I am always reluctant to visit a restaurant that describes itself as 'the latest hotspot in Amsterdam in the style of a trendy French brasserie'. The words 'hotspot' and 'trendy' when it comes to describing restaurants, particularly in Amsterdam, usually has Blondie and the 'Buik' running for the hills. Never has so many evenings been spent in the latest 'hotspot' or 'trendy' restaurants and you realise that the locals concept of 'hotspot' or 'trendy' is very far off the mark.

What put me off even more is their incredily limited menu. How can a restaurant proudly say that they only thing they serve is 'lobster and fillet steak' and expect people to come stampeding through the doors. Now I love steak and lobster as well as the next person, but to have no other choice, I felt, was either brave, or bloody stupid.

We let our friends test it out first ;) as they are usually a good judge of what is good and what is not in Amsterdam. Once they eventually got a table, they gave it glowing reports.

So one evening, Blondie and the Buik gingerly ventured out of our square kilometre Oud Zuid residence and made the 15 minute walk to Red.

Service was good. We got attended to quickly and with no drama. The serving staff knew the menu, particularly the drinks menu without having to ask someone else. I got a great glass of champagne to start with as I am always on the look out to try new fizz. Our friends were feeling celebratory (no idea why ) and they drank Veuve Cliquot, which is reasonably priced at around 60 Euros. I took a bottle of red, naturally (Argentinian Malbec) and Buik drank the fizz, along with a bottle of Montagny Premier Cru, which was fabulous.

I took the lobster with 'Chef's butter' and the Buik took the 'Surf and Turf'. I couldnt believe the quality of the food. My lobster was tremendous. Just the best lobster I possibly, have ever eaten. Perfectly cooked, succulent, tender with the most beautiful, butter sauce over it. The Buik's Surf and Turf was hearty. The meat, again, one of the best steaks either of us have eaten. Truly amazing. It was served with frites, big thick crunchy Belgium type ones, with mayonnaise which certainly didnt taste like it was hand pumped by wenches out the back.

I took the cheeseboard for dessert and that again was good. Good selection of cheeses and plenty of fresh bread to go with it.

I cant believe I've found a restaurant in Amsterdam where the food is amazing, the service is good and more importantly, doesnt cost the earth.

We are going there again tonight for dinner - and managed to get a table, bizarrely enough. It was booked up for days in advance some time ago. I hope the quality is the same as it was a few months ago.