Perfect pairings at winebar Vindict
If there is one place I’ve been hyping up to my friends over the past few months, it’s Winebar Vindict. Tucked away in a newer part of Amsterdam Noord, you’ll find this charming spot where the passion for wine seeps into everything they do.
They always have over 70 wines open by the glass, and if you fall in love with one, you can simply walk next door and buy a bottle in their shop. Dangerous, but convenient. The real reason I keep coming back though? The surprisingly affordable food and the genuinely warm, knowledgeable staff.
Do you know that story of the girl who though she was ordering a proper main course and it turns out to be some small sharing plate for €30? Yeh? Well, at Vindict they don’t. Honestly: I went here for the first time last winter and my and my companion figured the plates would be sharing plates based off the pricing. Turns out the dishes were simple but refined, full of flavour and we had ordered enough to soak up the seven glasses of wine we drank with it.
The interior mirrors the food. No-nonsense, but somehow still elegant. Lots of wood, warm tones, and playful nods to wine that feel intentional rather than overdone. Think wine bottle chandeliers and cork details, but in an artsy way, not a tacky one.But enough about the vibe and my slightly tipsy observations. What should you actually order?
Do not leave without having a cheese platter. Start with it, eat is as a dessert or have it as a girl dinner. The selection changes regularly, and you can either guide them with what you like or let them pair it with a wine. Both are good decisions. I would also recommend starting with the vitello tonnato, which is genuinely one of the best I’ve had in Amsterdam. For mains, go for the fish of the day or the poultry. These have been standouts every time I’ve been, even though the exact dishes change.
Pro tip: go on Wednesdays for their ‘Bottle Madness’. Buy a bottle of wine in the shop next door and enjoy it in the bar or on the terrace for a small €10 corkage fee.
So if you’re looking for me on a Wednesday, chances are I’m here. Which makes me think that maybe the best places aren’t the ones you plan, but the ones you accidentally keep coming back to. Maybe it’s the wine, maybe it’s the people… or maybe I just never learned how to leave after one glass.