Café / Restaurant Tolhuistuin / Culturele hotspot in Volewijck

Very nice experience, friendly staff and tasty food. Good atmosphere.

Naturally, a stunning location opposite Central Station, where you can see everything from ferries to cruise ships passing by. Very young but attentive, and super fun staff. The concept of a variety of small bites for around ten euros really appealed to us, a bit of a grazing experience. Chicken karaage, Peking duck with hoi sin and sesame cracker, fried cauliflower balls in a spicy coating, and 2 small jackfruit burgers; everything divine with a very quirky touch from the chef. The house red Sangiovese and white Pinot Grigio were unbelievably good for a house wine. A well-filled glass for €6.40. And then a Colombian three-masted ship passed by, with all the sailors standing in the rigging up to at least 25 meters high—at least 30 little figures. Magical Monday evening. €65 for two with 4 dishes and 4 wines; we won't be complaining.

Over all a very nice place to sit in the sun! The oysters were not tasty sadly (the 1 euro deal ones), the manager was quite rude - besides that very nice staff and place to look out over the water

Nice beergarten style. Quick service via QR code ordering. Nice view over t IJ. Snacks and bites are good.

The food was very good. The service was good. The ambiance? To each their own. The seating leaves much to be desired (more like a school or event hall). But the food and the concept of small portions are very good.

We wanted to go there for drinks today. Ordering is only possible via QR code, but the restaurant doesn't even offer free Wi-Fi. So we tried using roaming. We wanted to order two Aperol Spritzes, but it wasn't possible to order two drinks at once. So we told the staff, but they couldn't do anything about it and said we'd just have to place the order twice. We left and went to The Butcher for a drink, where everything worked perfectly.

Went here on a Friday night with my cousin both Asian women in our 20s. The experience started off perfectly fine we got seated quickly, and our server (the woman with the blue earrings) seemed friendly. Since it was our first time, she explained that the restaurant does lots of small plates and recommended ordering a few things to share. We decided to start with two dishes and a dessert,, a crispy salmon dish, some kind of potato fry dish, and a crème dessert. The first weird thing was that the dessert came out before any of the savoury food. Not a huge deal, except it also came without a spoon. We ended up eating it with our forks. Then we waited. About 15 minutes later, a mushroom smash burger showed up at our table. We hadn't ordered it, so I let the server know that I thought it belonged to someone else. She took it back, and then we waited some more. At one point I even went downstairs to use the washroom and wander around a bit before coming back. We asked about our food and were told she'd check. Eventually the salmon arrived, so we just started eating because by then we'd already been waiting for a while. During all of this, we had to ask for spoons multiple times (I think three times?) before getting them. We also asked for water and were handed a huge jug with no glasses, so we had to ask again for cups. After another long wait(probably around 20 more mins) we didn’t want to wait anymore so we told our server that we had to leave and asked if we could just pay for the dessert and salmon since the potato still hadn't shown up. She agreed, while telling us that she checked the kitchen and our potato wasn't there… ok Sorry, do u want us to find our potato 😅? That comment just threw us off lol. I understand Friday dinner service can be busy, but the restaurant was maybe half full. I saw lots of waiters standing around chatting. I also noticed a few other tables seemed to be waiting a long time for food, so maybe this was more of a training or management issue than anything else. To be fair, all of our interactions with the server were polite on both sides. She wasn't rude. But she also didn't seem particularly apologetic considering we received the wrong food, had an item completely forgotten, and had to repeatedly ask for basic things. Also, as we were the only visible Asians in the sea of white people, I can't help wondering whether this was also a racism issue. Might be looking too far into it but after reading some reviews it might be the case. The food itself was as expected for the high price and small portions.

Slow service, good food. Prices are a little high I goes for the view.

Nice cafe with a view and a terrace

Very nice, had a lovely evening!

Still a favorite. Always a unique menu, good wines, excellent value, and professional staff!

Poor service from rarely seen waiters for small amounts of aesthetically-arranged food for a high cost while sitting on hard wooden folding chairs is a poor idea for a couple's date. I was as hungry when I left as when I entered but more than 45€ poorer per plate.

Excellent meal, fast service, extraordinary view. I recommend it.

Restaurant at the cultural center opposite Amsterdam Central Station, on the other side of the river. Easily accessible by free ferry. Service was okay, a bit impersonal. The food was good, the selection somewhat different than usual. Worth a visit.

Friendly and fast service. The food is very good. Ideal just before a concert. We will definitely come back.

The location is cool, restaurant looks nice but would say just pop in for a drink a not for dinner. Think for the price you can get way better food. Felt like trying to offer many cuisines in like a sharing style but was missing freshness and cohesiveness.

Tasty and fun food. Good vegan and vegetarian menu and not expensive!

Delicious and original dishes. Plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. The smaller dishes are meant for sharing; seven dishes, plus two desserts, were enough for the four of us.

Lovely concept and killer flavors! ☆☆☆UPDATE ☆☆☆ This place is still great!!

Food was amazing, and reasonably priced!

It's great to enjoy well-prepared, non-mainstream food in a historic setting. Even the furniture still exudes the atmosphere of the Shell canteen. (In a positive way!). The staff was extremely helpful. Very spacious seating. Recommendation: try to get a spot by the window for the view. (Summer on the terrace!!)

Overpriced small dishes (basically entrees). The place is mostly useful as a first date restaurant to impress superficial people. Bourgeois hipster ambiance including the uninterested service.

I'm blown away by the original and delicious food, especially for a vegetarian like me. Try the spring rolls with "tuna" that were incredibly realistic and had an amazing sauce. And everything else was fantastic. All served with friendly and efficient service! It's been a long time since I've been so impressed! Thank you ❤️

The tables were dirty, no one was cleaning them, and sitting at a dirty table was unpleasant. We waited a few minutes and then left.

One of my favourite places. It’s not cheap but the menu is unique and every bite is delicious. Service and atmosphere are also great! It’s a special occasion type of place because you will spend a bit - probably about 50-65 euro depending on how many cocktails you order.

Nice location, but very large and the food isn't particularly special. Pricey.

They got us with the ñoquis and the tuna.

The tapas are great! They have a lot of options. The environment is cozy, really liked it!

Guys I had a bitterballen. They didnt mention but brought Vegan option. The worst bitterballen i ever had and they charged 10 eur for it. 😭😭😭😭 not recommended!

Great good with great ambience !

A large, professional restaurant. The food was good. The "Multiple Small Portions" concept is a nice touch. Sharing with a larger group is very inconvenient, but the concept is better with two people. Two portions isn't enough for a big eater. It does get expensive for a bigger eater. But all in all, a nice place so close to the ferry!

Where they serve wine in a water glass …. can’t give more than 2 starts

The food was generally okay. Service was friendly, but it took forever. The atmosphere reminded me of a cafeteria. The chef was newly in love, and the salt was endless.

The location is great. And also for socializing. The food is overpriced. It's small portions so you need to order more than one item of main course per person. And you need to order side dishes separately (breads). Service is ok. The waiting for the second order was much longer, therefore, make sure you ask again if your food is not arrived after 15 minutes. Big chance that the order didn't get processed. The toilet is not clean and they are all gender neutral toilets. The best to come on foot (free ferry) from Amsterdam CS. Otherwise the parking will cost you a lot. As the view from there is great , I would choose to sit outside on the ground floor where you can just order snacks and drinks.

Very racist place not welcome and left us waiting for 20 minutes without serving us the menu. While serving other people who came after us. Do not waste your time and money on them. We went to the restaurant next door The Butcher 😍 were they welcomed us and served us with great foods.

The food is excellent and at a very reasonable price.

Fantastic food and staff. No complaints at all. pricing good and selection on the Menu great.

Apparently, the (once super sophisticated) menu was too much for the staff to handle. Getting it hot on our table was beyond them. Taste was below mediocre. Staff were more interested in each other. After 10 minutes of waving and sometimes even making eye contact with some of them, we resorted to a shout. That helped, we got one of them, reluctantly, to our table. It wasn't busy at all. Maybe for a drink the terrace is ok but save your taste budds a nasty experience dont eat here.

A very large place, but rather poorly maintained. The view of the skyline is beautiful, but the rest is a shame. The service was disappointing, especially from the waiter, who pretended to understand our request. We had asked for grilled chicken with vegetables, but we received chicken skewers drowned in an unspecified and frankly disgusting sauce. Overall impression: they sensed we were tourists and served us whatever they wanted. Bad experience. We paid €35 for two dishes and a carafe of recycled water.

Wow what an experience... The food tasted awesome.. We ordered Nachos, Cord fish, tostada, plant based smashed burger... All of the dishes were on point and deserve 10/10. The cheesecake was especially out of this world... The best I ever had..

Extremely dry chicken, loaded fries not recommended, nice for a drink but stay away from the food

Waited 45 minutes for a sandwich that was never rung up, ended up not eating there at all

Nice food, great views, lovely place for a lunch in summer

Great Atmosphere, Excellent Service Really cool vibe by the water, perfect for a relaxed evening. The portions are on the smaller side, so plan to order 2–3 mains per person if you're hungry. Big shoutout to our waiter, Tristan, who was fantastic at walking us through the menu and making sure our dietary restrictions were taken care of. Great service makes all the difference!

The portions were very small! Otherwise it is a great place - cozy atmosphere, good service and attentive staff

Awesome beer garden behind Central Station on the other side of the river. We took the free ferry and then enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. You order with your phone using a QR code. We only had two beers, but they came quickly. Unfortunately, the used dishes weren't cleared away so quickly. But that's the only criticism.

Really Nice to have a beer and eat!

We ate here with our whole group (17 people), and the atmosphere and food service style worked really well for us! Food was fully vegetarian and very well prepared, and the service was helpful and pleasant even though they had a busy evening. Would definitely recommend for a group of 15-20 people!

Food was delicious but small portions. Great for a light lunch!

A nice bar where you can sit outside, both in the sun and in the shade of deckchairs and picnic tables. In short, it's a great place to sit and have a drink.

Once and never again! Went there with low expectations, and it was still disappointing! Tiny portions at normal prices. Both "main courses" cost over 10 euros each, and you need at least five to even begin to feel full. The location is good, but the service is poor, as for some of us, the food arrived immediately, while for others, it took over 20 minutes after the first course (sometimes the same dish).

Very nice, eating many smaller snacks together. Top.

Very nice place with a nice view! Food was great and surprising - and, considering the prices in Amsterdam in other areas - very good price value.

Terrible place. Not nice people.

We cycled off the boat and were able to immediately take a seat on the terrace. We were served quickly. The food was well prepared. I had the salmon on toast and my girlfriend had the grilled chicken sandwich with avocado. We each drank a delicious cocktail and were immediately given sparkling water. For cocktail and toast I paid a little more, or 20€. We sat in the sun and it was nice to watch the passers-by. Wonderful place.

Restaurant with a nice location. Parasols available. There was a lot of wind, so a glass wall to block the wind would provide more comfort. You sit on some kind of picnic benches outside and a cushion to sit on would be welcome. Nice service and a nice view. Prices weren't too bad and the food was delicious!

friendly stuff and the food was okay

Always good food and good atmosphere :)

Delicious food with surprising dishes. Friendly service and you will be helped quickly. I think the space is a bit big, lots of people, feels a bit massive, with poor acoustics, very noisy. Furthermore, I didn't think the short belly sweaters of the ladies in the service were appropriate. I don't think it's nice if you're looking at your belly button when they come to serve. A simple black blouse or t-shirt would be better.

On balance, quality of dishes were well above average, with some of the picks better than others … and the four of us did quite some sampling. Service was good, with our waiting staff performing attentively. Place was quite busy and noisy but we manage to have good fun at our assigned table. Would certainly return to this establishment, which harbours some sentimental value for me.

Shared dining concept, many vegan and vegetarian options. At our table, we shared the complete vegetarian menu, and were very pleasantly surprised! Interesting and varied dishes that were great to share and delicious! Service was good, took some time to make sure one of our party could eat gluten free. Nice atmosphere and great view.

Horrible service with bunch of kids roaming around . Can someone with money pls pls buy this restaurant and make it professional . Kids are so arrogant there . Put some people who really appreciate working here . People reading this message don’t expect any service . Especially at the bar MG 😀. One star is too much

Great place to do lunch or dinner overlooking Amsterdam. Architecture is beautiful (former Shell staff restaurant I think).

Waited a long time, had mediocre food, got the wrong bill, very busy

On Sunday 16/2: not too busy, pleasant buzz. Pleasant and alert service. We really enjoyed the food in the form of shareable dishes: lots of variety and good vegetarian options.

We have been coming here regularly since it opened. Sometimes just to have a drink at the seats in the back, but usually to eat. Usually eaten together, but also with a group of colleagues. Always cozy and pleasant atmosphere. Portions seem a bit larger these days, which I think is a good development, because sometimes it was limited in the past. The staff is attentive and friendly.

Was told to sit anywhere and then 20 minutes later of not being served I was told I was on a reserved table, there was no way of knowing this was reserved

Fun place to eat. It’s a shared dining concept and everything comes in portions for two people. The salmon is a bit overated for the price but a lot of other stuff is great.

One of our go-to places when in Amsterdam!

Bland food, bland people, good atmosphere. Sat there for an hour waiting for someone to take my snack order

Small portions but tasty! For the vegan week they served a great menu

Service is horrible. They forgot our orders and came very infrequently to take orders. At some point, we had to wait 30 minutes before we could order and then they told us the kitchen was closed. We constantly had to remind them that we ordered something, didn't get any cutlery, asked three times for the bill. They just could not remember anything.

Food is alright. Nachos are actually just tortilla chips with a few tablespoons of guacamole. Our mains were also served at totally different times. Most certainly doesn't deserve 4 stars.

It remains a beautiful tent on the IJ! We haven't been there for a while, but it's still difficult to find a table where we can have a drink without immediately having dinner. The place was a third full, and we understand that you can't keep a table occupied all evening just for drinks. However, on a Monday afternoon we expected a little more flexibility. The host made things unnecessarily complicated by making us sit alone at the bar, where we had some nice cocktails. Ultimately we decided to have a nice dinner elsewhere. Too bad, because it could have been different!

good food just before a concert! A bit of blue bite from the navy in terms of taste!

Good food. A bit expensive but with quality and great atmosphere. You need 3 dishes to be full. My party and I ordered four vegan dishes and they were delicious.

Very nice and varied choice of food 👌 we also had a great service, we were there for diner before a show at tolhuistuin but we'll be back for the restaurant here for sure 😀

Menu options are limited, waiting time is a bit long, but the flavors are good. I don't think it's worth going, but if you happen to be there, you can try it.

Nice view, cozy inside, the food was good, sometimes unusual combinations but tasty, easily accessible by ferry.

Nice place for a beer/snack outdoors.

I made a reservation online for 2 people at 5 p.m., but there were some problems with it because the kitchen only opened at 5:30 p.m. But this was quickly explained and resolved. I was initially a bit skeptical about the look of the restaurant, but that quickly disappeared because of the quality of the food and wine. Even after dinner we were able to quickly go to the Richard Hawley concert. Nice place to have lunch, dinner but also to go to a concert. And that right opposite the central station, just crossing the ferry is enough.

Went there for early dinner before a music festival in the same spot. It was quite busy, so reservation is highly recommended especially if you wanna sit outside on their terrace. Food concept is tapas-like where you share small portion of dishes. I love their creativity in the menu, cold and warm option, also a lot of vegan, vegetarian in each section. crème brulée goatcheese is amazing, and save some space to try their martini panna cotta for dessert!

No cutllery was provided. Asked for one, they forgot. Asked for tissue. They again forgot. Ordered 2 beers, bill was of 3. Couldn't refund one so had to take one on the go for 3 times the price. Food portion was small, but it's faire coz they informed before hand. Rest, stewards good with talks only, not with their services.

Incredible location, great food and super respectful and friendly staff :) the size of the dishes enables you to try a variety of thingy especially when sharing. We did not have to wait long for the food and drinks to arrive and we’re super satisfied with our dinner 🩷One of the best places we’ve been to.

From any angle it has beautiful views, it is worth waiting to take a soak in this great waterfall.

Food is ok. Some are good and some are just ok. Nothing really outstanding. Service is ok. Location, view and atmosphere are great though.

Nachos are really bad. Every ingredient is the lowest quality version you can buy from the grocery store. Together you get a gross mess for 12.50 euros.

Good views, fast service and the snack dishes are not bad, they are basic but good.

We walked to the front door to ask for a table for 4 person without reservation and the lady in the front door said that is fully book (5 tables were empty on the terrace). Then, I tried to make a reservation using google and was possible to make a reservation because there were empty spaces so, clearly the lady on the front door didn’t want to work that much. Not sure about the food but the service was really bad.

Due to my celiac disease (gluten allergy), I contacted the chef in advance who indicated that they could facilitate me. I made my reservation and when I arrived it was stated that they had specially cleaned an oven and had reserved it for gluten-free food. Super nice! The waitress then discussed with the chef which dishes I could safely eat and from there I had 6 options and 2 choices of desserts. The food was delicious and I felt very comfortable. The waitress knew exactly how and what, every time she ordered, she immediately stopped by the kitchen to pass it on and brought my food every time. Really greatly appreciated and well organised!

Very tasty food, beautiful terrace and great service! Very tasty vegan and vegetarian dishes. The only thing that could be better are the chairs... They are not very comfortable when you are having drinks and eating for a long time. Furthermore, a really top location in Amsterdam North!

Nice tent. Small snacks to share. Very tasty and something for everyone. Vegan(s), but also meat and fish

Worst service I’ve ever had. Our waitress infrequently visited our table and was constantly on her phone or chatting with other staff members instead of servicing our table. Getting water and food was challenging. Staff members frequently delivered food that we didn’t order to our table. We were asked if we wanted an English menu after 20 minutes, after being ignored for the first 15 minutes we were seated (we ordered off of the Dutch menu using our phones). The food was fine but overpriced for the quality you get.

The food was beyond amazing. No idea how this place isn't fully 5 star rated. Best meal I had while in amsterdam, and it was only 14 euros for the most delicious chicken satay I've ever had.

Top location in Amsterdam Noord, directly on the IJ, opposite the central train station. Nice view over parts of the harbor and shipping traffic. Nice gimmick. Reachable every minute with the free ferry from the central train station. A beautiful thing. Small map. High price level. Good quality. But the portions should be significantly larger.

Friendly service, busy place but plenty of room between tables. Food is surprisingly delicate and culinary.

We queued to enter and wanted to have lunch, but we were told that there was only indoor seating. But there are still a bunch of empty seats outside. I think they don’t welcome Asians! I thought the Netherlands was a friendly country. What a shame.

If you offer smoothies at least buy a blender and dont sell that ugly syrup from the supermarket for 6€. The food looked good in the menu but ended up being a disappointment. Nice place and atmosphere but wouldn’t come again.

Was sittting for +30 mins, never took my order.

Be careful if you order with the QR code, this does not give you any proof so too bad for you if part of your order is forgotten. They ended up giving me my drink after negotiation. Otherwise the setting is nice