Parallel in Overtoomse Sluis

We arrived expecting a nice Spanish dinner, but unfortunately, the evening did not live up to our hopes. The place markets itself as a Spanish restaurant, but in reality, it feels much more like a wine bar where the food is merely an afterthought. The menu turned out to be surprisingly limited. A small menu isn't an issue if the quality is high, but that was not the case here. The chef tries to be very "creative" with the recipes, but misses the mark completely. As a result, the authentic Spanish flavors you expect are nowhere to be found. The Pulpo: This was completely flat and lacked any flavor. A huge letdown for such a classic dish. The Gambas: Instead of sizzling in delicious oil and garlic, the prawns were served in a sort of watery liquid. A bright spot was the staff; the waitresses were very kind and friendly. However, they didn't seem to have full control of the floor and were often unavailable when we wanted to order or ask for something. Considering the quality of what is served, the price is simply too high. You pay top euro for "creative" dishes that fail to get the basics right. It’s a shame, because the location has potential, but we will not be returning here.

The food at this restaurant is really good and the service is amazing. I have nothing to complain about, I 100% recommend it. 👏👏

I think it is more a wine bar than a restaurant. The wine menu is way wider than the food menu. The food dishes are okay but tiny and very pricey. It was cold inside and we told the waiter, but the heaters remained off… You can’t do that and ask 19 euro for a tiny tortilla de patatas or a couple of gambas al ajillo… We were three people and paid 100 euro but were not full (not even close) after that.

Expensive and little food for what you pay. When you go to a restaurant, it should be comfortable, but it's really cold here, so not cozy.

Lovely restaurant with great food and wonderful staff as well. Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere!

So good. A must do in Amsterdam

The food is delicious, with plenty of options for vegetarians. The atmosphere is pleasant, both in the restaurant and from the staff. They also offer excellent wine recommendations—all the ingredients for a wonderful evening out. We had a fantastic evening.

Ribs and Rioja was beyond amazing, the meat was incredibly tender. Will be back for sure

Parallel is a great Spanish restaurant on the Overtoom with an impressive wine list featuring bottles from all corners of Spain. The tapas are authentic, and the patatas bravas are a real highlight. The atmosphere is warm, familiar, and the service comes with a genuine smile. A perfect spot if you want to enjoy true Spanish flavors while steering clear of the tourist crowds in Amsterdam.

What a lovely restaurant! Friendly and cheerful service with delicious food—a real vacation evening!

Nice place with a friendly helpful staff. The restaurant serves tapas and while they were good they weren’t exceptional for cost. The food is missing a wow factor.

It was incredibly tasteless. We were recommended the special of the day, which was burnt porridge with raw mushrooms. My husband had lard instead of meat. It was just awful. It was incredibly expensive, so I was very disappointed. We left hungry and 130€ short.

Service was great but the food was rather gross. I ordered the Spanish omelet and ate only 1 bite of it. The price and quality of food did not match. The best thing I had there was the bottled soda.

Very over priced. Food was not very good and portions were oddly small for the price. Oxtail burger was extremely greasy, but tasted ok. The Spanish omelet was flavorless and had a very greasy sauce on top. Croquetas were also flavorless deepfried grease balls. Cocktail was mediocre. Mcdonalds fries have less grease than this place.

We had a fantastic dinner with 10 people. The service was fantastic, the food was superb (we had a sharing menu), and the specialty coffee afterward was perfectly brewed. We'll be back!

We celebrated my 60th birthday with 100 guests at Parallel, and what a fantastic experience! We had many guests who work in the hospitality industry, and we wanted it to exceed their expectations. And we were thrilled with it. The atmosphere was excellent (also appreciated by the guests, of course), the tapas were excellent, and the service (especially Sana) was impeccable, attentive, and incredibly friendly. The price-quality ratio was perfect. A night to remember. Thanks, Team Parallel!

From the start of our evening, we had such poor and rude service. One of the waitresses when removing our side plates dumped the cutlery on the table. The other waiter wasn’t able to give recommendations on what to order or portion size saying if you prefer meat order the meat dish and if you enjoy fish, order the fish dish. House sparkling wine was awful, and was recommended when the brut we ordered was out of stock. Food was terrible with undercooked fish, underseasoned sides and overall a non cohesive dish. None of us finished our food. Was thoroughly disappointed and wish we had just walked out at the start once service was rude. We even went somewhere else for dessert because the experience was so bad. Would not recommend.

Love it! Great food, awesome service, relaxed atmosphere

amazing food, price is fair and the service is very friendly too. 100% recommend

Food was unbelievable and service was amazing. If you are looking for a fun dinner with flavourful food , this is the place

Good food but slightly overpriced. The wine menu is excellent!

Delicious dishes, excellent wines, compliments to the kitchen and service. (And nice background music)

The food is terrible. They don't give you the right guidance. Even if you're hungry, I'd say don't go.

Wonderful dinner at the restaurant in Amazing City, Amsterdam in Netherlands

Great restaurant. Delicious food, good wine, and definitely value for money!

The food was great and the service was also great. Unique and very tasty.

The food is very delicious. Although the dishes are a bit small, everything we tried tasted amazing. The atmosphere is also quite good and the staff is really helpful. Everything comes in time without the need to repeat.

Ordered some beers and a tequila soda. Took a long time to get served and then got given a lemonade soda.

We kwamen eten bij Parallel wanneer we voor zaken in Amsterdam waren. We namen een tafeltje buiten, maar het interieur zag er ook heel gezellig uit. De rode wijn was heerlijk en ook het eten was lekker, alleen vond ik de porties wat klein. Wel zeker een bezoekje waard wanneer je in de buurt bent!

Great food and very nice atmosphere. One of the guests had allergies and they took that into account very well!

Food was tasty but difficult to share

You don't get such good service in Amsterdam anymore as here. Almost only Spaniards eat there, because of the good quality of the original Spanish food.

Great food, but the wine stole the show. Fantastic selection of Spanish wines, especially the Txakoli was great. Expert advice and pure passion. Absolute recommendation!

It’s always a pleasure to spend an evening at Parallel with friends! Great food, great service and great selection of wine.

Nul ! « Habitas con jambon » mais sans jambon juste saveur jambon = on se moque de qui ? ! Un œuf et des haricots pour 17€ ! Très déçus ,on s’attendait à passer un bon moment. Y aller si vous n’avez pas faim.

The price for half an inch of dish in paella called large is preposterous. Service was average or below. They didn’t really hit any marks other than overly priced one.

Amazing wines, great variety of Spanish famous wine makers. Food was decent quality for Spanish bites and delicatesse in Amsterdam. Great atmosphere made possible through Gonzalo and Giulia.

Very nice environment with very friendly people who represent the heart of their restaurant well.

Short: the best Spanish food I've ever had. Definitely a must have if you're somehow near Vondelpark Amsterdam Long: let me start with... If I still would be dating this is the place to be for the "third date" to impress 😉 maybe a bit too loud but on the other hand just another reason to lean over 😜 or in a long term relationship if you're looking for an exquisite place for having a special time and getting that extra goodie later on (you get the hint). "Parallel" might not be the best fit if you take your children with you, though they're nice. It's more an occasion for let's come together and eat and drink 🍷🍻 through out the night. The Food is top notch as good as it gets right before Michelin rating. The wine and beer they're serving is another example of their good taste, as far what we tasted. Go to "Parallel" and let me know if I overexaggerate. Thank you for the best dining we had so far in Amsterdam!

They offer a great selection of wine and the tapas are very tasty , and also proper portion ( not like mini one in many other places, more like those in Spain ) . Highly recommended!

The Paella, Patatas Bravas, Croquetas, and Chocolate Ganache were absolutely superb—each dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The red sangria, however, could use a little refinement. That said, the service was outstanding—attentive and genuinely friendly. Overall, a delightful experience and highly recommended!

Food was okay Thought there would be more traditional spanish dishes on the menu. The patatas bravas were a bit burnt and dry and the sauce was heavy mayo mix.

You have to go there if you come to Amsterdam. Point!!!

Went to this Spanish spot with some friends. The vibe was good and we had a fun night. Food was alright, but a bit too salty for my taste. Our waitress was nice and welcoming. Main downside? Kinda pricey for what you get. It wasn’t bad, but the value just isn’t really there. Decent overall, but not rushing back.

Arroz con leche recipe I don't recommend but the rest of the food is great. You need to order some tapas and also the main dish and dessert to not remain hungry.

Fantastic food and friendly charming service. Food this good is hard to find in Amsterdam. Inventive kitchen. Every dish was superb.

Nice atmosphere, good wine, but the food was disappointing.

Food is really nice and drinks are impressive. I really like the sangria. But the price here is a little bit higher.

The wine selection was excellent, and the service was warm and attentive, which made for a pleasant experience. However, the food didn’t quite meet our expectations, especially considering the price. The paella, in particular, was quite greasy and felt a bit too heavy. While I appreciate the effort in the presentation and flavors, I was hoping for a more refined balance in the dishes. That said, I’m still glad we tried it, and perhaps other menu items might be a better fit. Not sure if I’d return for the food, but the great service and wine might bring me back for a drink!

Bit of a letdown. Atmosphere ok. Burger was an absolute disappointment..

Tasty food but a little bit overpriced.

Had a great time here on Valentine’s, the night could not have been more special. Every member of staff was so friendly and welcoming, the wine was amazing and the food speaks for itself. I have to say if you’re in Amsterdam you MUST make sure to have this ‘Spanish experience’ 🇪🇸❤️ Thank you for a night we will never forget !

Cod with crispy corn and sherry dressing was heavenly, anchovies on brioche was surprising and the Iberico pig was delicious. Perfect service, nice place, great evening.

Service was wonderful, very attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. However the food left much to be desired in terms of taste.

Good Spanish cooking with some creative touches. But they were out of what I most wanted. Next time.

Great food, worthy of the price.

Had a great evening there! Fantastic food and warm staff! All dishes we orders taste great! Although we were already full, the desert was just too attempting, the flan was the best I had.

This was by far my worst dining experience in Amsterdam. Three generations of diners (my parents, self and kids) and no one liked the food nor the experience.

My girlfriend and I had dinner at this restaurant, intrigued by the good reviews and the very nice environment. The portions are very small and the quality of the dishes is average, we divided an entré, a first course and a main course, accompanied by bread and potatoes plus glasses of house wine, for a total bill of 90 euros and the need to eat something else as soon as we got home. The main course, the ribs, turned out to be quite stomach-churning, with a covering sauce and 3 accompanying sweet and sour vegetables. Total disappointment! It's a shame, but the service is attentive and helpful.

Best tapas in amsterdam😍 very refreshing and charming menu

Great food and wines, superb service, and beautiful decoration make this place a perfect spot for any occasion.

Delicious food, friendly & professional service & they were really kind to prepare a written list of items I could have in-advance of our reservation as i am dairy intolerant. I was here 2 years ago & returned a few weeks ago — the place is just as wonderful as I remember it!

Nice place with good tapas. It’s not very traditional tapas but with some glamorous twist. Portions are small and might seem overpriced but you pay more for the ambience and the presentation. The quality of food was good. The staff was very friendly and accommodating with all requests. It was my friend’s birthday and he congratulated him twice. Sangria was 5/10 🙈

Went for a solo dinner here whilst on a business trip. The service was really friendly but the food was the star of the show, the ox cheek paella and sardines were the highlights. The ox cheek was so incredibly tender I’m still thinking about it

Amazing tastes but a little pricey. I would definitely try the paella, and the life changing kale!

Ordered all the veggie options on the menu and the food was delicious. The gazpacho was the stand out dish. There was no veggie paella unfortunately but the waiter suggested that for next time, it can be accommodated if letting the restaurant know in advance. I will certainly be back to try it! Lovely staff and beautiful, relaxing atmosphere.

Verjaardag van mijn zoon gevierd en bijzonder lekker gegeten en gedronken. Service zoals je het t liefst zou wensen. Er was deze avond niets wat tegenviel, dat is toch wel heel bijzonder. Een echte aanrader!

Heerlijk gegeten, echt eens wat anders als de gangbare spaanse happen, bediening heel vriendelijk. We komen zeker terug

Delicious tapas! We went for their “Ribs & Rioja” night with a smaller menu and Rioja suggested pairings. The staff was very knowledgeable about the wine and the food was delicious. Gezellig

Wonderful service and delicious food!

We've had tapas at multiple places in Spain and in one of our favorite restaurants near Boston (Solea in Waltham). This place compares very favorably with all of them. Superb. Very friendly staff.

The service was excellent and very friendly, but both the food and cocktails could use some improvement. The Tinto de verano I ordered tasted more like grape juice. The beef short ribs came with a very sweet and unbalanced sauce, making it feel more like dessert than a main course. The Patatas Bravas seemed pre-made and were simply reheated when I ordered them. The Padron peppers were nice!

Friendly staff and decent paella with fresh seafood, however it lacked complexity in flavor and had no vegetables mixed in the rice... Also found 2 fishbones.

Tapas with a twist... humming, fun, authentic Spanish + modern / local. Good wines, beers and charming team. Go, it's something delightful and different. 🙌🏻

It was really an awful experience!!!!!We went there in July and ordered paella, which was the first time my parents had tried this dish. However, the chicken had a nauseating smell of rot, a mixture of sourness and the unmistakable stench of decaying meat. It's hard to believe the chef would serve food like this. Additionally, the portion of paella was incredibly small. I ordered the large size for two people, but I'm certain it wouldn't even be enough for one hungry person, even if the chicken hadn't been spoiled. I really wish I could delete this unpleasant memory!

Such a great place with amazing food!

The staff create an amazing family-like atmosphere. They remember all of our family favorite options and always deliver consistently great quality. They are apparently sourcing fresh seafood from Spain and you can always count on your favorite dishes in best quality. I can’t recommend the place more!♥️

Amazing food, great selection of wine, stepping up the game in the neighborhood

Estoy confundido. Excelente servicio. Sin embargo consiguió una paella de pescado que literalmente destruyó todos Un plato pequeño, fuera del horno, la mayor parte del arroz quemado, algunos (pocos) trozos de calamar. Encima de él, un filete de pescado, creo que macroondas. 29 euros Terminé eso, porque me muero de hambre, pero ¿es bueno allí otra vez? No, gracias, seguro que no. De nuevo la amabilidad a la cima.

I’ve eaten here before but last time was a most dissatisfying experience. We ordered a ‘large’ paella with a hefty price tag and what we received was a nearly empty plate with two small pieces of fish and a thin layer of sticky rice we had to scrape from the pan. Just no.

Very small portions but still rather expensive. None of the food we ordered was particularly good.

Every visit to Parallel is a pleasure: great food - this time we literally had one of each of the “Pica Pica” section, one better than the other - and also an amazing selection of wine, which includes some Spanish labels you won’t see anywhere else. The staff is duper nice, and all this together makes this one of our favorite places places in Amsterdam. Oh - the paella was also great! 🥘 🍷

Tasty food, cozy atmosphere, authentic Spanish food. Reasonably healthy, plenty of vegetarian options and great service. Good price quality.

Tenía una reserva el viernes a las 5:30 p.m. para mi marido y mi hijo de 4 años - llegamos allí y éramos los únicos. El camarero estaba súper atento y anotó todo lo que podía tener con una alergia a los lácteos. No hay menú para niños, así que mi hija consiguió la hamburguesa y era un poco demasiado elegante para ella. Tuve la comida de alcachofa vegana que era muy bueno. Todo estaba bien en general. No es amigable para niños. Y fue un poco extraño que el restaurante nunca se puso muy ocupado, lo que fue un poco incómodo, sin embargo, quién sabe podría haber sido el día o si español tal vez la gente se filtró más tarde para tapas.

Excellent food and service, definitely worth a visit!

Beste Spaanse restaurant van Amsterdam. Goede kwaliteit, veel keuze en prima porties met als kers op de taart Spaanse mensen in de bediening. Heerlijk gegeten en gedronken voor een prima prijs. We zullen zeker terug komen!

We went to this restaurant because of high reviews on internet. But it’s not as good as we expected. The service is very good. Some dishes are good but quite pricey for the amount of the food we got.

The portion of the dish is a joke. 48euros for a Paella and you find less than a cup of rice and two small pieces of fish.

First time visiting this Spanish restaurant. All the reviews were great, and it sure didn’t disappoint! Jamón Iberico was high quality, gazpacho melon with fennel was so refreshing and sangria was so light and easy to drink. I’ll be sure to come back again.

Spanish restaurant with a modern aesthetic and simple menu with very few but very enticing choices. The Patatas Bravas were enjoyable and the El Toro (oxtail burger) was juicy and very tender. I do have to say the burger came in a fairly small portion and was only accompanied by a couple vegetables. The highlight though was the Monkfish Huancaina with its spongy texture accompanied by rich fruit and crunchy corn. The Monkfish sauce was succulent and divine. The dessert was a Mató y Pera which is a pear pastry with mató cheese mousse and again a savory and well executed dish between the crisp of the pear and the softness of the cheese.

All of our cocktails were very underwhelming. The food was better but nothing amazing. Portions are on the smaller side and expensive. Ended up canceling my main dish as I was full after waiting 1 hour and 45 mins, I would not come back to this place again

Clean food nice paella and olives

The restaurant is very comfortable with excellent service and delicious food. Everything was very delicious, the paella, the croquettes and the dessert. The house wine is very good. Everyone is very attentive. We will definitely go back.

Great service, food was amazing. Will highly recommend the patatas bravas that are fabulous. The service was great and gave great recommendations.

Food was amazing ! I will definitely come back

The restaurant is really nice, well located. The service is good and the food is awesome. I really recommend the Paella. Also drinks are really good and I recoomend the Duch Mule.

modern spanish tapas. really nice

I absolutely loved it. The food was delicious, the chef is amazing. The staff are friendly & nice. The atmosphere has a cool chill vibe.

Spanish cuisine restaurant. Really nice place, welcoming and fast service. Very nice waitresses. Excellent wine list. The pata negra is exquisite, the meatballs and the "papas bravas" are very good. The paella is not very big (they say it is for two people) but it is very good. With the meat that looked like butter, truly excellent! And finally, the desserts are all good, but the flan deserves an extra point: delicious!

Simply put, excellent food and drinks served by extraordinary waitstaff. Anchovies were divine, best I've ever eaten. Risotto was phenomenal as well. Heartbroken that there was a supply issue and no padron peppers available, but I hope to return soon and try them and more of the menu in the future