Amarone

Amarone is a fine-dining restaurant in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and the subject of the Wikipedia article “Amarone (restaurant).” It should be distinguished from Amarone della Valpolicella, the Italian wine style, and from other businesses using the same name. The restaurant’s documented history begins in 2006, when chef Gert Blom and maître Harry Baas operated it as co-owners. Blom was the restaurant’s original head chef, while Baas was involved in ownership until his departure in 2015. The restaurant has been associated with sustained recognition in the Dutch fine-dining sector. It received one Michelin star from 2008 onward according to the referenced material. This places Amarone among the established Michelin-recognized restaurants in the Netherlands, although the available source does not provide a detailed account of its cuisine, menu, pricing, seating capacity, or service format beyond its fine-dining classification. GaultMillau awarded Amarone 15 out of 20 points in 2019, and the restaurant was ranked 60th in the 2019 edition of Lekker 500. Leadership changed during the restaurant’s second decade. Jan van Dobben worked alongside Gert Blom for six years before becoming a co-owner in 2017. In July 2018, van Dobben fully took over the restaurant from Blom and became its owner and head chef. The restaurant’s operating team subsequently included van Dobben’s wife, Yoshiko Takayama-van Dobben, restaurant manager Jasper Verhagen, and sous-chef Yuri Wattimena. Together, this team retained Amarone’s Michelin star in December 2018. Amarone also experienced a significant interruption in operations in 2019. On 22 August, the restaurant closed after a major fire attributed to a short circuit in a basement wall socket. Following renovation work, Amarone reopened on 21 February 2020. The available reference material does not document the extent of the physical damage, the renovation cost, insurance arrangements, or any changes to the restaurant’s concept after reopening. Amarone’s core business is the provision of high-end restaurant dining in Rotterdam. Its brand positioning is based on fine dining, chef-led hospitality, and continued Michelin recognition rather than on a packaged consumer product or a large multi-location network. The available source identifies a single Rotterdam restaurant and does not establish additional branches, a parent company, a formal corporate group, or an official website. It also does not provide enough information to describe specific signature dishes, culinary influences, pricing tiers, target demographics, or current management beyond the ownership and leadership information stated above.

Amarone is a fine-dining restaurant in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The documented history of the restaurant begins in 2006, when its original head chef, Gert Blom, and maître Harry Baas became co-owners. The available reference does not identify the restaurant’s precise opening date, founding company, address, original investors, or culinary concept at launch, so those details remain unconfirmed. Amarone built its reputation through recognition in the Dutch fine-dining sector. The restaurant was awarded one Michelin star from 2008 onward according to the referenced Wikipedia material. This recognition continued across changes in ownership and leadership, making the Michelin distinction the most consistently documented marker of the restaurant’s standing. The available material does not specify whether the star was awarded every individual year, but describes the period as 2008–present. Baas remained a co-owner until leaving in 2015. During the restaurant’s next phase, chef Jan van Dobben worked with Gert Blom for six years. Van Dobben became a co-owner in 2017 and fully took over the restaurant from Blom in July 2018. He then served as owner and head chef. His operating team included his wife, Yoshiko Takayama-van Dobben, restaurant manager Jasper Verhagen, and sous-chef Yuri Wattimena. In December 2018, the team retained Amarone’s Michelin star, providing evidence of continuity in the restaurant’s fine-dining positioning after the ownership transition. The restaurant received further external recognition in 2019. GaultMillau gave Amarone a score of 15 out of 20, while the restaurant ranked 60th in the 2019 Lekker 500. These distinctions indicate that Amarone was reviewed within the Dutch restaurant-guide ecosystem, although the available source does not explain the specific criteria, menu, or service attributes behind either assessment. On 22 August 2019, Amarone closed after a major fire. The cause was identified as a short circuit in a wall socket in the basement. The source does not provide details about injuries, property damage, insurance, or the renovation process. After renovation, the restaurant reopened on 21 February 2020. The available material does not document any subsequent rebranding, change of location, expansion, or formal change in culinary identity. Amarone is therefore best characterized as a single-site, chef-led restaurant brand in Rotterdam. Its known history combines long-term Michelin recognition, a transition from Blom and Baas to van Dobben, and a temporary closure caused by fire followed by reopening. Information about current menus, prices, ownership structure, legal entity, employees, website, financial performance, and operations beyond the Rotterdam restaurant is not established by the supplied reference.

• 2020

  Restaurant reopens after renovation

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Amarone reopened on 21 February following renovation work after the 2019 fire.

• 2019

  Guide recognition and fire closure

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Amarone received 15 out of 20 from GaultMillau, ranked 60th in Lekker 500, and closed after a major fire on 22 August.

• 2018

  Van Dobben takes full ownership

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  In July 2018, Jan van Dobben fully took over Amarone from Gert Blom and became owner and head chef.

• 2018

  Michelin star retained under the new team

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Van Dobben and the restaurant team retained Amarone’s Michelin star in December 2018.

• 2017

  Jan van Dobben becomes co-owner

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  After working with Gert Blom for six years, Jan van Dobben became a co-owner of Amarone.

• 2015

  Harry Baas leaves the ownership group

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Maître and co-owner Harry Baas departed from Amarone after an ownership period beginning in 2006.

• 2008

  Michelin-star period begins

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Amarone is documented as holding one Michelin star from 2008 onward.

• 2006

  Blom and Baas become co-owners

  [1]Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Gert Blom, Amarone’s original head chef, and maître Harry Baas operated the restaurant as co-owners.

Michelin-starred fine dining in Rotterdam, centered on chef-led cuisine and high-end restaurant hospitality.

• Fine dining · 2006

  Restaurant dining service

  Amarone’s principal offering is high-end restaurant dining in Rotterdam. The available reference identifies it as a fine-dining restaurant and documents Michelin-star recognition, but does not provide sufficient information to verify specific dishes, tasting menus, à la carte formats, beverage programs, or pricing.

• 2019

  Temporary closure after a basement fireOther

  Background

  A major fire occurred at Amarone on 22 August 2019, with the supplied reference attributing it to a short circuit in a basement wall socket.

  Action taken

  The restaurant closed its doors and underwent renovation.

  Aftermath

  Amarone reopened on 21 February 2020.

  Source

• 2018

  Transfer of full ownership to Jan van DobbenStrategy

  Background

  Jan van Dobben had worked with original chef-owner Gert Blom for six years and had become a co-owner in 2017.

  Action taken

  In July 2018, van Dobben completed the takeover of Amarone from Blom and assumed the roles of owner and head chef.

  Aftermath

  The restaurant retained its Michelin star in December 2018 under van Dobben’s leadership and team.

  Source

1. 1Amarone (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org