The Plug (formerly Utopia)

[Pierre von Mondragon]

http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/4024/AMS ... open.dhtml

hopefully it is the school on the "Voorburgwal" so Utopia would be save

Cool that Utopia might be staying open, but a bit bum for Homegrown Fantasy given they shut up already,and some of the others

[piedpiperofvice]

I agree..fuck that guy, Stan..he's a hater. You're the mayor of coffeeshops...you're Stan the man, brother..I'll be there Feb 4 am ..hope you're around

[Nuggz]

http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/4024/AMS ... open.dhtml

hopefully it is the school on the "Voorburgwal" so Utopia would be save

Cool that Utopia might be staying open, but a bit bum for Homegrown Fantasy given they shut up already,and some of the others

Yeah I definitely wish it were De Graal pulling through and surviving and Utopia getting the chop if it had to be either of the two, as I find De Graal to be a much better shop than Utopia in well just about every single aspect possible (location, staff, pricing, product, vibe/general ambience, selection of refreshments, etc), and if I'm honest I think Utopia is a bit (re: very) overrated (Voyagers is a similar vibe shop, also highly liked on here, that I much prefer). Here's to hoping both somehow pull a miracle out of their ass and make it through.

[Not_the_monk]

Yeah I definitely wish it were De Graal pulling through and surviving and Utopia getting the chop if it had to be either of the two, as I find De Graal to be a much better shop than Utopia in well just about every single aspect possible (location, staff, pricing, product, vibe/general ambience, selection of refreshments, etc), and if I'm honest I think Utopia is a bit (re: very) overrated (Voyagers is a similar vibe shop, also highly liked on here, that I much prefer). Here's to hoping both somehow pull a miracle out of their ass and make it through.

Both Utopia and De Graal are easily in my top 5 list, but I think you're being a bit harsh with that comparison myself;

Location - entirely subjective but I think most visitors to the city would give that to Utopia
Staff - can't agree with you at all there, De Graal's are nice enough but Utopia (owner aside perhaps) is the gold standard for service in my experience
Pricing - True, Utopia is expensive
Product - 50/50 but De Graal have a very annoying habit of regularly being out of half their menu these days, almost never have the first thing I ask to see. Both tend to the better quality end.
Refreshments - again 50/50, neither are amazing but not a clear lead either way
Ambience - De Graal has a better space sure compared to Utopia's rectangle and is more comfortable but I like Utopia's unassuming vibe. Both tend to have decent music on too

Personally I'm nowhere near as big a fan of Voyagers as those 2 and disagree that the vibe is similar there, and not just since the box went in either; I find it sometimes a bit "too cool for school" in there which I never do at Utopia.

Just opinions though; as you say lets just hope they both, and any others slated for closure too, survive somehow.

[KeyMonCha]

Personally I'm nowhere near as big a fan of Voyagers as those 2 and disagree that the vibe is similar there, and not just since the box went in either; I find it sometimes a bit "too cool for school" in there which I never do at Utopia.

+1 (opinion)

[Nuggz]

Yeah I definitely wish it were De Graal pulling through and surviving and Utopia getting the chop if it had to be either of the two, as I find De Graal to be a much better shop than Utopia in well just about every single aspect possible (location, staff, pricing, product, vibe/general ambience, selection of refreshments, etc), and if I'm honest I think Utopia is a bit (re: very) overrated (Voyagers is a similar vibe shop, also highly liked on here, that I much prefer). Here's to hoping both somehow pull a miracle out of their ass and make it through.

Both Utopia and De Graal are easily in my top 5 list, but I think you're being a bit harsh with that comparison myself;

Location - entirely subjective but I think most visitors to the city would give that to Utopia
Staff - can't agree with you at all there, De Graal's are nice enough but Utopia (owner aside perhaps) is the gold standard for service in my experience
Pricing - True, Utopia is expensive
Product - 50/50 but De Graal have a very annoying habit of regularly being out of half their menu these days, almost never have the first thing I ask to see. Both tend to the better quality end.
Refreshments - again 50/50, neither are amazing but not a clear lead either way
Ambience - De Graal has a better space sure compared to Utopia's rectangle and is more comfortable but I like Utopia's unassuming vibe. Both tend to have decent music on too

Personally I'm nowhere near as big a fan of Voyagers as those 2 and disagree that the vibe is similar there, and not just since the box went in either; I find it sometimes a bit "too cool for school" in there which I never do at Utopia.

Just opinions though; as you say lets just hope they both, and any others slated for closure too, survive somehow.

Location - perhaps subjective, but Utopia is still in the core of Amsterdam where glitzy nutella shops and neon signs kitschyness galore, and massive drunken packs of Brits abroads on stag-do's reign supreme... whereas De Pijp is pretty much the trendiest neighborhood in NL at the moment, I think locals will def give Graal the edge, and you'd be surprised at how many visitor likely would too.

Staff - the James cat can be a right wanker that much has been established. Ingi is usually a sweetheart but I've seen her customer-service tank deplete and seen the other side too, though suppose that happens with all budtenders. De Graal, well most of the female staff aren't bad on the eyes by any stretch, so a wash at best, and I get good service when I speak to them in Spanish & Dutch

Refreshments - drinks are cheaper at Graal, and they also have a decent selection of extra snacks, including apple-pie and perhaps even tosti's. And hell, even take a look at their extensive menu of hippy teas versus lipton at Utopia? This one is hands down Graal.

Ambience - this one is no contest in my opinion. The "beautiful simplicity" (which would be a nice way of saying it's a fucking room with a window, that's about it) can't hold a candle to Graal's funky murals, eclectic mix of decor, chameleon inhabited terrariums, back jam-session room, and of course splendid garden view.

Product - you're right about the out of stock bit. But De Graal typically has something good in most subcategories of Dam cannabis i.e. good neder/iso hash, good sativa, good indica, good import hash, they've carried TGGT edibles in the past which would put them ahead of any CS with regard to that, the best outdooor weed I've seen in Dam, ect. Whereas Utopia's hashes are pretty good, but on their weed menu I smell every tub and am lucky if I sniff one that merits the price-tag on bag appeal (not including hazes which I never get from any CS on principle because that's one thing I can always source at a low price, good flush and high quality). As stated in my previous editing I think I can say the shop holds my personal record for walk-in, walk-outs (aka not-buy and fly) in Mokum, so there's that. Points considered again Graal nabs this handily.

To me Voyagers and Graal are similarly sized shops, similar menus (in terms of strains, pricing and size of menu), consistently the most accoladed shops on this forum, both really popular with the British crowd in particular, I think there's enough parallels for me to see it. I guess for me Voyagers is also pricey but I find their product stands up to my scrutinizing eyes and nostrils a lot better than Utopia's. Though sometimes I feel a little bit of the too cool for school vibe from them that you speak of, however I will say I think they're some of the more knowledgable staff about cannabis in general, if not the most.

[free_phil_spector]

Staff - the James cat can be a right wanker that much has been established.

is that the dark haired guy with a beard/tache/facial hair (cant remember which)? If so I've only encountered him once, about a year ago. He was fine with me, but then I dont tend to piss about too much when choosing weed. But his stroppiness gave me a right laugh when he lost it with another customer who was trying to get him to chop from a specific bud ("Fuck that, just tell me how much you want and I'll weigh it out, I aint pissing around" )

[Marok21]

It´s hard to compare Utopia and De Graal. I like them both very much

In De Graal you feel the nice vibe there... a true gem! Different than most of the other shops
in town... their menu is pretty huge but like said before many things are usually not in stock.
I also had sometimes pretty wet weed from here... but I can´t really say something about the
quality in general because I am not so often there like in other Shops (damn opening hours in the week )
Hashwise I had many nice batches from here sometimes a little "overpriced" but nice
Also the staff is very nice and I feel welcome.

In Utopia you also have a great vibe but different... the coffeeshop itself is surely not as nice as de Graal especially because it´s not as
big as de Graal and the interior is not so special.
Utopia is much smaller than de Graal but in my opinion they did it anyway pretty well... I have a good feeling when sitting there watching through the big window and see the world go by. They also have a small table and chairs in front of the shop wich I used a few times to enjoy the sun have a drink and smoke. But the biggest point for Utopia is of course the staff wich is usually super nice and makes me feel to be very welcome.

Product - you're right about the out of stock bit. But De Graal typically has something good in most subcategories of Dam cannabis i.e. good neder/iso hash, good sativa, good indica, good import hash, they've carried TGGT edibles in the past which would put them ahead of any CS with regard to that, the best outdooor weed I've seen in Dam, ect. Whereas Utopia's hashes are pretty good, but on their weed menu I smell every tub and am lucky if I sniff one that merits the price-tag on bag appeal (not including hazes which I never get from any CS on principle because that's one thing I can always source at a low price, good flush and high quality). As stated in my previous editing I think I can say the shop holds my personal record for walk-in, walk-outs (aka not-buy and fly) in Mokum, so there's that. Points considered again Graal nabs this handily.

De Graal has the better menu of course... they have a range of hashes, iso, outdoor on their menu and Utopia has only a few strains and hashes... but I had some outstanding batches from here in the past... sadly not everything on the menu is always really good but they have mostly one or two things on the menu wich are really nice with superb taste and good flushed. Well prices are not cheap here like in the most coffeeshops in the centrum.

As stated in my previous editing I think I can say the shop holds my personal record for walk-in, walk-outs (aka not-buy and fly) in Mokum, so there's that.

but I would say it´s worth to check out the place... sometimes they have a gem in stock

[Nuggz]

Marok21

Alter deine Englisch* ist echte super! Next time mussen wir treffen!

I agree Utopia's set-up isn't quite as bad as I presented above, but you alluded it's hard to beat de Graal even if you include non-Amsterdam CS' s

Frag - what do you think is the most potent truly old school import hash at the moment?

Bij voorbaat dank!

[Fat_old_dwarf]

[Double post; I suppose I could see if I can dig out a random Utopia pic to fill an otherwise pointless space.]

[Done. Who's in the pic?]

[Fat_old_dwarf]

Alter deine Deutsche ist echte super!

Ahem.

Can't be bothered with the bullshit at the moment, but here's the current menu. Only had time to try Cali Orange and the reliable Citral, both very good, as one would expect.

[Nuggz]

and in other news...

[Fat_old_dwarf]

Alter deine Englisch* ist echte super!

It's not going to get any better, even with the diversionary tactic of sending readers off to hunt the footnote.

[Nuggz]

You lost me completely with that one dwarf

ETA: not even sure what was meant by either of your last posts, but mine was directed towards Marok since he's German and sometimes expresses concern about his "subpar" English, I was paying him a sincere compliment, as I enjoyed his prose and description of said products/shops, as I always do – albeit a drunken one which I corrected, hence the asterisk (not footnote).

Seems you must have found some reality bending, mind warping herb judging from your completely out of left field responses, please do divulge the location where I can procure said super grass, perhaps that cali orange?

Alas I'm only being cheeky , a lovely day to all you stoners now carry on!

[jonnerriah]

was looking forward to checking out utopia but walked in and ther were 3 locals ( 1 I recognised as Gapie ) sat haviin a chat ..the lady budtender asked us for I.D which we didnt have .....fair enough so we left .....but as we left I couyld hear Gapie sniggering as I walked past ....just got the feeling that as we werent local we were interupting there conversation and were not welcome......basically I would not treat people like that ...and I think it is piss poor.....I live in a tourist seaside town and the locals dont like the ( emits ) holiday makers ........ So I get why they wouldnt want us there ....but I had been looking forward to checking out this shop and walked out feeling dissed