Café restaurant van Kerkwijk image

Café restaurant van Kerkwijk

Restaurant Lunch restaurant Continental restaurant Dutch restaurant

Small wooden tables fill this homely, relaxed cafe where waiters recite the changing menu options. People often mention restaurant, menu, good, great, delicious, Amsterdam, service, staff, fish, dishes,


Address

Nes 41, 1012 KC Amsterdam, Netherlands

Website

www.vankerkwijk.com

Contact

+31 20 620 3316

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (2.5K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Saturday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Sunday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Monday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Tuesday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Wednesday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Thursday: 11 AM to 12 AM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: restaurant (28) menu (27) good (16) great (15) delicious (13) Amsterdam (12) service (12) staff (11) fish (10) dishes (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Dan S. 1 year ago on Google
    We had a fantastic late lunch here, around 3pm and tried a little bit of everything on the menu. Pastrami and piccalilli starter fab, served with lovely, fresh bread to soak up all the flavours. Tenderloin with goats cheese and strawberry coulis probably one of the most bizarre combos I’ve ever ordered but really worked and would definitely order again. Indonesian chicken delicious; meat dropped off the bone and had delicate coconut flavours. Pear dessert, made by the owner’s mum for the last 22 years, was absolutely delicious and I’d order a thousand times - and that’s coming from someone who’s not a fan of fruit pie desserts. Soft, lower layers of sweet pear protected by a perfectly crunchy, sweet upper. Staff absolutely brilliant: Loads of energy, knew the menu inside out and really added to our visit. Highly recommended, we had a fantastic few hours here.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Orion A. 1 year ago on Google
    I don’t think words can express how amazing this dining experience was. They may not take reservations but if you get the chance to hit it at the right time and have a sliver of patience then you deserve the magic that these lovely people have in store for you. The chef was in full control of his kitchen a true master. The waiter was friendly knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. And the owners well I only met one and can’t say enough good things about her. Definitely highly recommended!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeremy 6 months ago on Google • 327 reviews
    Very enjoyable dining experience. felt very casual but very high quality. Staff were very inviting and friendly. Food was fantastic and had great flavours. Was very full when we left.

  • 5/5 Russell C. 2 years ago on Google
    We often found ourselves dining at the many cafes along Amsterdam’s waterways to enjoy the views. We were however pleasantly surprised to find a culinary treat just off the waterways at Van Kerkwijk. With no written menu, our server presented us with a selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches that sounded and were in fact most wonderful. The cauliflower soup with a touch of curry started our meal followed by a honey, pine-nut, and goat cheese salad and finally an open faced, tuna melt sandwich. Enjoy!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul H. 1 year ago on Google
    Had a great dining experience here Tuesday night. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Mira came over to inform us of the menu and specials, which were numerous. We couldn't decide on the starters so she put together a very nice variety for us to enjoy. I had the steak on goat cheese with a strawberry sauce. Basket of fries and salad to share. Delicious! I would definitely recommend this restaurant and will go there again for sure!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gaurav K. 2 years ago on Google
    I ordered freshly squeezed orange juice and Indonesian chicken which was little less spicy (to my taste being an Indian). Overall a good place to eat.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Eric D. 1 year ago on Google
    Great vibe with real candles burning everywhere. Friendly unhurried service. Tried the amber and bock beers - both were good. Menu recited by our server. Mussels looked great & one of the more popular items. We had the fish mousse, which had just the right amount of salt. Also had steak with cheese & raspberry sauce- which was not too sweet & cooked to perfection. We also had the steak with sun dried tomato butter - also very tasty. Overall a more local feel than tourist trap feel. Would definitely recommend and go back.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Philip B. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a gem of a restaurant. We found it on our second last day & what a great discovery it was. We had lunch here on 2 consecutive days. The food was delicious. The service was slow-ish because the food was cooked from scratch. It's a no frills restaurant. The staff were so lovely and explained what was available. There is no written menu! If you eat here, you will be delighted...
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chi Kit W. 4 months ago on Google • 212 reviews
    Cozy cafe restaurant on the lovely Nes. This is next to our hotel so we passed by it quite a few times and it has always been full during meal times. Looks like it's frequented by tourists and locals alike Food was very good, especially considering the price. The fish mousse made with smoked mackerel was great! And so were the mussels There is no menu (for lunch at least) and you will need to wait for somehow to come explain what's available, but they (apparently) do it by the order in which you were seated. There could be a short wait because of this, but the food and service was well worth it Service was attentive and good! Dogs and strollers were welcome too!

  • 5/5 Lara A. 3 months ago on Google • 211 reviews New
    This was such a nice little restaurant on our first night in Amsterdam. The vibe is wonderful, relaxed with really good food. The staff are friendly and make a lot of effort. We didn’t book but I don’t think you’d be able to just get a table unless you arrive very early like we did. It gets full with people waiting for tables. But very worth it for really nice well made food!

  • 5/5 Aleksei E. 2 years ago on Google
    Great home style restaurant/cafe. Everything was delicious, but personal best goes to beef with strawberry sauce, and pear pie. Guys were great with answering all our questions, and helping us to select what to eat. If you're in Amsterdam, hungry and love delicious food - don't think more and go there.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Marko �. 9 months ago on Google
    Nice restaurant with domestic vibe. We came without reservation in a full restaurant, so they recommended having one drink on a bar and table was ready for us. The food itself was not something special, but it was delicious. I would be more happy if they had more vegetarian options.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jia Qi L. 6 months ago on Google
    Serendipitous find! Feeling jet-lagged, we were trying to avoid the busy streets and spotted this quaint cafe. Host and chef were warm and welcoming. The signature beef with strawberry sauce combination was refreshing and delectable. Personally, I loved the white fish. It reminded me of my mom’s cooking??? Highly recommended to all!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Philippe L. 2 years ago on Google
    Totally deserving its punctuation (4.6), this restaurant is the best experience we had in the city centre over 4 days. The restaurant is cute, the waitress is super fun, and there is no menu, which means very targeted quality homemade dishes that the waitress will tell you all about. Even though the place is not experienced with making cocktails I put the waitress to the challenge. I asked for an Old Fashion and it was nice. For starters we had the mussels, pate, and cheese. The mussels where grilled which gave then a very nice BBQ smell and taste nicely infusing with the oil. The pate was light and very tasty and the cheese cream was also good. Our mains, the tender beef and monk fish were very original. The beef was perfectly cooked and came with a raspberry/strawberry sauce. The monk fish came with a light mustard, garlic and parsley sauce that matched perfectly. Overall a great experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Charlie H. 2 years ago on Google
    Perfect lunch place in Amsterdam central area. Delicious soups and tasty salads. Healthy meals overall and filling too. The service is also friendly and excellent. Would definitely come back again. Thanks
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent restaurant, cozy and with personality. The interior is rustic but nicely furnished and warm. Dishes are great with a good variety and top ingredients. What’s outstanding is the service, especially the “menu” girl who welcomes you and explains to you by heart and with patience the different dishes, that change every day. Not a touristic trap, it’s a real local place.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Leszek M. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely hidden gem. Tiny and always busy restaurant that will surprise you with a fusion menu. Dishes from land and sea are something that you never tried before. Beef with strawberry sauce, chicken with coconut and many more. Staff is very happy to work there and eager to explain you all about the concept. Grab a drink at the bar if you need to wait for a table.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sonya A. 1 month ago on Google • 78 reviews New
    This was a hidden gem 💎 on our trip to Amsterdam. There is no menu as it changes daily. The chef comes and describes what's on offer. All mouth-watering dishes. They come out very well displayed, and there is plenty on the plate. The atmosphere is great. They don't take bookings and as the evening moves on more and more people arrive so be sure not to arrive to late to avoid disappointment. It's good value for money and great food and service 👌 def recommended

  • 4/5 Vlad B. 2 months ago on Google • 48 reviews New
    Really cozy family restaurant. They don’t have a written menu, but the waiter is going to recite you the menu of the day. It is a very family oriented experience. The staff is super friendly and helpful, trying to make sure you will have a good time at their place, as if you would be the guest of their house. Food portions are reasonable and they have a good variety of dishes. You could either go for multiple of their appetizers or some of their main dishes. I recommend going there early as the place does not have too many tables and it gets busy. Overall a really pleasant experience for someone who is looking for a more quiet, family oriented restaurant!

  • 4/5 Jimmy S. 5 months ago on Google • 38 reviews
    This restaurant is located in the side street slightly away from the main busy area, but is really popular and you may have to wait a while before getting a table - even during off-peak hours. We loved the mushroom soup and pear pie in particular. The pear pie was not too sweet while the flavours were strong. I felt that the beef was slightly on the dry side which made it a bit tougher to chew for my preference. I had their craft beers while waiting for our seat and they were great, worth trying. There was no menu and the restaurant staff will recite the menu to you. I personally prefer a physical menu as I tend to forget and lose track of information easily - it can be challenging keeping track of the items and hearing the staff if the restaurant is noisy. The staff was patient with us and explained the menu to us in English. Worth a try if you’re looking for Dutch cuisine around the area.

  • 5/5 Yang 2 months ago on Google • 30 reviews New
    We ordered the mussels starter, and both fish mains - the cod and the salmon. Food was delicious and the house wines were decent. Only feedback was that the restaurant is small and tables were all crammed up next to each other - had to squeeze through half the room’s diners to get to our table!

  • 5/5 AHMAD A. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing food abd service

  • 5/5 itsick a. 1 year ago on Google
    Who said there is no good food in Amsterdam?? They greeted us in this restaurant as like they are welcoming us to their own home. The soup was warm and comforting on that cold day, the fish was cooked to excellence and the beef was very tasty. I don't uselly take cakes as deserts but there is something about home cooked traditional cakes. The photos don't do them any justice. This place is a keeper.

  • 5/5 Dennis J. 4 months ago on Google
    Had some very tasty appetizers (with excellent Turkish bread) and good entrees. The service—particularly the bartender—was attentive and engaging. Great atmosphere, albeit slightly noisy for hard-of-hearing people.

  • 5/5 Ivette D. 2 months ago on Google New
    Authentic and delicious. It's a small restaurant with no menu. The waiter explains each option and offers recommendations. We loved everything. From the sample of appetizers, mussels, pumpkin soup, beef tenderloin and blueberry cake, it was all superb.

  • 2/5 Perseas C. 2 years ago on Google
    There was no menu, the waitress said she would tell us what they offer. In what restaurant you have no access to the menu? Then she refused to tell us what's on the menu before ordering drinks. One of us got the beef burger which was advertised as homemade but was obviously either precooked or from package. And it had too many spices which amost always is a red flag for quality.

  • 5/5 Stephen L. 3 months ago on Google • 4 reviews New
    The prices are fairly reasonable despite there isn't a menu readily available. Comprehending the dishes from the waiter is a unique dining experience. The food is great, and the wine is good as well. A highly recommended restaurant

  • 5/5 Giwrgos M. 2 years ago on Google
    I enjoyed every moment!! Friendly staff and excellent service! Food was excellent too! Tasty and fresh!

  • 5/5 Al A. 9 months ago on Google
    The food here was incredible. The veal I had was fantastic as was the fish dish my wife had. I saw many with the beef in a strawberry sauce which is a signature dish also looked incredible. A quaint little family owned place in a quiet part of Amsterdam. Highly recommend.

  • 4/5 Michael P. 6 months ago on Google
    Nice family restaurant overall. You can see and feel that the chef is working hard and trying to do his best to satisfy the clients. The waitresses are also nice and kind, but it takes a while to get the meals and be served. We waited at the Bar and got a drink, for 15-20 minutes, before our table was ready. Also the steak was chewy, so I didn't like it but the rest meals were good.

  • 5/5 judit b. 7 months ago on Google
    A cozy restaurant in the centre of Amsterdam but in a calm, small street. Delicious, high quality meals, very friendly and super professional service. We were 4, two adults and two children of 9 and 11 yo and we felt very welcome. The price value ratio is great! Highly recommended!

  • 4/5 mali baba j. 6 months ago on Google
    Great local restaurant. Really nice staff. Went with a group of friends. We ordered a Tapas to share for starters (fave the muscles & wraps). For main we ordered Salmon, Beef and Veal. Tasty and unique combinations. All dishes came with salad and fries. Veal was a little bit hard other than that no comment. Greatly recommend for a local address in Amsterdam.

  • 5/5 Sivan Padnos C. 2 years ago on Google
    Best pear pie ever. Family business great servise wonderful rustic kitchen

  • 5/5 Nastaran A. 2 years ago on Google
    Great food, staff and location, thanks.

  • 5/5 Melany R. 2 years ago on Google
    Very good meal to share last night by candlelight with my girlfriend. The dishes and appetizers are tasty. Everything on the menu makes you want to taste it! The setting is wonderful and the service really perfect. Thank you

  • 5/5 Lebriz E. 11 months ago on Google
    Hidden gem in the center of Amsterdam. Very welcoming and kind staff. I was there for a lunch to have only soup until I saw the desserts. Homemade tomato soup was very delicious. Blueberry taart is highly recommended to try if you’re looking for something else than apple pie. This place will be definitely in my list to visit again to try more dishes.

  • 5/5 Giovana B. 2 years ago on Google
    I was really looking forward to visiting this restaurant after reading the reviews. I was a bit hopeless as it was Saturday night (with an 8pm lockdown) and I had no bookings. When arrived at the restaurant it only had one table free and because they don't take reservations (💛💛💛) we could have a lovely dinner! There is no menu, the waitress (very kind one!) will tell you the menu (starters, main and dessert) and then you can chose. Everything was great and we loved the food and the service! I had the mussels as starter and fish as main (the fish was delicious!). My husband had a blue cheese mousse as starter and duck for main (he liked both but mentioned the duck was very sweet due to its sauce and the figs puree. It was still delicious, I'm just sharing as it might be helpful for people who don't like sweet taste on main). Salad and chips were included with the main dishes. 100% recommend and I would definitely visit again if had the chance ❤

  • 5/5 Laís E. 2 years ago on Google
    Best experience in Amsterdam. The owner was so kind to us and explained all the menu. They gave us a traditional lollipop that I think is a must try... But I'll never try again hahaha

  • 5/5 Nathan P. 1 year ago on Google
    Wonderful meal. Really delicious and cool place. Was able to get a seat for one at the bar fairly quickly and they tell you the menu as it’s not always the same. The steak cheese and strawberry sauce was outstanding. Would go back and recommend.

  • 5/5 Nikolay D. 1 year ago on Google
    The Van Kerkwijk restaurant has a unique atmosphere of home gatherings with a pleasant hostess who will tell you what delicious food they have prepared today. Do not wait for the classic strict menu on paper, but rather be patient and listen to what they can serve you today. Be sure to grab a starter, a glass of local beer and just enjoy your time here. The food itself is prepared by professionals who love to cook. Be sure to take the local Dutch specialists! Didn't expect to stumble across a real Amsterdam hidden gem five minutes from Dam Square


Call +31 20 620 3316 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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