La Oliva

Pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, were virtually unheard of in Amsterdam until La Oliva opened in the Jordaan. Every day from 5pm, La Oliva’s bar bristles with pintxos pierced (pinchar - hence the name) with a wooden skewer and in many cases attached to a piece of bread.

The pintxos at La Oliva can include seafood, meat, roasted vegetables, mini quiches and tortillas. The selection isn’t fixed, however, so instead of ordering from a menu, you go to the bar and choose whatever you want from the items on offer that day.

Image of La Oliva pintxos As I looked, dithered and pointed, I was reminded of the pick and mix bins in my local corner shop in the UK. As a kid, I usually had to do something to earn my pocket money or convince my parents that I really needed it. It wasn’t supposed to be spent on sweets, of course, so I’d have to sneak into the shop with my 50p. Most sweets cost 1 or 2p, so I could get a lot of sugar and artificial additives for that amount.

Unfortunately, 50p (or the euro equivalent) would barely buy you a roasted cherry tomato in La Oliva. For around €40, we selected a meatball (on bread), deep-fried cod (on bread), a fried egg with paper-thin pata negra (on bread), a shrimp puff pastry and a fig stuffed with melted Cabrales.

The sweet fig with pungent Cabrales was the standout pintxos on the plate. There was nothing specifically wrong with the others but they fell a little flat, as if the chefs viewed the addition of bread with almost everything as an excuse not to worry about seasoning.

Service wasn’t always attentive and the wines we tasted – a Verdejo (€4.55) and a Tempranillo (€5) – pricey for the quality.

Image of La Oliva restaurant Amsterdam La Oliva has a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere. Hams and sausages hang from the ceiling and the wall behind the dark wooden bar is lined with liquor and wine bottles. On the narrow pavement outside, there is just enough space for a handful of tables to be wedged between the building and ‘Amsterdammertje’ bollards.