de Willem in Haarlemmerbuurt

Nice location but such a bad restaurant. Went here for my last night in Amsterdam before moving away and think I managed to have one of the worst meals in the city! Took over 30 mins for someone to take our order and then we had to haul them back to order a drink. Then the ‘carbonara’ starter was like cold gunk on a plate and the main was sickly sweet and pretty cold/tepid too. And wasn’t cheap! Quite shocked that a chef could churn out food like that

What a lovely spot by the water. Had a delicious tuna melt. Very good and friendly service!

We had a delicious meal here and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The service was excellent: knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, without being intrusive. The accompanying wines were also all very tasty and complemented the dishes beautifully. We opted for the 4-course menu, and every dish was surprising, flavorful, and carefully composed. Additionally, the view is lovely, and you can enjoy the sun on the terrace for a long time, which really contributes to the overall experience. If I have to mention one small downside, the chairs on the terrace are not the most comfortable. But for me, that hardly detracts from the experience. All in all, absolutely worth 5 stars!

We came here from a personal recommendation and were not disappointed. Great vibe, delicious food, especially the fries!!!, good wine, nice staff 10/10

There were three of us. One of us arrived late and tried (admittedly) quite boisterously to attract the attention of the young waiter. He came rushing over, ranting at my friend in English about having to wait his turn politely and that there were other people, etc. Then he brought the requested beer and slammed it down on the table. That was when we'd had enough. We cancelled our dinner reservation and went to eat nearby at De Roode Remise, where the service was friendly and the food was fine.

Went to De Willem multiple times. Truly one of my favorite spots in Amsterdam, both the restaurant and cafe sides! Service is nice, food is tasty, and the location is top-notch.

The prices are exorbitant considering the small portions and poor quality of the food, which leaves much to be desired…The menu is confusing; we ordered the steak tartare, but instead we were served some strange vegetarian mixture. The scallop had an interesting flavor, but it was extremely overpriced for just a single scallop. The meat was the only dish that stood out—it was actually quite good. The dessert, however, was nothing special. The service inside the restaurant was okay. A very friendly young man attended to us, although I felt he lacked experience. Unfortunately, when we decided to sit outside for a drink, the service was so slow that we almost left because no one came to take our order. Overall, I think the restaurant is beautiful and has a lot of potential, but it isn’t being run well.

this place looks so much more than they offer. the food is almost not edible. maybe simpler can be better in this case. no vegan options. wine selection is nice. the atmosphere deserves so much better

service was extremely slow although the wine menu was extensive most of the selection was not available the food was practically inedible and portion sizes were disappointing though the view was amazing i would never recommend this place for eating

Ordered ribeye for €35; asked for medium-rare, received completely overcooked. Partner ordered fish as a main course; a minuscule piece of fish for €28. Had to order fries and vegetables as a side dish because otherwise you only get meat. Mini bowl of fries €8; mini bowl of vegetables €8. Impossible wine list with hundreds of bottles; cheapest €40. The rest at very high prices (hundreds of euros). Wine by the glass is not on the menu. The staff also doesn't know what you can get by the glass. Then you get a glass of red wine for €11. Tap water in a carafe for €3. Rampy table and chairs outside; in my opinion, the price-quality ratio leaves much to be desired. The terrace is, of course, in a great location.

With a lot of people in the basement. Very hot, no air conditioning. Access via an iron spiral staircase. The food was not tasty. Staff in student-style t-shirts. Not fresh.

Sam was 10/10! Everything was great

It started well and was pleasant. Great help with advice on something nice to drink. The food was fine. It's a shame that no explanation was given. And that when they serve raw fish (turbot), they say it is glacé. I think the cooking just isn't right. And glacé (he meant glassy, ​​he said) is, in my opinion, only for cod. Part of the other dish was forgotten. The atmosphere is nice and cozy, but unfortunately the first waiter left. And unfortunately, the service deteriorated. Summary: The food itself is fine. But the service is not top-notch.

Overall very nice staff, amazing location and great food! A little on the pricier side for what you get but still worth it :)

Had a fantastic evening at Willem’s book club! What a great initiative to bring together wine, literature, and wonderful conversations. A very nice, relaxed atmosphere and an amazing sommelier who really took the evening to the next level!

Here for some drinks, it is a great example of how nice and smiling service can elevate your day and overall experience. 🙏🤩 We were here before with friends and then we came back for the second time after 1 hour to enjoy the peace within the terrace overlooking to the canal.

Ended up on the terrace here for the umpteenth time, mainly because the location is simply top-notch. Sun, atmosphere, nice spot; there is little to complain about. But the more often you come, the harder it becomes to pretend the service is just having “an off day.” Today was actually the last straw. Waiting 20 minutes for a drink is the rule rather than the exception here. I understand it was hot for working, but this wasn't even second gear. And why not use a handheld device when you have one? Unfortunately, we also recognized some staff members sitting comfortably at the table next to us who did get their drinks on time. You see, they got them themselves. Meanwhile, there are also colleagues hanging around with a tea towel on their trousers as if the workday is primarily a social occasion, with a cigarette in hand. Honestly, that is quite painful to see as a guest. During such a rush hour? Jeez, is it a lack of leadership, professionalism, experience, or a combination of both? The contrast with the location could hardly be greater: a prime location with service that doesn't even deserve a B. It's a shame, because with a bit more management and effort, this could really be a top-notch business.

Went for dinner with a group of 10. Had the 4 courses which were served super slow, inconsistently and where the food was average and super small portions. Drinks were forgotten or mixed up multiple rounds of ordering. Food and drink items were spilled on the guests. It was just a really disappointing experience for our group despite the great potential of the place.

Cool restaurant in Harlem. Short menu, nice selection of recipies with international tastes. Nice seating area outside.

Bad service. (Dishes forgotten, forgot to ask for the next course) Bad food (small portions, cold fish, cold potatoes) Unfriendly and uninterested

We were having a family birthday dinner. Our table was placed next to the open door, which couldn't be closed because staff needed to go in and out. Then we were given eight menus in three variations, all listing different dishes. We had to figure out the correct menu ourselves. The waiter said the fish of the day was a rotisserie, but it actually turned out to be a wolf fish. After that, we ordered some dishes with bread; the starters were supposed to arrive, but the bread didn't. The bread arrived when the starters were finished. Then we ordered some extras because the portions were quite small. After waiting for forty-five minutes and asking the kitchen, it turned out the main course hadn't been passed on and the person serving us was sitting at the bar on her Instagram. When we finally received dinner after 20 minutes, all the fish was ice cold, and so were the potatoes. The food was taken back but couldn't be replaced because it wasn't entirely complete anymore, so some people had to order a different dish. In the meantime, half the group had already finished their food, and the others were arriving by the plates. In the meantime, we had four different people at the table and the manager is still standing at the bar on her Instagram. A real disgrace. Super bad service, uninterested & cold food. In the end, three fish were not charged, but the atmosphere of our birthday party dropped below zero. Not recommended.

Upon arrival, we had to wait quite a long time before someone escorted us to our table. The food tasted good, but the portions were very small, making the price-quality ratio feel off. Throughout the evening, the quality of the service varied several times, ranging from good to inattentive. When we ordered a second bottle of the same wine, we were served a different wine. It later turned out that the original wine was not chilled, which was a shame. Additionally, we had adjusted our reservation by phone at the last minute from four to five people. Although this was possible, the table turned out not to be set up properly for this: one person was sitting in the walkway and was bumped into several times. The establishment itself is beautiful: the interior is stylish and the location is unique. Unfortunately, the inexperienced staff and the relatively high prices for what you get mean that we will not be returning anytime soon.

Dining at de Willem was a standout experience during my time in the city, especially for a lunch visit. The culinary quality is exceptional, with every dish showing a high level of care and sophisticated flavors that easily earn five stars for the food. The atmosphere is equally impressive; the venue has a historic yet modern feel that is incredibly stylish and comfortable, making it a perfect spot for a high-quality meal in a beautiful setting. Regarding the service, the staff was knowledgeable and welcoming, although the pace was a bit slower than expected for a lunch service, which is why I gave it a four-star rating in that category. Despite that, the overall experience was top-tier, and the quality of the ingredients and the beauty of the space make it a must-visit destination for foodies. It’s a great place to enjoy a relaxed but premium meal, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and delicious dining spot. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to try their dinner menu next time!

It is a nice and atmospheric location in a unique building. They have a well-presented menu and very friendly service. The taste of the dishes is generally good, but they serve portions that are really too small, often containing barely any vegetables or carbohydrates. So you have to order side dishes, otherwise you will still be hungry afterwards; that not only makes it more expensive, but I also don't think it fits a 3-course menu (which should simply be complete). Suggestion to the chef: with pork belly served with both carbonara and 'nduja, the 'nduja obviously overrides the (indescribable) carbonara.

Very bad food. The menu looks very nice and seems to have a lot of potential, but the execution fails. The noodle salad consisted of lukewarm noodles drowned in soy sauce, with only shrimp that had no taste whatsoever. The Japanese brioche was a brioche with mayonnaise and mushrooms; that says it all. The service, on the other hand, was super friendly and they even took a dish off the bill on their own initiative when it was noticed that the plate hadn't been finished. The place is also very cozy, but come for a drink, not a bite!

Great food, a lovely atmosphere, and genuinely brilliant staff—everything you want in a perfect dining experience.

Lovely place to sit in the sun and have a drink! ☀️

Nils is the best server you could ask for! So funny and charismatic! Definitely recommend going here! He made us Hugo Spritz even though it wasn’t available on the menu, and was delicious!

The terrace is pleasantly situated and offers a lovely spot in the sun. The staff appears inexperienced, but shows dedication and remains friendly despite the crowds and somewhat longer waiting times. Unfortunately, the quality of the food left something to be desired. Given the price, the sandwiches were sparsely filled and stood in stark contrast to the more generous portions served to other guests. Additionally, the French fries were undercooked. All in all, this experience currently offers insufficient value for money.

I was having a lovely evening with my girlfriend, had a beer, and then went downstairs to go pee. I opened the door to the bathroom and whilst walking in, stepped on a piece of human poop. I had to rub poop off my boot onto the toilet seat in a panic and then promptly left. Still had to pay for my beer and girlfriend’s wine. The clientele of this establishment is clearly not potty trained. Would not recommend.

I wouldn’t recommend going here. While the location is nice, the service is horrendously organized and unfriendly. It took about 20 minutes before a waitress even showed up for the first time despite sitting very close to the staff. We asked for alcohol free beer but the options listed by the waitress included some with a little alcohol. The bottles were put so hard on the table that it spilled over, when we tried to get a napkin to clean it up we were pushed aside by a waiter in a rather arrogant manner and the additional remark that we were standing in the way. We also asked for a portion of bitterballen but after half an hour waiting and our beers finished no one showed up with it. So we asked for the check and it wasn’t listed on the bill so seemingly the waitress just forgot about it. Overall one of the worst experiences for me in Amsterdam.

Sweet terrace overlooking the river. All the foods we ordered were delicious

Had a fantastic time on the terrace and what incredibly funny and friendly staff! Beautiful spot, we will be back!

Had to wait 30 min for 3 Paloma

Love this place, it is very bubbly and nice food.

Had a fantastic evening! What a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere. The interior is charming, peaceful, and stylish. The food was delicious, and the staff were truly friendly, helpful, and service-oriented. I'd love to come back!

Lovely wine & food, romantic atmosphere. Although staff are slightly arrogant at times which is its only downfall.

A nice venue with a partially unique but also limited menu. The acoustics are terrible; you can barely hear each other. Of course, it also depends partly on your age. I'm 66.

Cozy place, with top price/quality food and wines!

We had an absolutely delicious meal last night. The chefs were top-notch, the service expert and very friendly. Excellent wine recommendations made it even more delicious. It was a real treat! Thanks, "Willem," and see you soon!

Great food. Innovative. Highly recommended.

After living next to De WillemsPoort for 50 years, I finally went INSIDE. It's truly an experience, especially in terms of decor and architecture. But the most special thing was the delicious food and the incredibly friendly service! We were in the café section, and the food was simply superb, restaurant-quality! My nut allergy was also perfectly accommodated. I want to come back here again!

Great location, cozy atmosphere, and very friendly service! I also love surprise menus. The food was tasty but not very filling. It was missing something truly filling to complement the beautiful dishes. Furthermore, the pause between courses was sometimes too long. It was great that they have several 0% off wine options, but the fact that pregnant women can't have red meat wasn't taken into account. Of course, after reporting this, it was resolved immediately.

We really enjoyed it here. We had good food and the service was great.

1/ Food and Drink Taste: 3 Presentation: 3 Quality: 3 Portion: small (small/medium/large) Originality: 3 (1=not original, 5=very original) Drinks: 4 2/ Service & Staff Friendliness: 5 Hospitality: 5 Attention: 5 Knowledge: 4 Professionalism: 5 3/ Ambience Friendliness: 4 Interior and Furnishings: 3 Lighting/Music/Acoustics: 2 Cleanliness and Hygiene: 4 Comfort: 3 4/ Organization Waiting times upon arrival: 5 Time between courses: 2 Reservation process: 4 Crowding: 5 Repeat visits: 2 Price-quality: 3

The location is beautiful, but it's ruined by teenagers making video calls and using laptops. Such a shame.

On October 18th, the four of us dined together. We clearly indicated beforehand, both by email and upon entering the restaurant, that one of us was a vegetarian and the other had a severe gluten allergy. The person with gluten received a frozen gluten-free roll, while we received a roll with butter. When we asked if the butter could be served separately, we were told we would get it. However, we never received it. When we pointed out that the gluten-free bread was frozen, we were given a new one. She also received two dishes containing gluten. Because she was alert, they were able to return them to the kitchen just in time. The vegetarian also received two dishes with fish and one with meat. This made our experience at the restaurant very mediocre, even though everyone else was looking forward to eating there. We didn't receive a discount or any other compensation after we pointed this out.

Delicious food and top service from the host Joppe.

A lovely, cozy place with attentive staff who go the extra mile for you, delicious food, and a pleasant atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Delicious food, but the service was inattentive. Otherwise, a very nice wine list.

Delicious food, but the service was inattentive. Otherwise, a very nice wine list.

Wonderful restaurant, delicious food, attentive and competent staff!! It's a 10/10!!!

Top restaurant, super delicious 4-course menu. Highly recommended, I'll definitely be back.

Yesterday we had a fantastic evening at Café De Willem! From the moment we walked in, we felt immediately welcomed by the friendly and attentive staff. Especially Sol, the woman who served us. She was incredibly sweet, skilled, and extremely professional. The atmosphere in the café is warm and stylish, the perfect balance between cozy and chic. The dishes were exquisite. Each dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor. You can see and taste the great attention paid to the quality of the ingredients and the presentation. Sol recommended our main course. We also received a Sol wine, both of which were delicious and paired well together. The most important thing we noticed was that the staff was genuinely interested, provided excellent explanations of the dishes, and ensured you had everything you needed. Everything was relaxed and professional, without being distant. De Willem is a gem. Whether you're coming for a romantic dinner, a cozy evening with friends, or a special occasion, you're always in the right place. We will definitely be back! Thank you, Sol, you were the highlight of our evening!

Last week we went to dinner at De Willem. What a fantastic evening that was! Upon entering, we were immediately greeted warmly by Sam, who thought I was Astrid… because apparently, Astrid hadn't arrived yet. A little confusion: we were actually supposed to be in the restaurant, not the café. Anyway, after a quick look inside, we were already sold on the café's atmosphere and cozy atmosphere. So we simply went back inside as Astrid 😉 Once settled in, Sam gave us fantastic service. His suggestions? Spot on. The food was delicious, and the recommended Chenin Blanc was a perfect accompaniment. Perhaps everything seemed even better because we seemed like a couple in love (and secretly, we kind of are). But honestly: I think we were just incredibly lucky to have such a good chef and to have Sam.

We had a reservation at 7.00 pm, however they failed to reserve our table and asked us to wait at the bar for a “little while”. We at least got served snacks at the bar however we had to wait 1 hour and 15 minutes for our table (which we had reserved). We were very patient and kind, sadly we felt like we weren’t taken seriously and they forgot about us. We left without trying the food. At least the place looked nice from our limited view from the small bar.

We recently held a large group event here for an annual dinner. The location and venue were perfect and the food was delicious with plenty to go round. However, what made the event so successful was the friendly and attentive team who looked after us so well. Every single member of staff went out of their way to make sure we had the best possible evening. Thank you, De Willem

Delicious beer, very expensive fries

Everything was ok, the dishes were a bit too small and slightly overpriced, but the ambience was nice.

Ate here for the second time. Every course was truly outstanding in terms of taste. I've rarely had such delicious cod. Melts in the mouth, delicious beurre blanc. The location is excellent, the building very atmospheric. However, the portions for each course are far too minimal. This was the trend for a while, but it's no longer acceptable. Furthermore, the staff initially misunderstood our order, later served it incorrectly, and didn't deliver a few items at all. They're lovely, they try very hard, that's not the problem. But they're understaffed. As a result, the wait times between courses are far too long. Great place, but with some points to consider.

We had a fantastic evening in the wine room: delicious drinks and food, wonderful service. We'll definitely be back!!

Very scenic spot when sitting outside by the river in the sun :) has such good vibes. The staff were really helpful! The food is very good - portions are on the smaller side but that’s expected as a small plates kind of place

Great Restaurant and Café - cool Spot at the water for watching all the boats passing by. Service at the Restaurant was excellent and very friendly.

I usually save my time from reviewing bad experiences but as this is not the first time, it has already happened 3-4 times with different groups of friends, here you go... The positive is the position, sunny until late. The negative is the service, and the strong impression of always getting the second-league service for not being dutch. Rating one star as this time we had to leave the table without any food or drink after waiting for quite some time and then suddenly told that someone indoor was getting our table despite the waitress had told us to sit earlier. I prefer going where also expats are welcome.

We had a delicious meal. Super friendly service!

I ended up at Willem's with the staff! Prior to dinner, we had very pleasant email communication to ensure the evening went exactly as I envisioned! The outcome was excellent!! A super fun and very hospitable welcome! A great location! Delicious food! Willem (the host) and the team, a huge thank you! The hospitality was top-notch!!

A very good restaurant/cafe to try. Located in a very beautiful monument and nice location. The food menu was great, had some interesting options. The taste was good and the plates came neatly presentable. Staff are very friendly and nice. One comment that I did tell them my allergy and they still served me the dish with it. It is on me that I didn’t double check, but I expect from the staff to double check before putting the dishes to ask who ordered what. That being said, I stay honest with my feedback that the staff are nice, but they do need to watch out for this mistake so it doesn’t cause anyone an unexpected immediate sickness.

The location is very good. Unfortunately I cannot rate the food because after 30mins waiting to order some snacks, I never got it.

I visited on Saturday for brunch and, unfortunately, had a very disappointing experience. It took 30 minutes just to receive our drinks - and even then, mine was incorrect. After another 20-minute wait, the correct drink finally arrived, but by that time our food had been served - and it was also wrong. At this point, we had already been there for an hour and were ready to leave. We were told it would take at least another 20 minutes to remake our meals (likely even longer), so we decided not to wait. With so many great brunch spots in the area, this experience was especially frustrating. Don’t recommend.

I've been there three times in the past and always had a great experience in terms of service and food quality, making Willem one of my favorites. This time, unfortunately, the service was extremely poor—I had to search for a staff member for every request and order—and the food was very mediocre. The quality has unfortunately deteriorated significantly, to the level of a simple pub snack, making the price of €100+ per person completely out of proportion. I won't be back. Such a shame.

Absolutely incredible lunch experience! Chef Sebi is not only a master in the kitchen, but also a genuinely kind and welcoming person. Each dish was bursting with flavor, beautifully presented, and tailored to our tastes thanks to his thoughtful individual recommendations. You can tell he puts his heart into everything he does: both the food and the hospitality. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. Highly recommend! ❤️ PS: compliment to Sebi

Amazing place in beautiful area of Amsterdam. Can recommend for casual drinks with friends

Love everything about this place! The people who run the restaurant are really nice, the food is unique AND delicious, and the terrace/ambiance is incredible right on the canal. We had the Kingboleet Brioche (so good), cote de boeuf (cooked perfectly), and a side of grilled beans on a bed of hazelnut whipped cream (really unique).

A feat place with amazing views but not best service, quite typical for the area

Terrace is beautiful but very cramped. Rickety tables, uncomfortable folding chairs. Service leaves much to be desired. Drinks take a long time to arrive. Forgot to give half of the order to the kitchen. Description of the dishes does not match what you get. Lamb skewers are three balls of minced lamb. The tempura is only a fried dough sheet; no vegetables fried in dough jacket. The snacks are good. Price high for what you get. Wine also expensive; rosé is very mediocre.

Delicious food and drinks. Mega good advice for the wines and you also sit in a beautiful place

Lots of young, hip people, but as an older person you will feel at home!

Food was excellent - inventive dishes and very well prepared and presented. Atmosphere was great also. Service a little slow but the restaurant was pretty busy on a Friday night.

Sorry, I really wish to give 5/5 stars, but I think the flavors were too Netherlands for me. Great wine selection. The service was amazing, too :)

I met an old friend for dinner at De Willem. Since we had a lot to talk about, we ordered a surprise menu. What we got was a symphony of incredibly delicious dishes with matching wines. Combined with the extremely friendly service, this lead to a truly amazing evening. I will definitely eat there again.

Super nice restaurant, great service and delicious food✨🍸

Lovely terrace, super slow service. Cocktails with little taste. Snacks sound nice but are very disappointing in terms of taste and size. It's really pretending that they know something about something. Never again.

Great place to take your date, wine list is well put together, lots of choice. We had 5 courses, and were surprised with every course! Service was on point, we will be back, thank you team

Delicious food with fresh, bold flavors that impress. Unfortunately, the service lacks structure, coordination and attentiveness, which detracts from the overall experience.

We ate in the restaurant part of the Willem. The curly-haired sommelier recommended excellent wines to us. His taste and charm made it great dinner. Many thanks!

Had a delicious meal at restaurant De Willem! The food was tasty and the atmosphere in the restaurant was pleasant. What struck me most was the service, friendly and attentive. Highly recommended!

service okay, great drinks and a nice atmosphere

It took a while to get going when we were sitting at the table, but when it did, I also understood why my wife, who had eaten here before, wanted to go to De Willem again. Nice atmosphere, casual good service with love for the profession and delicious food. Had a great evening with our group. We'll be back.

The service in here was not the best. First drink was forgotten to be served. Followed by second drink was never served after thirty minutes and hence have to cancel the second order.

Very nice atmosphere, extremely friendly service, very good food, very good wine selection, good price-performance ratio

Good spot for drinks :) We were there on a Saturday and it was ver busy,we waited a lot for the drinks.

Terrible service, wish I could give 0 stars

Not only a fantastic place but also delicious food!

Hosted a dinner for a large private group (42 people). Was really great service! Fast and attentive service. The food (shared dining) was delicious and the special dietary requirements of the guests were well taken into account.

3 x 5 stars I give rarely, but these guys deserve it. Excellent dishes, excellent atmosphere, excellent service. Thank you Jacob and Max for a great evening.

Delicious food and lovely staff. Very cozy cafe with delicious wines.

Delicious food, very nice service and beautiful place.

De Willem is my most favorite place in Amsterdam. I love the food there, it’s one of a kind. The service is fun and welcoming. The cafe is also perfect for just having drinks and some snacks. I highly recommend De Willem!

Special location, with friendly service and delicious menu.

In addition to the beautiful location and great service (my compliments really), the food here is also really delicious. By far my number 1 tip!