Rijks — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Unfortunately just one star for a 1-star Michelin.

My family was here last week to celebrate a birthday. We arrived around 745pm and were glad that the host managed to accommodate us given we had arrived earlier than expected.

We were seated and handed the menu. After that, no one really bothered to come over to ask if we had any questions regarding the menu / give recommendations on how we should order / take our drinks order. We had to flag down a waiter who came over almost reluctantly. This was the first negative point of the night.

Because I have a shellfish allergy (this was mentioned to the restaurant in the booking), I opted for a la carte dishes, choosing only those that had no shellfish. I was very put off by the look the waiter threw me when I decided not to go with the Rijkstable menu he had recommended. I don't see why such a reaction was necessary - I was still ordering a good 4 other dishes for myself...

Somewhere at my second course, I felt my allergy acting up. Unfortunately, I'd stupidly left my antihistamines in the hotel so needed to run out and get some. We ended up pausing our meal for about 20 minutes so that we could run out to buy antihistamines from the closest supermarket.

In that time, the wait staff were very insistent that nothing had been cooked with shellfish.There was absolutely no sympathy that my allergy had acted up. Rather, the staff were extremely defensive, stating to us several times that they were sure they didn't have any shellfish in the food. From my perspective, it could've easily been cross-contamination and a simple apology would've sufficed. (a few of the staff did ask me if I felt better at the end, to give credit to them)

Once my family members were back with the medicine, we informed the wait staff that they could resume service. It took at least another 20 minutes before food came out again, and an additional 20-30 minutes between the rest of the courses. At 11pm, we hadn't been served our desserts and frustrated by that point, we asked for the bill. It's only then that the desserts were served. By then, most of the restaurant was empty sans those who were staying to finish their drinks.

As mentioned earlier, we were here for a birthday. What I found odd was that instead of maybe putting a candle in the dessert / something along those lines, a plate with a music box (that was taken back almost immediately as if we were going to shove the music box into our bags) and a paper rolled up with the writing "Happy Birthday" on it was presented. The entire thing was so lackadaisical that I felt they shouldn't even have bothered with it.

What was so frustrating about this whole experience was that we were at the restaurant for about 3 hours even after excluding the time where we ran out to get medicine. Other guests who arrived an hour after us left way before we did and seemed to be served their food at a quicker pace.

I'm not sure why we received such poor service but the contrast to the tables around us was very stark (perhaps the colour of our skin?). This would be disappointing in any restaurant but even more so in a 1-star where good service is expected.

Ambience was nice, food was okay, but the service was such a damper that I'd not recommend anyone to visit RIJKS while they're...

Review of Rijks – Vegetarian Tasting Menu (Tuin | Garden)

Walking into Rijks, you immediately sense that this isn’t a “typical museum restaurant.” It’s refined without being intimidating, and the service sets the tone for what turns out to be a remarkable dining journey. For my first-ever vegetarian tasting menu — and at a Michelin-starred restaurant — I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

Courses & Impressions...

Tomaat (Tomato, Strawberry, Honey, Basil) A surprising opener that danced between savory and sweet. The brightness of tomato lifted by basil, with strawberry and honey adding both freshness and depth, instantly set the stage for how imaginative this menu would be.

Fruits de Terre (Amazake, Shio Koji, Poppy Seed Tahini) Earthy, nutty, and umami all at once. The amazake and shio koji provided a subtle fermentation complexity, while the tahini grounded the dish. A fascinating “soil-meets-ferment” plate that showed just how far vegetables can go in flavor expression.

Tuinboon (Broad Bean, Sea Lavender, Pistachio, Lemon Verbena) This plate was a revelation in texture — the creaminess of the beans, the gentle crunch of pistachio, and an herbal lift from lemon verbena. It tasted like a garden in peak summer, delicate but assertive.

Pom Pom Blanc (Lion’s Mane, Celeriac Bordelaise, Hollandaise, Curry Leaf Oil) Lion’s mane mushrooms are often praised for their “meaty” bite, and here they were elevated with a Bordelaise richness and the silkiness of hollandaise. The curry leaf oil gave it a subtle aromatic twist. A dish that blurs the line between plant-based and classic French fine dining.

Millefeuille of Beetroot... The star of the menu! Even though it was an add-on, this was a piece of edible art. Beetroot layered like pastry, bringing both visual drama and earthy sweetness. Worth the indulgence.

Glazed BBQ Tempeh (Oatmeal, Zucchini, Ajipanca) Smoky, hearty, and comforting, this was perhaps the most surprising course. Tempeh, often dismissed as “hippie food,” was transformed into something gourmet. The Peruvian ajipanca pepper added depth without overpowering.

Bijenwas (Beeswax, Honey, Elderflower, Black Fruits) A poetic finish — floral, fruity, and lightly sweet. The beeswax brought an almost ethereal texture, while elderflower and black fruits tied it together like the closing note of a symphony.

Overall Experience... This menu was one of the best gastronomic journeys of my life. Every dish was layered, thoughtful, and elegant... not once did it feel like a compromise for being a vegetarian meal. Instead, it showcased the creativity and depth that vegetables can offer when handled with care.

Rijks isn’t just a place to eat; it’s an education in flavour, a conversation with Dutch soil, and a reminder that vegetables can stand proudly at the center of haute cuisine.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unforgettable, and worth returning to...

My wife and I dined on a Monday in May 2018 at "RIJKS®" (gourmet restaurant). Of the restaurants we had shortlisted before our visit to Amsterdam, this was probably the only one that was open on Monday evenings. Not least for this reason we were very happy to be able to go there.

Service: The team was friendly, there was a laid-back and very relaxed atmosphere.

Food: We would rate the food as good overall. According to our impression, the individual dishes and components showed a clear variation in quality and composition. We would describe one or two courses as excellent (especially the main course, which was very elaborately arranged). On the other hand, one or two dishes were kept simple and/or simply arranged (especially an intermediate course, namely a tomato salad - which, however, was very interesting with regard to colour). Overall, we were satisfied with the range of tastes of all dishes.

Wine: The wine pairing was excellent. All wines tasted very good and were very carefully attuned to the dishes. We also liked the fact that the wines came from very different regions, including overseas. Finally we liked very much that one could order the wine accompaniment in half-filled glasses.

Presentation: We would describe the presentation of the dishes and components as good overall. Here and there were appealing colour arrangements and simple effects, once or twice components were added to dishes at the table. Occasionally (especially in the main course) remarkable textures were presented. We would describe the presentation of the wines as simple.

Appearance of the restaurant: We sat outside, therefore we restrict ourselves here to the outside area. One sits near the Rijksmuseum in what we consider an attractively designed outdoor area. We liked the view of the stately museum building. However, the museum or the nearby park obviously attracts musicians, which we did not necessarily find an advantage in our case. To our taste, we sat too close to the adjacent table, which was also occupied, for which, in our opinion, no reason was apparent - because the outside area offered sufficient space and some tables were still unoccupied.

In summary, we would say that the restaurant met our high expectations...