RESTAURANT SALUT OPENS ITS DOORS IN DE PIJP

words by NATALIE GAL

De Pijp is known for having some of the city’s best restaurants, and a brand-new one has just joined the quartier’s already stunning repertoire. Inspired by the charm of French bistros, Salut is warm and colourful, filled with low twinkling lights and heart-warming chatter that makes you want to stay far longer than planned. The new spot is already shaping up to be one of the next big hotspots in town.

You step inside and immediately wonder if Wes Anderson led as the creative director — it's that whimsical. The interior is vibrant, quirky, and ambient in all the right ways. But the magic actually comes from the renowned Belgian design studio JPMeyer&Co, led by Jean-Philippe Demeyer. The space is warm, playful, a little bit sexy, and completely glamorous... in short, very French.

The menu is a delicious love affair between Mediterranean cuisine and French classics, made with fresh Dutch ingredients. Expect to find things like crisp salads, steak with pepper sauce, fine mussels in white wine sauce, and a punchy Pasta Diavola with spicy tomato sauce. The kitchen is led by the half-British, half-Dutch chef Matthew Neve, who brings Michelin-star experience and a love for fresh markets (he’s apparently a morning person). As he puts it: “I don’t have one set specialty, as long as it’s delicious and high quality, it belongs on our menu.”

The whole concept is young, fresh, and a bit daring — just like its founders Bas Noorman (27), Lowie Jansen (27), and Joris Keizer (28). According to Joris, who runs the day-to-day operations: “We wanted a place where everyone feels at home, no matter the time of day. At Salut, you enjoy good food, in a Parisian setting, with excellent value for money.” Très charmant, if you ask us.