Restaurant Heemelrijck De Pijp — Restaurant in Amsterdam

I usually don’t write reviews, but this was the most unpleasant dining experience I’ve had in Amsterdam so far.

I decided to dine here because of the glowing reviews, so I was shocked by the service I received and the really poor food quality.

It started when I first sat down - I was immediately asked whether I would like some bread. I said yes, assuming that it was complimentary (as most bread which is asked by a waiter so causally is). I waited 15 minutes for a menu, and only then did I realize I just paid $6 euros for some cold bread.

Moving on, the “beef” stew was presented in such tiny pieces that contained mainly fat. It looked and tasted like canned beef stew — overly salty. They took steam vegetables literally. The only thing those veggies saw before landing on my plate was boiling water (zero salt or other seasonings).

Everything so far was forgivable. The worst part of the experience was when I requested the bread and butter be packed up. I was dining solo, and there was no way for me to finish it. Plus, I was paying 6 euros for it and didn’t want to waste the whole basket. My request led to a series of overly dramatic reactions from the chefs and staff. There was a lot of back and forth in dutch, followed by at least 4 glances back at my table. The cherry on top was that one of the cooks lowered his head below his station just to gawk at me (because what kind of crazy person wants to get food she paid for packed up…).

This entire experience left such a bad taste in my mouth (literally and figuratively ). I had a much better experience getting traditional dutch food that was actually tasty and without the ugly...

We visit Amsterdam every year and were been looking forward to dinner at Restaurant Heemelrijck as we lean into local Dutch cuisine (and beverages). We knew the restaurant had a long history, was filled with a mash-up of funky and historic decor, and was known for their stamppot! We had a reservation and arrived right on time but they did not have a table ready. There really isn't any place to wait so the gentlemen (who appeared to be running the show) told us pop directly across the street to Cafe Van Wou where he said he'd come get us when they were ready. We love a good dive bar and rest assured, Cafe Van Wou is a good ole fashioned dive bar! The place has just been tricked-out for Christmas and look fabulous. There were only a few locals chatting with employees as they were barely open. We had a beer and killed about 20+ minutes before the manager came to fetch us (he knew everyone in the bar!). The service at Heemelrijck was pleasant, even jovial as there were some laughs shared with staff. The smoked salmon appetizer was quite nice, as were the warm mushrooms. Unfortunately, those were the highlights. We each had stamppot, one with the sauerkraut and one the seasonal, both with sausage and ham/bacon. Disappointedly, they were both a bit average as we've had better, my fiancée didn't finish hers. One was a bit light on the gravy, the potatoes were a little dry and they just didn't really come together for us. The decor and manager were unique and made for an interesting stop but unfortunately we'll be getting our stamppot...

PLEASE READ‼️:

A year ago my friend and I stumbled upon this place because we wanted to try traditional Dutch food. Not only was the food beyond phenomenal but the culture and atmosphere felt as if we were part of it too. The overall experience was so amazing I told all my friends and family and made it a priority to come back the following year! I followed through with my plan and came back the following year (this year 2024) with my mom. I was so excited for her to try the meal I could not get out of my head and to get the whole experience. Unfortunately, we showed up without reservations 😭! I explained to staff that year prior there were no reservations so I was unaware. They explained they got a lot busier since then (as they should) and they politely let my mother and I use their restroom. Upon return, they shared they have an opening for one hour! AHHHH I was so excited and grateful their hospitality was something I remembered from my experience last time and that was exactly what we received this time as well! I already had my order ready to go because I hadn’t stopped dreaming about it. I had the Endive which is an authentic Dutch plate! When I say chefs kisses!! CHEFS KISSES! I’m happy I went back and definitely will make it a priority to strive for this experience again…this time with...