Cannibale Royale du Nord — Restaurant in Amsterdam

I know a 5-star means exceptional and this is from a personal experience;

We've been planning on having dinner at Cannibale Royale eversince I saw it from the tram on the way home. But it's always either too far, or fully booked for the time that we plan. Until one cozy afternoon on the couch, on 2nd Christmas day, my boyfriend asked what I'd like for dinner. I asked him back because I know he wants to go out for dinner and he specifically said he wants to eat at Cannibale Royale. So I looked for a spot online but they only had 8pm and it was too late. So we took a nap, and at 4pm, I looked at the website again, saw that there was a spot for 6pm and immediately made the reservation.

Was very happy that it was just 15mins from my place so we might end up being regulars because; -The staff were very welcoming, no strict assigned table and maybe because it wasn't that busy yet that we were able to choose our table. The corner table at the balcony showed how cool the interior was, cozy, rustic and very well thought. -The cocktail list (for me)had the top chosen favorites which made it easy to choose. -Food choices are easy and everything was just delicious! And the porkbelly & pickles, yummm! The roasted chicken made me the happiest that night. So simple but yet...really special. Shows that they prioritise quality. -The Wagyu steak made Chris looked like a little boy on Christmas day( a smile in every bite). -I rarely choose cheesecake as dessert, but it was dangerously good!

'Til our next date,...

This whole company is based on making money; which isn’t a bad thing. But when you start to realize that everything is made to make you pay as much as possible in the shortest amount of time, it doesn’t make you feel a guest but a client. Which is nuance difference, but in the hospitality industry it should be about hospitality.

The fact that they work with time slots is the easiest example. Two and half hour is what you get. Then the table needs to be filled with new clients. So when you’re done with dessert and you’re enjoying your coffee and company they will ask you if want the bill already or if you want to stay. Which doesn’t very welcoming.

Then the food; it’s good. But the quality price ratio is just way off. At first it doesn’t but when start ordering side dishes that’s where it goes wrong. Almost €10 for a small batch of fries and some haricots vert is ridiculous. And you have to order them, otherwise it’s only meat you are eating. Again the quality is oké maybe even good but way overpriced!

Service is also good; but why so pushy on selling beverages? (Yes I know that’s where the biggest margins are.) You can see it as good service, but the way they do it just doesn’t feel like it. Three times they asked if we want to order some more, with glasses still filled with a sip.

So all and all, expect to pay at least a 100 euros for a 2 person three course meal. (In 2 1/2 hours). For that money there are way better options...

It’s such a shame when a restaurant downgrades the quality of its food, yet bumps up the price. Seven years ago when I moved to the NL, Cannibale Royale had the most delicious burgers in town, and outstanding Mac and Cheese. I would go just for the Mac! It was rich, white and creamy, made with thick quality cheese, absolutely amazing. The other day I was so disappointed to find it’s now a processed gloop, bright orange, zero flavour, the kind you might microwave out of a box. The rosemary sea salt fries used to be thick and chunky, sprinkled with fresh rosemary and quality rock salt. Now they’re more like stringy fast food chain fries that don’t even taste like rosemary. The burgers are nothing special anymore either. The ribs taste the same, so there’s that, although whereas the sauces used to be evidently homemade and different, they now seem like mass produced condiments from a bottle. The service and atmosphere are great, no issues there, and I also like that dogs are welcome, but the food is just not the same anymore, which makes me sad. I understand inflation but the food is not worth the price any longer. I’m almost sad for all the people in there now who never got to know how good it...