Café Restaurant De Reiger — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Ah, Amsterdam. A city of canals, bicycles, and that peculiar aroma wafting through the air. But nestled in the Jordaan district, there's a culinary gem that deserves a spot on the Flavortown map: Café Restaurant De Reiger. This joint promises hearty, unpretentious fare with a dash of Dutch gezelligheid, and boy, does it deliver.

Stepping inside, De Reiger is a warm hug on a drizzly day. The décor is charmingly rustic, with dark wood furnishings and a vibe that says, "Stay awhile." You can practically hear the stories these walls could tell—if only they could talk.

First up, we dove into thinly sliced squid. These tender tentacles, cooked to perfection, had a light drizzle of lemon and garlic that took my taste buds on a trip straight to the coast. Fresh, tantalizing, and downright delicious.

For the main event, I went with the beefsteak and fries. Let me tell you, this steak was seared to perfection, boasting a crust that had me drooling. Juicy on the inside, it was a flavor explosion with every bite. And those fries? Golden, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside—pure potato perfection. My little buddy went for the ravioli, filled with a luscious blend of ricotta and spinach, all bathed in a silky sage butter sauce. Each mouthful was a little parcel of joy, delicate yet deeply satisfying.

Service at De Reiger is the kind that makes you feel like a regular, even if it's your first visit. The staff move with an easy grace, adding to the overall sense of being somewhere special.

Café Restaurant De Reiger isn’t just a meal; it’s a full-on experience. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best food doesn’t need to try too hard. It simply is—delicious, comforting, and exactly what you need. In a city bursting with artistic flair, De Reiger shows that there’s art in simplicity, too. So next time you find yourself in Amsterdam, make a beeline for this spot. It's...

Black mold in kitchen / fridges.. (first time seen in 25+ years in catering) Extraction system dripping oil/ ooze directly onto and into cooking food and fryers.. Food held hot with varying (under) temps from 17:00 till 21 :45 +, 'remaining food' then cooled uncovered in fridge to be re-heated and served the next day.. Equipment not clean after/ between use. Example "Head chef" Klaas cuts raw meat on slicer then bread and cheese ect. cut on the same slicer without cleaning (sorry vegetarians and vegans).. For example ... if you've had the ravioli , the parmesan 100% had blood on from the slicer blade and or cradle. Wheelie bins lid used as table for prep and cooling . Foods place next too bin for cooling get a nice waft of stinky bin air when open and closed .. that is why l would not eat the ribs . As well as them being cooked in a stock of unknown/ancient/recycled origin (breaking rules for catering).

This "establishment" only opens Wednesday- Saturday ... and you 'will' be served food that was prepared the week before and left in fridge (not freezer) for your enjoyment at least 5 days old (sat-wed) if not and as much as 8 days old ( weds - weds).. meaning '3day' storage rule as well as all rules of food prep and storage ignored and the idea or assumption of service and customer care / respect replaced with a middle finger ..

There is more but l got to go for now .. As Arnie said " Hastā la...

Wow! What a gem. I want to kick myself as I have lived in the Jordaan for over 7 years and this is the 1st time I have been here.

From the moment we walked in, I loved it. Staff were so welcoming, happy to let us move to a slightly larger table when it became available.

Food was delicious, great options on main menu-card and lots of specials (need to go back to try more as it was hard to choose!)

Loved the bread and olive tapenade on the table, the mustard soup was fantastic as was the lamb tenderloin. My boyfriend had the carpaccio (which he said was the best he ever had) and the ribs which were so well seasoned and not smothered in any sauce. We finished with the ice cream truffles.

The wine list is great, they offer most of the wines as glass, carafe or bottle. I throughly enjoyed the Bio Sangiovese.

Atmosphere was lovely, the setting is like you just walked back in time and it’s in a lovely quiet part of the neighborhood but have to say the staff made it. Every single one was friendly and engaging.

The cherry on the cake is menus are in both Dutch and English including the specials board which makes you feel very welcome.

Thank you for giving us the most perfect...