Restaurant Looks, Amsterdam ***

I had been looking forward to eating at this restaurant hidden just of the Nieuwmarkt on the Binnen Bantammerstraat. I had been waying up where to take my other half for a 'date' for the week and Looks had good reviews. Already I feel I have to apologise on Looks' behalf for the name they have chosen.

Owned by Alco and Erik. From Look's website I learned that Alco's previous adventure was setting up restaurant fifteen and Erik is apparently a TV presenter. The chefs Cas and Joost Cremers have a credible CV so I was expecting something special.

The concept of Looks is based on the idea of a small, weekly changing menu comprising of 3 different starters, 3 main courses, and a tasting for dessert. They also offer a surprise menu for around 49euros. Oysters are on the menu all the time.

The interior of Looks is large, broken up into around 3 to 4 areas, that were candlelit, modern and contemporary, but not over designed. At the front of the restaurant is the open kitchen. It made a great first impression.

The service is great. Really great. On entering Looks we were immediately shown to our table, immediately offered water and bread, and then the menu. We were then told that some of the menu was unavailable as on this particular Saturday the chef had been sent home sick. Eeek, my heart sank.

But we were here now. For starters Mr half Argentinean, half Swedish decided to have the perch whilst I went for the duck and lemon pate. Both excellent. We were off to a great start, accompanied by a great bottle of Malbec. Then thinks started to unfortunately go down hill. We had both decided on the house smoked entrecote steak as recommended by the jolly waiter.

The steaks arrived just slightly seared and the flesh not cooked - the steak was cold in the centre. We had both asked for medium rare. The steaks were promptly taken away by the waiter with no hesitation. He seemed really shocked about our disappointing food. I started to blame the sick chef. The 2nd 'new' steaks arrived, but again for some reason the outside was only seared but the warmth had just not penetrated the flesh of what looked like succulent meat. Such a shame, for the sake of the waiter's embarrassment we ate half of each portion and pretended to be too full.  We could see the poor lone commis chef scurrying around the kitchen trying to keep on top of things.

For dessert, I decided to opt for what sounded intriguing, an English trifle syllabub. It was no English trifle and all I can remember was strong alcohol with cream. It was nothing memorable, and not because of the alcohol!

So Looks first time round, didn't quite live up to my expectations, based on the reviews I had read. I blame that on the Chef's absence so I still want to give it another try. I hope next time to recommend what could be a great hidden gem ' but please change your name' in the Chinatown/ Nieuwmarkt area of Amsterdam.

Total per head approx E150 inc. 3 courses, wine and digestif.

Restaurant Looks

Binnen Bantammerstraat 7
1011 CH Amsterdam, Netherlands
020 3200949

http://www.restaurantlooks.nl/