Auberge cuisine Française — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Food is well prepared and the wine selection is fine, just like many similar places in Amsterdam, but we had a very bizarre experience with service so unfortunately 2 stars.

We went for a 3 course lunch for 2 with wine included. One of the owners, Jan received us politely, offered us a glass of this year’s new Beaujolais from Christophe Pacalet (retails around 11,50 eur / bottle, 6,50- 7 eur / glass at the restaurant ) with our pate, and left the rest of the bottle on our table for another helping if needed.

The wine went down fast being light and servings being on the small end. We had empty glasses for a while so we helped ourselves to a second glass. A while later Jan came back, picked up the bottle, looked at the remaining wine all upset (about 1/4 of wine left after 4 glasses, which seems fair) and started to complain to us about how we put too much wine in our glass, how he can normally pour 6 glasses from it and how he will charge us extra on our bill! (Normally a bottle is 750 ml, which makes 5 * 150 ml servings or 4 * 180 ml servings so 6 would be stretching it.)

The reaction we got ruined the vibe for us and made us uncomfortable but we thought he was actually joking and laughed about it, since I had poured myself perhaps just a little bit more wine than his standard of 125 ml without being aware - I am not a sommelier and not measuring my pours to the exact amount, but I drink enough wine to know how to pour a glass. If it’s such a problem you would assume they would serve the wine strictly themselves anyhow.

When we got our bill we saw that he was serious about it, we were indeed charged for an extra glass without even drinking a proper serving of that glass (6,50 eur if I remember correctly). Such a Dutch thing to do!

From a place which calls itself an Auberge (inn in French from old Provençal alberga) you would not expect this kind of treatment but warm and generous Mediterranean hospitality.

We paid our bill with 20% tip and left the place quite humiliated about our not so “French” dining experience. We couldn’t help but think that having a Francophile alter ego and calling yourself Jean neither makes you French, nor a better host...

A real shame because he could have gained us as customers if the attitude...

Disappointing Experience in Amsterdam – Poor Service and Unwelcoming Atmosphere

I had high hopes for this restaurant, but unfortunately, our experience was far from enjoyable. The main issue was the rude behavior of one of the waiters who wasn’t serving us directly but was the one who seated us at our table. When we were leaving, he insisted on closing the door, presumably because of the cold. The problem? My child was still inside, and we hadn’t exited yet! It was an unnecessary and rude interaction that really soured the entire experience.

On top of that, the service was overall disappointing. It felt like we were invisible to the staff, possibly because we came with children. It seemed like they had little patience for our kids, who, of course, didn’t eat the food like adults. They were expected to sit quietly without any leeway, and when they pulled out a snack they same rude waiter told us it wasn’t allowed. I get it, but it's kids. Why wouldn't you have something for kids then to order? It's impossible to order 3-4 course meal for kids with snails. It’s frustrating when a family-friendly atmosphere is missing, and you’re treated like an inconvenience.

Additionally, I never been served a food where the waiter just pass me the plate and I have to put it on the table on my own. Come on is it restaurant recommended by Michelin guide or a fast food chain where they don't pay attention on how they serve the food?! If you a restaurant it's a huge mistake and unacceptable.

As for the food, it was just okay—not terrible, but nothing memorable either. Given the lack of hospitality and the general unwelcoming vibe, I honestly don’t think it’s worth the visit if you're in Amsterdam! We were really looking forward to a great meal and a pleasant experience, but sadly it's just not the case....

The New Year's Eve meal was a true disappointment. Reserved as early as the beginning of December to celebrate the new year, we were drawn in by positive reviews and the BIB Michelin label, full of hope. From the moment we arrived, a clear lack of professionalism was evident. With the menu set in advance, all that remained was to choose the wine. However, the wine list left us perplexed: questionable value for money and nonexistent advice. On the table, the cutlery was placed in a box—a presentation that was original but far from elegant. Barely two minutes after we were seated, and before the wine was even served, the starter was brought out unceremoniously, giving the impression that the staff wanted the meal to be over quickly. It was a foie gras terrine with an unpleasant texture, overly fatty, accompanied by a quince compote that lacked depth. The plates reminded me of those used by my grandmother. Without any pause, the main course followed. The "choucroute de la mer" turned out to be a bold but failed attempt: a combination of sauerkraut and white fish so dry it could have been mistaken for chicken. The Pithiviers of venison that followed marked the pinnacle of our disappointment. The filling consisted of cabbage, chopped mushrooms, and venison encased in puff pastry. The entire dish was likely prepared well in advance, unappetizing, and ultimately very unpleasant. Only the dessert, a tarte tatin, managed to end the meal on a somewhat positive note. In conclusion, the restaurant's name, promising and evocative of fine French cuisine and attentive service, fell far short of expectations. By 9:45 PM, the dinner was already over. We still left a tip to thank the staff for working on New Year’s Eve, but without a doubt, it was the worst New Year’s Eve meal...