Amsterdam is known for it’s many different restaurants, cafes and bars. From French to Japanese, from Turkish to Ethiopian food, it’s many choices will almost always guarantee your specific cravings at the time. While there are certainly izakaya style restaurants in Amsterdam (and other places in the Netherlands), we never had a sake bar in this country. Until now that is.
Opened in September of 2023, Utage is located at the Lekstraat in Amsterdam. The word Utage is Japanese for ‘party’ or ‘banquet’. So drumming up two of my closest friends, we decided to celebrate the start of the weekend at Utage.
The place was completely full when we arrived. Seated at the table we immediately checked the sake menu. Divided by classification, we counted a total of 29 different sake to choose from. Most sake can be ordered by the glass, but options for a regular tokkuri (carafe) or a big tokkuri are also available. The tokkuri was the most cost-effective option for our little group if we all wanted to try the same sake, as it was enough to fill up 3 glasses. But as we all have different preferences, we also ended up ordering individual glasses.
To our surprise, our lovely waitress informed us that there was also some sake available that was not displayed on the menu. When she informed us it was a namazake, we didn’t even have to think about it, and ordered it. Our waitress came back with a bottle of Kakurei Junmai Ginjo Namagemshu. Made with Gohyakumangoku, this sake was a great start to the evening. Fresh, fruity, and full of flavor. Every sake came with it’s own story, and our waitress eagerly explained it to us. And also giving us time to check out the bottle and take some great pictures.
Sake is complimented by good food, so while we were discussing about which sake we should order next, some great izakaya-style dishes arrived at our table. On the menu were popular dishes like Karaage (fried chicken) and sushi, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact they had Nasu Dengaku (miso glazed eggplant) and Kakuni (braised pork belly).
Even though the night went on, Utage stayed busy the entire time. It is therefor necessary to reserve a table. We tried many of the sake, but for me, the highlights of the evening was to be able to try a great namazake, but also to try out another sake that was not on the menu: the Noguchi Honjozo Muroka Nama Genshu. This sake was incredible! Earthy, complex and also full of flavor, we were lucky the get the last glasses of that bottle that evening.
Seeing as I love a good koshu as well, while my friends were eating their desserts and drinking their Umeshu, I was enjoying the Takasago Junmai Ookoshu 1995. A sake you should definitely save for last, it’s flavor palette will influence you for the rest of the evening. Strong, with flavors of caramel and bacon, this was a great final drink.
To any sake lovers I would say: please go visit this place. With great food and a fantastic selection of sake to choose from, it will be a great night out.
Utage Sake Bar
Lekstraat 11, 1079 EK, Amsterdam
www.utage-sakebar.nl
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