Brasserie Marie — Restaurant in Amsterdam

This is my first ever review for a restaurant I am afraid I could not kept this just for my self. One of those kind of restaurants that you pay for the location/views. Before we went I read mixed reviews regarding the service provided, I have to say that on my own experience I worked as a cruise director for 5 stars superyachts for the last 4 years and I have never seen such a a case of poor service and lack of customer service. Well, I went there yesterday to celebrate my birthday with my partner. I have to say the food wasn’t bad. The homemade sausage was good and the artichokes with alioli actually a very nice discovery. We had the gazpacho, hmm you must send your chef to the south of Spain to learn how to cook tasty gazpacho, we had a liquid tomato soup that didn’t taste AT ALL. The rest of the food was acceptable, by mistake my partner ordered fish but was actually good. Now comes the real nightmare with the young blond waiter that he was attending us. Fist of all let me advise you to never touch a customer if the customer is not happy with something, specially with COVID times. You keep putting your hand on my shoulder while I was eating, what the hell is that?? What’s the point of wearing a face mask if you are touching the customers??? My partner ordered a month ago a cake for my birthday, a cheesecake actually. ( we still have the email confirmation) they arrived with a small cherry cake ( 2 bites), no candle, nothing special, and nobody apologised. They just thought it was normal. His excuse was that they didn’t remember the request in the email but the funny thing is that they confirmed and they said 1 month ago that there was no problem at all to have a little cheesecake for that night. After that we stayed there a bit longer, I kept telling my partner that this was the worst birthday that I ever had with such a a poor customer service during the whole night( with several cases of no paying attention like refilling my glass of wine, once the bottle was empty without asking me or touching me during the whole night) and this young waiter came again, put his hand on my shoulder and try to explain that if we have a special request we should sent an email, that the cake error wasn’t his mistake ? Are you serious, even when we showed him the emails and their confirmation?? I have no words to express the poor service and bad experience that we had yesterday, especially regarding the service from this waiter. It is a pity that having the restaurant in such a beautiful location the service provided was the complete opposite. I won’t recommend this place and I am able to say that this was by far the worst experience that I have had in...

I've been meaning to write this review for a little more than 10 days now. (We had been traveling for two weeks and the meal we had at Marie's was so exceptional from start to finish that I'm now attempting to convey this through the haze of memories, along with photographic proof of me eating a sea urchin saved on my phone.)

Our first impression of Marie was actually from across the canal the night before. While walking back to our hotel, we spotted the bright lights and spacious water-side patio of Marie, the dozens of tables illuminated and reflecting a place to see and be seen at. It looked amazing and it would only be 24 hours before we would sit there. (Making a reservation ahead of time is probably the best idea you can have if you're visiting Amsterdam.)

When we got there, we actually walked in through the patio. We descended a stairway, walked through the patio, greeted a very polite bartender, and made our way up another staircase to the actual entrance. I took comfort in the fact that we were not the only clueless tourists who came in from that approach as our window seat showed us this was a pretty common occurrence.

Within seconds, Caleb was over to greet us, and he could not have been a better server. He gave us his recommendations, he joked with us, he took the time to snap a picture... In essence, he was a consummate professional and future diners are in for a treat if they land in his section.

From a culinary standpoint, Marie hits homerun after homerun. Cocktails and wine are abundant, setting the table for some incredible dishes. I mentioned sea urchin earlier and I'm not kidding when I say it was a wonderful. I wasn't sure what to expect - I'm someone who tries new "dish" whenever I have the opportunity and sea urchin is something I've never previously tasted - but I would gladly order it again.

The rest of the meal was even more impressive, with the lobsters, cote de boeuf and stingray providing the foundation for one of the best meals any of us have had. The food is simply that exquisite. (And hey, I could cross "sea urchin" and "stingray" off my culinary conquests list in one visit. I'm well on my way to eating Noah's Ark's guest list.)

Marie Amsterdam is absolutely worth a visit if you're passing through, or a local who lives right up the street. It's an essential destination for anyone looking for a meal you'll be talking about for years... even if you don't get...

My husband and I dined recently at Marie Amsterdam restaurant, situated within the beautiful De l'Europe hotel on the banks of the Amstel River. The evening commenced with a delightful starter of steak tartare, a perfect choice for sharing. The main courses, mushroom gnocchi a la Parisienne with chanterelles and spinach, and the Lamb fillet with peas, were nothing short of divine. To complete our culinary journey, we indulged in two delectable desserts, a wonderful lava cake, and an exquisite apple tart. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, showcasing the chef's expertise and attention to detail. The attentive service from the staff added to the overall enjoyment of the meal, making it a memorable dining experience.

HOWEVER, as much as I enjoyed the culinary aspect and the delightful setting, I cannot overlook a significant issue with the billing process that left a sour taste in my mouth. In order to make a reservation, I was asked to pay a 50 euro deposit, with the understanding that it would be deducted from the final bill. The very next day after dining, I noticed that the 50 euro deposit I had paid in advance was not deducted from the final bill, as it was supposed to be. This oversight prompted me to contact the restaurant immediately.

The initial response was an apology for the mistake and the assurance of a refund. Regrettably, the refund did not materialize even after two days. The unresolved matter meant that I had to revisit the restaurant, which took time away from sightseeing on my last day in the city. The explanation I received—that the finance department of the hotel handles refunds and is unavailable on weekends—only added to my frustration. Finally, two business days later, I received an email confirmation that the funds would be refunded.

While I hope the issue with the billing was an unintentional oversight, it does raise concerns about their reservation and refund system. Other establishments use more straightforward methods, such as charging a credit card only in the event of a no-show, which simplifies the process for both the restaurant and the patrons.

In conclusion, Marie Amsterdam is a nice restaurant with wonderful food, attentive service, and captivating location. However, if you choose to dine there, I recommend paying close attention to charges on your bill to avoid any potential inconvenience like we had...