Posted By: BABS
Subject: Well worth a visit...Amani's køkken.
Date Posted: 09 May 2009 at 8:34pm

We normally find eating out in Denmark a dreadfully hit and miss experience, but we have found a gem that was well worth the near two hour journey to visit, Amani's Kokken in Syddjursland's Knebel.

Amani's Køkken can be well recommended if you seek a unique menu and special service.

The venue, by the side of a pretty harbor, is perfect for relaxed dining. There is adequate parking directly by the restaurant. Although Amani's Køkken is situated a little off the busy highways, it is well worth the extra travel, through picturesque and idyllic villages, past national monuments and scenic expanses of natural beauty.

The ambiance of Amani's Køkken is serene, clean and welcoming.

The decor is plush without being overpowering. A flat screen tv, which at first glance seems a little out of place, turns out to be showing non obtrusive images of musical performances from India, the images screened were entertaining. The tables are well laid, spotlessly clean and beautiful to look at. The toilets are super clean, fragrant and simply decorated but with some very nice special touches, such as individual cotton mini towels to dry the hands after washing, instead of the usual hot air driers or cheap throwaway paper towels.

Our waitress was engaged with us without being intrusive. She catered to our every whim and was very helpful. At first we thought this was because we were the only customers in the restaurant (we came early) but as the restaurant began to fill up, we found that each and every customer at Amani's Køkken is treated with great respect and care.

The chef visited every table and spoke several languages fluently, which meant he was able to chat easily with the customers and make everybody feel welcome.

Amani's Køkken is a restaurant that welcomes children, and children appear to behave well at Amani's Køkken, possibly because they are being considered and treated with respect. Amani's Køkken offers a varied childrens' menu, with all the tradition basics like chicken or beef or fish, but with an Indo-pakistani twist.

Side portions are available, and the sizes are generous.

For a party of two adults and one child, having two main dishes, a children's menu, four sodas, and a pudding the bill came to 500 kroner. The amount of food brought to the table filled each plate twice full (you take from communal dishes in the center of the table). We were stuffed and satisfied.

The food came in good time, and was tasty and unique in flavor. The menu was varied and offered good Indian/Pakistani foods (pakora, balti, curry, samosa, naan breads, etc) made of the freshest most lovingly prepared ingredients. Lamb, chicken, fish and beef were on the menu. There were ample vegetarian options too. The spice blends were delicate and distinctive and curry strengths from the mild to the very hot.

The puddings were simple but heavenly delicious. Traditional chai as well as coffee were available. The wine list was good.

What makes Amani's worth a visit, and worth return visits is the fresh good quality menu, and most of all, the excellent service.

Going to Amani's you feel part of a happy family enjoying a big meal together. Due to it's popularity, it may be an idea to book a table, but otherwise, the chef seems to have magic ways of squeezing everyone in.

Well recommended.

Dette må deles med andre!! Et besøg hos Amani´s Køkken er en fantastisk oplevelse...
Stedets hyggelige indretning, dejlig betjening, indehaveren som også er stedets kok og så den fantastiske dejlige indisk/parkistanske mad, var en oplevelse som kan sidestilles med den bedste forelskelse.
Jeg kommer helt sikkert igen og til i andre der læser dette... Gi´ jer selv den oplevelse som et besøg hos Amani´s køkken er!!

I was disappointed to hear that someone named Alex Kjær on staff at aoa.dk deleted a glowing review of Amani's by a friend of mine because he thought it was too good to be true.

I too have eaten at Amani's and was absolutely ASTOUNDED at the authenticity and quality of the food. It's amazing that you can go to a tiny little town like Knebel and find a true gem like Amani's Køkken. I stumbled into it one day after taking a boatride with a friend who docked his boat at nearby Nappadam havn. We had been to the same restaurant a year before when it was called Brocafeen and was just normal Danish food plus some not-so-good pizza, so I was pleasantly surprised to walk into a colorful, beautifully decorated, authentic Pakistani restaurant and to greeted by such a gracious host. I can't remember his name but he is also the chef and has lived in DK for over 20 years. I have not had such delicious Pakistani food since and haven't even been able to find an equivalent in the best Pakistani restaurants of Queens in NYC (where I am from). I will go out of my way to go to Amani's again and again. Try it- you will NOT be disappointed!