Lion Noir

Top Notch Breakfast and Dinner…read more.. Brasserie is the restaurant inside the Ambassade Hotel. My wife and I...along with another couple...had 4 breakfasts and 1 dinner there so this review reflects our experience. - Overall: 5 - Location: 5 (for Old Town and the Jordaan) - Exterior: 5 - Interior: 5 - Atmosphere: 5 - Menu: 5 - Food: 5 - Service: 5 (though the head waiter at dinner was full-of-himself) - Price and Value: 5 Pros: - Location: Convenient to the Old Town and Jordaan parts of Amsterdam. - Exterior: Handsome. A beautifully restored and maintained property. - Interior: Contemporary. Brasserie is a high end spot across 3 rooms, yet remains comfortable where conversation is easily accomplished. - Menu: Very healthy buffet at breakfast plus some items which can be ordered. Dinner offers French fare with a relatively light touch...though very different from the wellness-oriented breakfast. - Food: Excellent. The breakfast buffet is not huge, but full of healthy high quality items. I had 3 unbelievable versions of granola spooned from large jars and covered my bowl with the best tasting light Greek yogurt. Fruit and fish was super fresh...bread and pastries baked on premises amazing. Others in our group chose made-to-order egg dishes. It's all part of staying at the hotel. Dinner transformed Brasserie into a bistro with a French twist on many favorite dishes. Check the menu online. Portions are small - as expected - but quality was high. However, prices were very reasonable with most items under $30. - Service: Homey at breakfast..."French" for dinner. Everyone could not have been more friendly and helpful in the morning. Things were a bit more formal at night with a different crew. The chief waiter was very knowledgeable, but we agreed a bit arrogant. - Price and Value: Worth it. I believe the breakfast buffet is only for guests of the Ambassade Hotel. Brasserie is open to the public at night and quite reasonable. - Parking: None. Who has a car in Old Town? Cons: - The only one readily apparent was the brusque, off-the-cuff nature of our main server at dinner. He wasn't over-the-top, but not in keeping with the friendly vibe of the hotel. And that's coming from 2 couples who grew up in New York City and lived for many years in San Francisco and LA. Anyone can...and should...get dinner at Brasserie. There are many reasons to make reservations for a stay at the Ambassade - including access to their breakfast buffet.

We had very social Christmas meal at Brasserie fo seven courses. The food were unique and some…read morethoughtful combinations with different kind of food choice. The restaurant was beautiful and the staff were very great with wine pairing. Excellent choice for a special Christmas meal.

Amazing .. definitely enough for 2

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Port

Bleu

4.4(68 reviews)

1.3 km•Centrum

Our first great dinner in town. The food was amazing. We opted for the black angus and a side of…read morepepper sauce. Don't skip on the sauce! It comes on the side and was rich and delicious. We shared the steak and got the large salad with veggies! The veggies were sooo good! Plus you have plenty of protein with your steak. A cute little gem of a place, in a nice area for a nice night out.

We went here for dinner based on Yelp Reviews. We made a reservation which prob wasn't necessary…read morebut we got a great seat inside by a big window looking out onto the street. The restaurant was understaffed and the servers were struggling. We could understand that but one had to ask repeatedly for something that had been ordered. The menu seemed different from the one I had seen online-no schnitzel-but I could be wrong. Ordered mussels which were surprisingly tasteless. Cooked in water with a plethora of vegetables that didn't add any flavor. Husband ordered hamburger and he said it was good. It's a pretty restaurant, cozy. If they were to get more staff and changed something on the menu it would be a win. It's in a pretty area.

Inside

Chicken Bonne Femme - yum. Perfect serving size.

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The Pantry

4.6(625 reviews)

0.5 km•Centrum

The Pantry serves authentic Dutch food in a cozy environment. Definitely get one of their…read moreprix-fixe menus. It includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert. If you are sharing a meal with someone, get items from a different prix-fixe menu and you can both try a variety of items. We enjoyed: * Charcuterie plate: sausages taste minimally processed and delicious * Beef and onion stew: taste slightly different than ones in America * Cauliflower and cheese oven bake: vegetarian's comfort food * Hutspot (mashed potatoes and carrots) and meatballs: non-vegetarian's comfort food * Pea soup with smoked ham For desserts, we had chocolate mousse and vlaflip (vanilla custard) and they were just okay. I'm not sure if desserts are the Dutch's strengths, except maybe the Dutch apple pie. They even bottle their own house beer. The restaurant is small. Try to make a reservation if you can. We didn't have a reservation, but went to the restaurant at around 5PM and were seated in about 15 minutes. At times, the line could get very long, but the staff is still welcoming and ensures that everyone gets served...eventually.

Traditional Dutch foods, served in a charming/cozy dining room - what's not to love? We enjoyed…read moreevery dish that we ordered; even our pickiest (child) member of our party ate well (the meatball and hutspot disappeared from the plate :). Portions are substantial and a very good value in a neighborhood where tourist-markups are the norm. They have a/c, but in order to feel it you'll need to sit closer to the back of the restaurant/near the kitchen, as there is only one wall unit back there, and they leave the front of the restaurant open to the elements (even in 98+ degree heat).

The Pantry restaurant

Dutch ham plate

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I hadn't had Dutch apple pie since my days waiting tables at Denny's, in the '80s & this was well worth the wait.

Café George

3.7(111 reviews)

0.6 km•Jordaan, Centrum

If you want the classic Amsterdam-chic "see and be seen" vibe, Café George is a must. The…read moreLeidsegracht location is really fun and popular. This place is buzzing. It's high-energy, crowded (in a fun way), and the people-watching is 10/10. It feels like a lively mix of Paris and New York in the heart of the canals. Great for a group lunch. Service is professional and fast-paced to keep up with the crowd. The food (like the Steak Frites) is consistently solid, but you are definitely here for the energetic atmosphere and the perfect location. A great 4-star spot if you want to soak in the fashionable Amsterdam.

Will go through pros and cons: Pros…read more- next to none - nice looking restaurant and bar itself Cons - Appalling service for a "nicer" restaurant in a bustling neighborhood - put in an order for dirty martinis, bread/butter, oysters, steak frites, and red bass - out of martini glasses by 7pm. What?? - rock hard bread I wouldn't feed a dog and plastic container butter - lackluster oysters - steak frites came out just about raw (1.5 hours after ordering). Had to send back. Came back with no sauce on top, no mayo for fries - red bass decent - server/waiter said it "wasn't his fault" and "the system didn't take our order". No empathy, no anything. - the most appalling part. Offered us a free drink or a coffee. WHAT?? Didn't comp the martinis, didn't comp the awful steak frites, or anything. Sorry excuse for a restaurant that, if based on service and food, should be out of business. Won't be back. Go to brut de mer instead. No stars

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Cannibale Royale

4.4(284 reviews)

0.2 km•Centrum

I've been to a few of the other locations, but the Handboogstraat spot just hits different. It's…read moregot that dark, slightly chaotic, "rariteitenkabinet" vibe that makes you feel like you've stumbled into a hidden club rather than a burger joint. We kept it classic this time: * The Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone tender as always. They don't over-sweeten the glaze, which I appreciate. * Le Cannibale Royale: The pulled pork on top of the patty is a heavy hitter, but the sauerkraut actually cuts through the richness perfectly. * The Fries: Still some of the most consistent in the city--thin, salty, and actually hot. Service was busy (it's Handboogstraat, so what do you expect?), but the staff was super chill and kept the craft beers flowing. It's loud, it's moody, and it's exactly what I wanted for a late-night feed. Plus, I've noticed they actually take the time to read and reply to feedback here, which is a rare find for a place this popular. Keep doing what you're doing!

Do I recommend this place? Heck yes I do! We had ribs, burgers, mac n cheese, fries, veggies, so…read moremuch food and it was all delicious. Staff was friendly and spoke great English. The ambiance had crazy neat decor all over the walls. Whenever I go on vacation I always stalk yelp to find food places to visit, and this place did not disappoint! This is a meat eaters paradise. Don't sleep on the ribs!

1.5 km•Haarlemmerbuurt, Centrum

Le Classique Burger

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The exterior Cannibale Royale.

De Belhamel

4.2(98 reviews)

The bread and butter they offer in the beginning of your meal was some of the best French butter…read moreI've ever had. Our server, Mitchell, was helpful in explaining the menu and gave recommendations. The bartender working that day made an amazing Hendrix martini. And our other friend, from Bangladesh, was giving us lots of information about the restaurant as well as the local area, almost like a personal tour guide. The first course, escargot with herbed butter, was delightful to say the least. Save some bread to absorb the remains. The seasonal white asparagus dish with ham, hard boiled egg and petite potatoes was superb. We don't offer this style of cuisine much in the States; a treat to dive deeper in traditional cooking. The sea bass as a main was swimming with flavor. I appreciate this style of French cuisine in "the Venice of the North". The atmosphere and the staff made the experience terrific. I would enjoy coming back for a second visit. Atmosphere: 10 | 10 Service: 9.5 | 10 Food: 9.5 | 10

I recently visited De Belhamel for dinner with friends on a recent trip to Amsterdam. I started my…read moremeal with a pair of appetizers. The first was the Escargots a la Flamande. The escargots were nicely tender and soaked in a flavorful herb and garlic butter. The second was the Drie Crostini Belhamel. This featured three crispy crostini's topped with high quality mouthwatering toppings of tender smoked salmon, fresh tender beef tartare topped with a yolky egg, and cool salty Iberico. For my entrée I had the Tournedos Rossini. Tender juicy steak sat on a bed of crisp asparagus and savory potatoes and topped with a buttery foie gras. For dessert I had the Basque Cheesecake which had a creamy airy texture and was topped with a sweet flavorful kumquat marmalade. Overall, our dinner was enjoyable and delicious.

1.4 km•Museumkwartier, Zuid

Art deco bar

All that is left is the shells

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Exterior entrance

L'Entrecôte et les Dames

4.1(31 reviews)

Amsterdam's take on the classic "Le Relais de l'entrecotte". We walked in around 5:30 on a weekend…read moreand were sat straight away. The salad is very similar to le relais but less "mustardy", the fries are crispy, and the steak is flavourful and cooked as ordered. The sauce is much creamier and is more of a mix of a chimichurri and the traditional sauce but I loved it all the same but if you are an aficionado of the traditional just know it will be different. We shared the ile flottante for dessert and it blew us away, so yummy! Service is friendly and attentive, very clean location with great decor.

I had heard about this place online, and was so stoked when I stumbled across it in Amsterdam…read more Basically they have a very simple menu of either steak and fries or fish and fries, which comes with salad and bread. The fries are endless and they do give a second helping of the steak! Also the chimichuri sauce is absolutely delicious. I left so full and satisfied.

Bread and butter

Steak and fries

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Salad

Restaurant Zaza's

4.7(55 reviews)

1.1 km•De Pijp, Zuid

Came here on a Monday night with a reservation and the restaurant was full. Highly recommend a…read morereservation. Service was friendly, but timing can be a little bit off. They do make up for it with their personalities. The restaurant itself is small and typically can hold groups of 2 to 5. The menu is small, but all the dishes are high quality. 1. Amuse bouche goat cheese - had a nice smoky flavor and fresh 2. Scallops - small but packed with flavor. There is a white sauce that complimented the scallops and the bread pastry with onions 3. Goat cheese terrine - very nice soft goat cheese mixed with onions as well as berry and veggies. Only wish there was more bread. 4. Sea bream - very nicely done with a fresh taste of the meat and a crispy skin. Pairs well with its sauce and tomatoes. 5. Ravioli - nicely done al dente with a herby sauce and packed ravioli 6. Bread pudding - one of the best I've had and came out fresh and hot. Comes with a white sauce as well as boozy caramel sauce. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant which has received very nice reviews for over 10 years. I'm glad we chose this restaurant during my stay here.

The small French Restaurant in Amsterdam served us one of the best meals we have had in a long…read moretime. The service was very attentive without hovering over us. The server selected an excellent bottle of wine to complement both of our meals! It's a very small restaurant and I'm glad we made reservations in advance!

Inside

Perhaps the best bread pudding in Amsterdam!

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This wine selected by our server was excellent.

Van Speyk

4.5(146 reviews)

1.2 km•Centrum

This restaurant was across the street from our hotel during our stay in Amsterdam! The interior is…read moreinviting and intimate & the chandeliers add to the charm. The waitstaff were super friendly and attentive! The food was high quality and delicious. I had the oysters, mussels and shrimp cocktail. I enjoyed the time spent here and what added to the mood was the awesome playlist of music! Nice!

I dined here with my family and we had a truly great experience. Service was fantastic from start…read moreto finish--warm, attentive, and professional without ever feeling rushed. The restaurant itself is well-decorated, clean, and charming, with a small, quaint atmosphere that makes it perfect for a relaxed meal. The food was excellent. The seabass was perfectly cooked, the hot pot was flavorful, and the mussels were enormous--maybe a little too large, but still enjoyable. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, and you could tell other tables were enjoying their meals just as much as we were. The only challenge is the restroom access. The staircase leading down is very steep, and I'm not sure if there's an elevator. That said, this is pretty common in Amsterdam's historic buildings and didn't take away from the overall experience. All things considered, I would definitely return to Van Speyk. Great food, great service, and a warm, cozy setting make it a restaurant worth visiting.