The Seafood Bar — Restaurant in Amsterdam

I am a regular and loyal customer of The Seafood Bar, frequently visiting both the Damrak and Spui locations. I’ve always enjoyed the quality of the food and the overall atmosphere at your restaurants. However, I would like to share some feedback regarding a recent experience at the Spui branch that unfortunately did not meet the standards I’ve come to expect.

During my last visit, I was attended to by a staff member named Sofia. From the beginning, the service felt inattentive. When I sat down at my table, she set the service (fork&knife) not in front of me but on the opposite end. I ordered my meal and requested that my drink be served before the food. However, the drink never arrived. When I asked about it, Sofia responded in a loud and harsh tone, saying: “I don’t serve drinks, I only serve food. Look, the person at the bar will bring it to you,” while pointing toward the bar. This interaction felt unnecessarily abrupt and unfriendly.

Fortunately, another team member kindly brought the drink later, with a warm and professional attitude that I greatly appreciated.

When my meal was served, the plate was greasy and seemed to be covered with cheese powder. I didn’t feel comfortable approaching Sofia again, so I asked another staff member for help, who was kind enough to replace the plate without hesitation.

Later, when I requested the bill from Sofia, she responded without a smile and didn’t bring it immediately. Instead, she continued cleaning other tables. Only when I looked at her again did she finally bring the bill. Throughout my visit, her manner and tone stood out in a negative way, especially compared to the rest of the team. I also noticed her speaking quite harshly to her colleagues behind the bar.

This experience was very disappointing, especially considering the consistently high level of service I’ve previously enjoyed at The Seafood Bar. I want to emphasize that this feedback is not meant as a complaint against the restaurant as a whole, but rather as an observation of an isolated experience that was not in line with the warm and professional service I have come to associate with your brand.

I truly enjoy the food and ambiance at The Seafood Bar and hope this feedback is helpful. However, based on this recent experience, I am not inclined to return to the Spui branch in the...

During our recent visit to Amsterdam, we had the pleasure of dining at The Seafood Bar located at Spui, and it was an unforgettable experience. Nestled in a charming and central square, just a short walk from Dam Square, the location is ideal—close to the city’s main attractions yet tucked away from the hustle and bustle. Here, you find a more refined crowd enjoying the tranquil ambiance.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Vito and Angelo, two exceptional employees of the restaurant who made our dining experience all the more special. Vito, being Italian like myself, went out of his way to make us feel right at home, explaining the menu in detail and guiding us through the best seafood options. His friendliness and professionalism really stood out, and we felt like we were in expert hands throughout the evening.

The food itself was a seafood lover’s dream. We started with perfectly seared scallops and succulent shrimps, followed by a melt-in-your-mouth crab cake that was bursting with flavor. For the main course, we indulged in a grilled seafood platter and a tender, buttery lobster that was cooked to perfection. Every bite was fresh and full of the sea’s essence.

To top off the meal, we couldn’t resist a slice of their creamy cheesecake, followed by a refreshing sgroppino and a traditional limoncello—the perfect finish to an exquisite dinner.

What really sets The Seafood Bar apart, beyond the outstanding food, is the attention to detail and the warm, attentive service. Vito and Angelo elevated the entire experience, making us feel welcome and cared for, and their passion for their work truly shines through.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner or a refined night out with friends, The Seafood Bar at Spui is a must-visit. Exceptional seafood, impeccable service, and a prime location in the heart of Amsterdam without the chaos—this place has it all.

Highly...

Seafood Bar Amsterdam Review Hitting a Homerun It’s always problematic finding great restaurants in places with a lot of tourists. I’d done it before in places like Venezia and even here in Amsterdam, but this time, the pressure was on, as I was showing Amsterdam to my Vietnamese wife and she was hungry, so I could spend an hour getting off the beaten track. She is also the best cook I’ve ever known, which also makes her extremely picky and as always, she wants her hard-earned money to be well spent. I was also under time pressure, having arrived from Helmond by train around noon. So, I had to resort to Google Maps and its tourist derived reviews with all the pitfalls that entails. I found the Seafood Bar. It was relatively close, and the pictures and reviews seemed really good. From Beginning to end, this lunch and experience, could not have been better. The staff was attentive, without being annoying. The food was exquisite, perfect. We got the mixed grill for two, everything in it was perfectly done, perfectly seasoned and perfectly presented. The Albarino went perfectly with the seafood. All in all, I could not have hoped for a better outcome. Getting back to Helmond that evening where we were staying with long time friends, in recounting our experience, I was shocked to learn that the owner of the Seafood Bar, was the very same owner of “De Visscher Seafood” a place in the center of Helmond that had been my favorite and only seafood destination since the 1994. Thirty years later, sadly De Visscher is closed in Helmond, but the owner has expanded and knows his seafood. The price was good, in fact, in Austin, Texas or NYC, such quality and execution would cost twice as much.

Give this place a try if you want a fantastic seafood experience. You won’t be...