Box Sociaal Jordaan — Restaurant in Amsterdam

I very much wanted to give Box Sociaal 5 stars (and more if i could)! But the last 10 mins of my visit soured the experience for me.

The restaurant has been on my list for months and I was finally excited to have my parents in town and try this spot with me. The brunch was fantastic: we had the Boom-Meringue and the Shak Attack. The Bloody Mary was also great, with just the perfect amount of spice.

The staff was good at first… we had a reservation and seated right on time. The waiting time between taking our orders and having our meals served was very minimal; I was impressed with the efficiency. Everyone was super friendly and checked in just enough times during the actual meal. We finished our food and my mother wanted to pay by cash. A staff member came by later with the card reader, but all was fine - we just paid with the cash and that was it.

However - and this is where my experience went downhill - before leaving, we took turns with visits to the bathroom and watching our bags. It was around 2:05 PM now, maybe 5 mins after we paid, and our server comes by to ask that we leave as they have a party to seat. It felt rushed and as if they were just kicking us out immediately.

A few points to back my stance: My reservation time was for 1 - 2:30PM; and we’re granted that time slot we booked for and paid a deposit on. We finished quickly and had no intention to even stay the full res time. We were waiting for someone in the bathroom, and when I mentioned that… the server said “no worries, we can wait another 2 mins” 🙄 It made us feel like we were not welcome anymore and was not a very polite response on their part The tables around us were empty, why ask our specific table to leave? I understand turning tables to get more customers in or even kindly asking loitering customers to move for a waiting party… however there was not even a line outside or big group waiting to be seated.

Overall, food is great and I was hoping this would be a usual spot for our family and friends visiting. Please assess customer service (including post service and payment) and have a better handle on...

Box Social is an absolute standout by the canal, combining a relaxed riverside vibe with food and drink that keep you coming back. The moment you step inside, the 450 year old building beautifully renovated and with the gentle lapping of water outside set the stage for something special.

Their coffee hits all the right notes—bold, smooth, and wonderfully familiar, just like the brews we savored back home in Australia. Whether you need your morning pick-me-up or an afternoon lift, each cup is expertly extracted and deeply satisfying.

When it comes to food, the menu is a delight. With anything from the classic Smashed Avocado to Pancakes with Fried Chicken, Shakshuka, Chicken Parmy —simple ingredients that pack a serious punch of flavour. Portion sizes are generous, so you’ll leave fully satisfied every time.

Throughout the day, the staff strike the perfect balance of friendly professionalism—always ready with a recommendation or a smile, yet never hovering. Their genuine warmth makes the experience feel effortlessly personal.

As evening falls, Box Social’s cocktails truly shine with their creativity and depth of flavour. The White Negroni blew our minds —its crisp, aromatic profile hit the spot perfectly and just like a Negroni only white. Each concoction feels like an inspired work, thoughtfully layered to surprise and delight.

Whether you’re after a morning coffee that reminds you of home, a hearty weekend brunch, or an imaginative nightcap by the water, Box Social delivers on every front. Highly recommended for anyone seeking top-quality fare in a setting that feels both vibrant...

This place has breakfast nailed down. But dinner really needs some work. I got the steak which was nice. However I got the praline dessert and a cocktail as well and they really need to be rethought. The dessert is just confusing.. it's a completely melted, luke warm purple soup with small random pieces of cold gelato in it. And there is a meringue disc on top that you can barely crack through to eat the actual dessert. Just trying to eat it causes the liquid in the glass to go over the side with that disc stuck over the top. It was just confusing, is it supposed to be frozen or warm? What is the flavor supposed to be? Honestly it's just strange and really not an exciting dessert. It's trying to do too much.

The bourbon cocktail I had with oolong flavoring also needs some work. I either got way too much simple syrup in mine or that's just how the drink is supposed to taste. Either case, it just tastes like simple syrup and any flavor of the bourbon or any other ingredient is drowned out. I could only take a couple of sips and had to leave the glass nearly full.

I was disappointed since my breakfast experience at the other location with their shakshuka was absolutely my favorite meal of this entire trip to Amsterdam. I was hoping to end it with a similar amazing dinner experience. And I was just unimpressed. I hope they really make some changes to the dinner service, the restaurant chain I really feel has potential outside of...