Café restaurant van Kerkwijk — Restaurant in Amsterdam

This small, quaint cafe is absolutely worth visiting when in Amsterdam.

The seating inside is a little tight (but understandably so—they’re trying to maximize the number of tables they can serve). There are also several table outside on the street that are quite lovely to sit at and definitely where I would recommend sitting.

The food was exceptional. I’m guessing the menu changes frequently (given the verbal menu—more on that below). If they have the chicken in coconut sauce with Indonesian spices, do not miss it. It was a perfect dish.

However, there are a few quirky issues one should know before visiting. The day I visited wasn’t super crowded and pretty much only the outside seating was being utilized. From my experience, this is not the place to go if you are in a hurry. I was seated promptly, but that was the last of anything prompt during the dinner. The first server took my drink order which he brought quickly and informed me another server would come recite the verbal menu for me. That concept is charming although there are a few issues with its implementation. First, you have to actually get someone to recite the menu and second, they do not disclose any prices when telling you the menu (although I’m sure they would if asked). I waited almost 20 minutes between being served my drinks and finally getting someone to take my food order (at which point my drinks were almost empty). It was almost impossible to catch the eye of any of the three waiters. I had to listen to the waiter recite the menu to a table that was seated long after I was which was mildly irritating. Finally, I flagged down another waiter and asked if I could order and was told she would get someone to tell me the menu. It was almost comical at that point. I had her take my order as I was short on time and had already overheard the menu. She made an excellent recommendation (the chicken dish mentioned above). Once ordered, the food arrived with normal speed and, again, was quite good. In trying to get a waiter to bring the check, I finally gave up and went inside and asked to pay. Worth noting is that most of the waitstaff were very friendly. They just weren’t super attentive. The only exception to this was the stocky male waiter who was pretty dismissive of several tables and told the table next to me three times that he would be back to recite the menu. They were not pleased.

And who knows, maybe something was going on the day I was there that created a more disorganized service—things happen. That’s why I didn’t take off a star in my rating for this. From what I saw, you should just be mentally prepared to wait a bit or perhaps I could have walked inside and been very direct each time I needed something. Personally, I just don’t enjoy being that kind of person. As long as you can overlook a possible lengthy wait to order and little disorganization in the order in which seated tables are attended, the food is worth it.

UPDATE: I took two friends to eat here a few days after posting the above review and the service, while by now means speedy, was much better. Clearly, something was just off this day. Also, it’s possible that when seated outside the service is a little slower due to...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Café restaurant van Kerkwijk, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. As soon as I walked in, I was struck by the cozy and inviting atmosphere of the restaurant. The decor was modern and stylish, with a warm and welcoming vibe that immediately made me feel at home.

But the real star of the show was the food. I ordered the chef's special, and let me tell you, it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were bold and rich, and the presentation was beautiful. I was impressed by the attention to detail in every aspect of the dish, from the perfectly cooked meat to the freshness of the vegetables.

And the beer! Oh, the beer was incredible. They had a vast selection of craft beers that I'd never tried before, and the bartender was happy to recommend the perfect pour to pair with my meal.

But what really made my experience stand out was the service. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, going above and beyond to ensure that I had a wonderful time. They were happy to answer any questions I had about the menu, made recommendations, and even offered to take a photo of my meal for Instagram!

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with Café restaurant van Kerkwijk. The food was outstanding, the beer was exceptional, and the service was top-notch. I can't wait to go back and try more of what they have to offer. If you're looking for a fantastic dining experience, look no further than this hidden gem. Five...

All round terrible experience at this overrated and under-delivering restaurant. Just another tourist trap in one of the nicest streets near the historical center. First you wait ages to be paid attention to, then ages to be asked for a drink, then what seems like centuries before getting the 'spoken menu' which the staff 'had to recite to 3 other tables and then we come to you'. We had to check for hidden cameras to see if we were being pranked. But really, and then staff constantly forgetting to get basic cutlery, the neighboring table got steak without being given a steak knife. We were given a 'tandoori lang filet' that was an insult to both tandoori and lang filet. The salmon was grossly overcooked and yet lacking char, how do you manage that? The steak was cooked medium without asking how we would like it, and with no char. They might as well have boiled it. And with goat cheese and.... strawberry sauce? Did they run out of cranberry at the supermarket? The only good dish was the mussels, but then again it's hard to mess up literally mussels in oil. The dessert cake tasted stale, and when you look at the plate it had clearly been sitting on all day then you know why. In particular the service is soulless, even for Amsterdam's low standards when it comes to hospitality service. And the best part, you don't know what you pay until the bill comes, because the reciting menu misses that. Highly recommended if you like a theatrical experience instead of actually...