool vibe ! Crusted whole monk fish in Thai sauce Juicy Scallop Coconut lime Foam Grilled Giant Prawns Crispy yet moist Soft shell crab You shouldn't miss this Theatre of Fish!
We booked this place when we got a recommendation from a boat tour guide. Never been so it was a new experience for us. I would describe it more like a "show" and not a normal restaurant. When you arrive, you have to look at the seafood selection and start choosing what you want to eat. While we are both adventurous eaters with no dietary restrictions, we felt it would have been nice to know what we would be getting based on our choices. So it's really up to the restaurant what you end up getting... then they push you to the wine/drinks area where you choose what you want to drink. And then, they seat you. Once we were seated, it was really strange that no wait staff talked to us and we just waited for food. We forgot to order water and it took forever to flag someone down. When we got our dishes (grilled fish, prawns, veggie sides, French fries), the wait staff dropped it off and left us again. We finished dinner and were told to pay up front. Ambiance was nice and service was lacking. Also would have liked to know how each seafood would be prepared as we probably would have chosen some other options that we saw at other tables near us. The dishes we got were cooked well but just nothing impressive and somewhat bland. Not really into this concept so will not be returning.
Pesca is a pretty participatory dining experience. You enter and are shuttled over to the "fish market" section of the restaurant where you select the seafood items you want the kitchen to cook for your dinner. Each protein has a different prep/sauce, and the fishmonger will tell you about each one. We selected 3 extra large gambas which were roasted and served with pesto sauce; 4 plump sea scallops to be pan seared and served with beurre blanc, a soft shell crab to be flash fried, a whole sea bass to be plainly wood grilled with salt and lemon, and a green salad and fries (served with the ubiquitous mayo). Then, off to the wine seller/cellar, where we picked a top of the line Chassagne-Montrachet for a pretty reasonable 124 euros. We were let to our table with the wine and a bottle of still water in an ice bucket. The waiter brought us a small loaf of freshly baked bread with butter that we were sure had some seaweed in it; an auspicious start. The shrimp were outrageously good; plump, sweet, and perfectly cooked. The scallops less so; they were very overcooked; we mentioned that to the waiter and they were promptly taken off the bill. The crab came and was great; crisp, greaseless, and served with a wonderful curry mayo. The fish itself was magnificent; fresh, flaky, perfectly cooked, with just a hint of woodsmoke. The fries were excellent, served with rich mayonaisse,, and the green salad was bountiful, fresh, and well dressed. The bill (taking into account the reduction for the scallops) was 195 euro, and 125 of that was the Grand Cru Montrachet we ordered. Highly recommended for seafood and a great atmosphere in Amsterdam.
Unique experience. Highly recommend. Food is fantastic and you can tell ingredients are high quality and fish is very fresh. Service is great as well.
This shared dining experience is very memorable! From picking the fish to the side dishes, we were guided through the process. It's honestly a surprise from the moment we arrived, because there wasn't a set menu and we didn't know what to expect! The food came out quicker than expected. The seasoning of everything was on point. The fish was fresh and cooked to the right tenderness. My husband and I finished everything (like no bite left behind) in 90 minutes! (You can see how big the fish was in the photo!) I got to say on a side note that the seats are quite small and uncomfortable. I should have taken advantage of their coat area. I was out and about for 6 hours and bought a ton of stuff from museums and markets. There was not enough space for me to put my stuff at my seat at all. The final touch was the free ice cream cone at the end. Andddd I should have asked if I could kept the sardine... unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it here in the U.S. read more
6 months ago
Very cool experience here. Upon checking in you're given the low down on how it all works and given a can of sardines with your table number written on it. A fun keepsake! You choose your seafood and they tell you how it will be served. The seafood is weighed and you're given a tally of your meal. You also choose a selection of sides to go with your dinner. Once you choose your seafood you go to the wine bar and choose your drinks. We chose a pasta side orecchiette with pesto sauce and curried cauliflower. For our main dish, we chose the seabreem. We started with scallops and calamari which were both delicious and our seabreem was perfectly cooked. It would be nice to have more than one option as to how our fish could be made but all in all everything was fresh and well prepared. Service came with a smile and you can't beat the novelty and ambiance! read more
28 days ago
Pesca offers a dining experience unlike anything I've tried before--truly unique and incredibly enjoyable. When you walk in, you're greeted by their in-house fish market, where everything is visibly fresh and beautifully displayed. You simply choose the fish or shellfish you want, they assemble your order, print a ticket, and you continue on to the wine shop. Before going any further, I want to highlight how impressive the fish market is. It feels almost like stepping into a wholesale seafood market, complete with checker-tape pricing. The staff will tell you exactly how each item can be prepared. For example, when we ordered a dozen mussels, they explained all the options and recommended a coconut curry preparation--an excellent choice and absolutely delicious. Once you have your ticket, you head into the wine bar. The team already knows how your meal will be prepared and offers thoughtful wine-pairing suggestions based on your selections. From there, you're taken to your table, where the outstanding service continues. We were served a beautiful basket of fresh bread almost immediately, along with our chosen wine. By the way, did I mention how beautiful the place is! For starters, I ordered a dozen oysters, and each pair was prepared in a different style. Every single one was outstanding. The mussels in curry sauce were so good that I needed extra bread just to savor every drop. Finally, we had monkfish--an impressively large piece, perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and absolutely incredible. From start to finish, the entire experience was exceptional. The team at Pesca, and truly the people of the Netherlands, know how to do it right. Hats off to this outstanding restaurant. I only wish we had one where I live--I'd be there every day. Actually, it would be dangerous to have Pesca too close...I'd go bankrupt:) read more
Wow!! That's all I kept saying!! When you fist walk in with the fish marker right there you really get a feel for what awaits you.. Some of the freshest seafood I have ever had. and I live near San Francisco!! You honestly can't go wrong with a single choice! It's a total vibe! I love being able to see into the kitchen and watch what you choose being cooked just for you!! If you don't come you will absolutely miss out not only on the experience but the food!!! read more
1 year ago
I visited Pesca during my husband and I's first trip to Amsterdam, and to this day I still think about it often. I've traveled quite a bit around the world, and by far this is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. From the moment you arrive, you are greeted by a wall of fresh seafood displayed on ice, almost like a fish market. You get to hand-select your seafood and then choose how you want it cooked, which makes the whole experience so interactive and fun. We ordered prawns that were perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and the oysters were some of the best I have ever had in my life, creamy, fresh, and topped with unique Asian-inspired garnishes I had never tried before. But the highlight of our meal was the fish cooked on the Green Egg. Honestly, when it first arrived, I didn't even take a picture because it wasn't the most eye-catching dish. But one bite completely changed my mind, it was smoky, tender, flavorful, fresh, and absolutely unforgettable. The service was wonderful, the drinks were excellent, and the entire experience was memorable from start to finish. I often joke that I would fly back to Amsterdam just to eat at Pesca again, and honestly, I think I would. read more
1 year ago
We had a very excellent meal here! The decor and theme of the place alone is worth a visit. It's fresh seafood but displayed in a 'movie theater' type of way and your show is the meal. The bathroom is even decorated in the theater style so be sure to stop in there too! We had a large group of 10 so they had created a tasting menu for us. The starter bread was delicious (but beware that if they offer you more and you say yes, it is an extra charge). The seafood was incredible! Started with raw courses with oysters, a tuna ceviche, and salmon/ikura - all were so good and the sauces accompaniments were amazing. Cooked/fried options were calamari sticks, salmon (cut in triangles), and then 2 grilled fish prepared a classic salt/lemon and in a red sauce. Sides we got perfectly fried thick cut fries, butter lettuce salad with edamame, and bruleed eggplant with ricotta and pomegranate (a little to sweet for me). Water is a little confusing in Europe too where they ask for still or sparkling, and is not free. You have to explicitly ask for tap water (another surprise on the final bill). You leave with getting to pick a mini ice cream pint to take home, which is a great touch! All of this food plus some cocktails for a group of 8 was about $75 per person. Stuffed and satisfied. A must when visiting Amsterdam. read more
4 months ago
Loved this restaurant! It started by choosing your fish, and we had the most adorable kid explain everything to us so we could get just what we would like. The food was delicious, and the whole experience was just so fun. I really appreciated the fresh fish selection. read more
2 years ago
This place was worth the flight from the U.S. to the Netherlands! The setup at Pesca is both inviting and invigorating! You enter the stage and make your seafood selections. While they send those to the kitchen, you select your sides and beverages. Everything is top notch from the cuts of fish to the wine pairings. Once all sections are made you are seated and can "watch the show" of your meal being prepared. Every team member we encountered was jovial and helpful! Every morsel of food brought to our table was delight for the tastebuds! So fresh, so flavorful! This is a high recommend and I legit can not wait to take my next trip to Amsterdam...I will forever be a fan of this place! read more
1 year ago
Oh so extraordinarily satisfying big feast of my selected fresh seafood for dinner even I am by myself first time in Amsterdam! Superior service assisting in selecting your desired seafood & wine ! Attentive service throughout and cool vibe ! Crusted whole monk fish in Thai sauce Juicy Scallop Coconut lime Foam Grilled Giant Prawns Crispy yet moist Soft shell crab You shouldn't miss this Theatre of Fish! read more
We booked this place when we got a recommendation from a boat tour guide. Never been so it was a new experience for us. I would describe it more like a "show" and not a normal restaurant. When you arrive, you have to look at the seafood selection and start choosing what you want to eat. While we are both adventurous eaters with no dietary restrictions, we felt it would have been nice to know what we would be getting based on our choices. So it's really up to the restaurant what you end up getting... then they push you to the wine/drinks area where you choose what you want to drink. And then, they seat you. Once we were seated, it was really strange that no wait staff talked to us and we just waited for food. We forgot to order water and it took forever to flag someone down. When we got our dishes (grilled fish, prawns, veggie sides, French fries), the wait staff dropped it off and left us again. We finished dinner and were told to pay up front. Ambiance was nice and service was lacking. Also would have liked to know how each seafood would be prepared as we probably would have chosen some other options that we saw at other tables near us. The dishes we got were cooked well but just nothing impressive and somewhat bland. Not really into this concept so will not be returning. read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
Pesca is a pretty participatory dining experience. You enter and are shuttled over to the "fish market" section of the restaurant where you select the seafood items you want the kitchen to cook for your dinner. Each protein has a different prep/sauce, and the fishmonger will tell you about each one. We selected 3 extra large gambas which were roasted and served with pesto sauce; 4 plump sea scallops to be pan seared and served with beurre blanc, a soft shell crab to be flash fried, a whole sea bass to be plainly wood grilled with salt and lemon, and a green salad and fries (served with the ubiquitous mayo). Then, off to the wine seller/cellar, where we picked a top of the line Chassagne-Montrachet for a pretty reasonable 124 euros. We were let to our table with the wine and a bottle of still water in an ice bucket. The waiter brought us a small loaf of freshly baked bread with butter that we were sure had some seaweed in it; an auspicious start. The shrimp were outrageously good; plump, sweet, and perfectly cooked. The scallops less so; they were very overcooked; we mentioned that to the waiter and they were promptly taken off the bill. The crab came and was great; crisp, greaseless, and served with a wonderful curry mayo. The fish itself was magnificent; fresh, flaky, perfectly cooked, with just a hint of woodsmoke. The fries were excellent, served with rich mayonaisse,, and the green salad was bountiful, fresh, and well dressed. The bill (taking into account the reduction for the scallops) was 195 euro, and 125 of that was the Grand Cru Montrachet we ordered. Highly recommended for seafood and a great atmosphere in Amsterdam. read more
3 months ago
4 months ago
1 year ago
Glad we tried to place before leaving Amsterdam. DH and I love seafood; so, seafood restaurants are always on our list to visit on our travels. This place did not disappoint. Every food served had robust flavors. It was like dining in a very expensive restaurant in US without the price. All our order was less than $300. Don't hesitate to try this place when in Amsterdam!!! read more
1 year ago
Such a great and unique experience where there is no menu provided only verbal communication. Fish that is mostly caught locally and made on the spot in an environment that is conducive for groups all the way down to a single party. read more
2 years ago
Great wine selections, we chose Riesling for the win. Fresh seafood and prepared nicely! Kudos to Teis (not sure if I got the spelling right) he answered all my questions about the preparation and some ingredients... he's very accommodating. Great crew in this place. The food is amazing, the taste is elevating. We are from Las Vegas and we are spoiled here with top chefs and restaurants. This place and service I can rank up there with the big boys. We came in for lunch and first to be seated with reservations. I don't know how the service during rush hour. There's lag time in between dishes so don't expect things will come out all of the same time. Although, few dishes came out fairly the same time and waited a bit for the Sea Bass... not too shabby. The place is very clean and the ambiance is great. Overall win during our whole trip! read more
1 year ago
Came recommended and was certainly a different but fun dining experience. Make a reservation! You start in the theater and choose your own seafood offerings. Then you are told how it will be prepared. Then you move onto the bar for wine offerings. They had a great limoncello spritz. We ordered scallops, sea bass, green salad, and soft shell crab. read more
One of the coolest restaurants I've ever been to, Pesca is an experience from start to finish. The theater of fish help you pick out what you'd like for dinner based on the catches that day, they explain how each fish is prepared then take you to choose a wine pairing. I had the hamachi, turbot and eggplant and every thing was 10/10. An unforgettable dinner read more
3 years ago
This place was the best seafood restaurant that i have ever been to, every dish i had was absolutely delicious. Loved the concept of no menu, picking my fish, and then eating it. Service was great in a casual non stuffy way. And the restaurant was beautiful though a little hard to find. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I'm a year overdue in my review. I ate at this place literally a year to the day ago, and this was by far one of the most memorable cooked seafood experiences of my life. We were able to select our fresh seafood and wine pairing before having a seat. The servers were quick and friendly. I definitely would fly back to Amsterdam just to have a nice meal/ambiance. Definitely recommend getting reservations. We did not and had to return on multiple days to have a spot to sit. read more
2 years ago
Delicious, and fresh food. Good greeting at the entrance. Comfortable and nice place, for dinner, meeting and dating with people. read more
2 years ago
What an amazing meal and experience! Lucas was our person at the fish market. We went with all of his recommendations and every dish was amazing. This is the best mussels, in Thai sauce, I have ever had. I'm still thinking about it this morning. Next was the wine pairing. We got a beautiful bottle of Albariño for our dinner. The wait staff were so friendly and fun! It's a dining experience worth the money! Don't eat your table number! read more
2 years ago
So much of what we experienced has been covered in these reviews. To us, the word unique best fits this place, from the way we selected our meal to the beverage room to the look and feel of the seating area with its communal tables. It was an exceedingly comfortable and enjoyable early lunch on a Saturday in early December 2024. The service was superb, from our welcome to the help we received selecting our fish and sides to the delivery of the food to the multiple stops by the wait staff to make sure we were doing OK. It was one of the highlights of a city that we would absolutely love to visit again. read more
This was hands down my favorite dining experience on my recent trip to Europe. Got there 45 minutes before our reservation and had a drink at the bar while we waited. When it was time to order we picked a few types of fish at the market in the front and sides. The worker was super knowledgeable explaining what everything was and how it would be prepared. The food comes out as it's ready in courses which helped pace the meal. We tried so many amazing things, but the scallops and hamachi sashimi were definitely my favorite. This was truly some of the best quality and freshest seafood i've ever had. We also got an order of patatas bravas as a side and it was a really good portion size to share. All the servers were really attentive and helpful and they even let you pick an ice cream to take home with you when you leave. 10/10 experience! read more
2 years ago
Great service, ambiance and food. It was highly recommended by our bar tender at Estherea Hotel. The staff was friendly and so sweet. Definitely would come back if I visited Amsterdam again. read more
6 months ago
3 years ago
The selection of seafood is crazy good. You can select your stuff. The setup was pretty cool and breezy. Well-prepared scallops!! The staff was always available and refilled our water without us asking (nice touch). Thanks to our seafood specialist at the start of our experience. He was very knowledgeable! Ensured that we had a balanced meal!! Check out these photos! Yes, You should give it a try. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Love the selections of fish, great meal. I personally love the sea bass. We ate fish & chips, prawns and scallops all delicious. read more
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More info about Pesca
Rozengracht 133
1016 LV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Jordaan, Centrum
Directions
020-3345136
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.pesca-amsterdam.nl
Hours
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
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