My coworker Robyn, an Oxford transplant who’s been living in Amsterdam for about 4 years, lives in Amsterdam Oost and is a champion bruncher.
How else would I start my Saturday? I’m lost without brunch” Robyn (in Oxford accent)
Over work lunch this week we decided we needed to join forces in our love of brunch – a sort of brunch club.
For our first foray into brunch clubbing we chose The Cottage, one of Robyn’s two favourite brunch spots in Oost. It was also the perfect excuse for Bogdan and I to head out there for the day and scope out the area, since we’re buying an apartment in Amsterdam this summer and want to keep Oost in the running.
The Cottage is on a lively corner of Linnaeusstraat and Pretoriusstraat. Robyn reserved a table for us earlier in the day since she said it was often busy around brunch time (as are basically all brunch places in Amsterdam). I was happy to hear that they take reservations – unlike Bakers & Roasters, one of my favourite brunch places where there’s always a line out the door on weekends but no reservations accepted.
The Cottage is British inspired comfort food. The menu is varied without being overwhelming. You’ll find a refined but homey take on full English breakfast (traditional and vegetarian), house baked scones, savoury meat and vegetarian pies, and a weekly changing Sunday roast. Seems to be vegetarian friendly but not sure about vegan.
Our reservations were to secure us a table inside but since the ever-temperamental Amsterdam weather was on our side, we happily took a seat at a table outside and started off our meal with some mimosas and coffees.
When it came time to order I (never one to rebuff the classics) opted for what I think of as The Cottage’s signature brunch dish – full English breakfast aka Full Cottage Breakfast with wholemeal bread – toasted. It was very good.
Zingy and sweet baked beans in tomato sauce, a tender English breakfast sausage, two crisp rashers of bacon, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms, and a dollop of mustard aioli all topped off with two fried eggs.
Bogdan got the Sweet Cottage Breakfast – a fluffy fresh baked scone with clotted cream, vanilla yogurt topped with granola and strawberry rhubarb compote, and a piece of toast with cheese and butter.
It also came with unfettered access to two house made jams – one strawberry rhubard (my favourite) and the other orange, pumpkin and cardamom (the group favourite).
Bogdan shared a little taste of his scone with me and it was so good I had to order my own that I flat out refused to share with Robyn (sorry Robyn.)
Robyn, having already tried the Full Cottage Breakfast, opted for something out of the box – the steak and onion sandwich. It was perfectly seared steak, caramelized onions and field greens on a fresh ciabatta roll with a small side salad. It looked great but sadly I was too consumed with my own meal to ask for a taste. Robyn seemed very happy though.
After my scone came and we finished up, Bogdan and I continued our exploration of Oost with a quick trip to the Dapermarkt (the biggest market in Oost and one of the busiest in Amsterdam) and then spent a leisurely Saturday at Artis – Amsterdam’s Zoo which also happens to be one of the oldest of continental Europe.
Flowers at the Dapermarkt in Amsterdam Oost
If you do happen to be in Oost and find yourself in the mood for British comfort food, definitely check out The Cottage. While you’re in the area maybe a stop at the Dapermarkt and Artis is also in order?
Until next time,
Cristina
