Eetsalon Van Dobben in Grachtengordel-Zuid

This place hates tourists. I walked in and was treated terribly for no reason. The lady was rude and did everything she could to send me away. When I left, she wiped her hands with satisfaction. Worst experience of hatred I've ever had in all my travels.

Bad experience, at 8.30PM they ask us to leave, because their closing time is 9:00PM. Very rude with tourists.

Croquette is my favourite food now

Excellent snack bar. A bit hidden away, but definitely worth the trip. A quaint little place and the food was simply delicious.

Got a croquet in a roll and it was fantastic

The pork roll with satay sauce and the croquettes were delicious!!

Arrogant service by so-called ‘friendly, genuine Amsterdammers’… a croquette sandwich is tastier (and cheaper) almost everywhere than this ‘salon’ 😂

Apart from this woman who was rude to the customer, that's all I remember here

Authentique experience....very tasty.

A true Amsterdam institution and one of the city’s great lunch spots for traditional Dutch fare. The signature halfom sandwich is a must-order, combining thinly sliced liver and ham on a soft white roll—a classic Dutch combination that’s simple, comforting, and full of flavor. Pair it with one of Van Dobben’s famous croquettes or bitterballen, and you’ll understand why this place has been a local favorite for generations. Authentic, unpretentious, and well worth a visit.

If you’re looking for white tablecloths and hushed tones, keep walking. This is a glorious, honest-to-god hole in the wall tucked down an alley. It’s the kind of place that smells like tradition and frying oil. The ham sandwich was a masterclass in minimalism—thinly sliced, yielding, no nonsense. But the **Broodje Kroket**? That was the star. Crisp, golden armor protecting a molten, savory center, slapped onto a soft bun with a hit of sharp mustard. It was cheap, it was fast, and it was perfect.

Go here for a traditional Dutch sandwich!

Enjoyed trying the local Dutch snack Bitterballen….basically a meatball filled with a rich creamy sauce. Beware though, they are very hot so allow time for them to cool down before eating them

The service was very slow, but otherwise the food was excellent.

The staff is not keeping the place clean. Very uncoordinated witb ordering and paying. They could do a better job.

Perfect place for a sandwich. I've been coming here since I was 4 years old to grab a sandwich every now and then. No-nonsense, fast service, delicious sandwiches, and not yet overrun by expats and tourists. A croquette sandwich with a glass of milk is the classic combo.

Fantastic sandwitches, friendly staff and a really authentic local vibe. Must see when in Amsterdam.

The waitress added a bunch of hidden fees and was rude. Food was basic, nothing to write home about.

Typical place, very good service and everything was good.

Yes, still the best sandwich shop in Amsterdam. I've been going there since 1970, ever since I went out.

That was really excellent, everything we tried really good and service sooo kind. I hardly recommend this place.

We went on the recommendation of a local; we'd asked for a place to eat that wasn't too touristy and where locals would hang out. This place was definitely the perfect fit for us! It almost feels like a family-run restaurant, very informal and welcoming overall. The food was served promptly, hot, and with plenty of sauce on the side. We even half-listened to the conversation of two couples in their 100s nearby. Recommended.

We choose most plates from the “recommended” menu and we were very satisfied with the quality and freshness of the food. The service was outstanding! We will be back. They also offer take out!

We absolutely adore Eetsalon Van Dobben! We love the atmosphere, the service, the simplicity of the menu! We actually went twice cause we love the food so much!!! Please don’t be scared and try the speciaal roll it was so so delicious! Our favourite is for sure the courgette and speciaal roll with milk aha!!! We cannot wait to come back 💙💙💙

Came to try the “local eats” and it was just as good as everyone said. The service is so warm and friendly. Everyone was so nice.

Truly old school place that has kept its soul through generations. And the food? Dutch classics with good quality ingredients. The bread is melt in the mouth!

Great Food! Pickup two Broodjes and they were both really good! The only thing that was lacking was the price. 11€ for 2 small broodjes is insane. The atmosphere and taste kind of levels it out.

Very Dutch breakfast and lunch restaurant, come here since my dad brought me here as a child... like 40+ years.. still the same & good

It's a genuine experience of dutch snacks and light meals.

Just the perfect Amsterdam-style snack, a family-friendly bistro atmosphere, and excellent customer service! We felt right at home 🫶🏻 Thanks again for the discovery and the warm welcome!!!

In Amsterdam, I always make a stop at Van Dobben. It's hard to choose what you want, because everything is delicious!

The croquettes are delicious but expensive; we ordered one croquette and one small one for 16 euros.

Always delicious! The half-and-half sandwich is always the best. And a glass of milk. The service is fast and straightforward Amsterdam style.

Amazing place in the center of Amsterdam where you can eat really good local food. It reminded me a lot of Spanish tapas bars. We tried a roast beef sandwich, a croquette sandwich, the special (raw beef and egg), and the bitterballen. The only negative is the bill. I'd read in reviews that some don't include this on the receipt. The reason is that they charge tourists without asking for a tip. We noticed this after paying and didn't want to say anything because we had a really good experience, but it's truly unfair and dishonest (hence the service rating).

I feel it’s overpriced. But good quality.

Legendary spot in Amsterdam, very authentic, great menu.

Being a customer for more than 20 years, this place continues to age well! Food is amazing and recipes copied by other restaurants. VanDobben is the “classic OG” amsterdam food!

Very nice and friendly staff, good food, AMAZING MUSTARD. Dfinitely recommend.

Tasty, typical croquette sandwich and other charcuterie! The gorgeous blonde behind the counter was definitely the biggest eye-catcher, wowww

Vegan croquet was wonderful. Croquet is very crunchy outside but soft inside. Soft bread and the mustard on table compliments it very well. But the place is very small and crowded. You have to get the staff’s attention to give an order and they are not so nice.

This spot is legit- super easy going and calm diner with great options on bread- had the roast beef (fantastic) and the croquette- super delicious, just wish they weren’t blasting the radio but again, super legit..

The service is very rude. There were people waiting in line, and they preferred to listen to the locals. I understand it's a "local" thing, but there's a big difference between being direct, rude, and practical. If you want to try typical food, this isn't the best place.

The service is incredibly rude, and the locals aren't any friendlier. The food is bland, and the dishes aren't clearly labeled if you're not a local. The wait is much longer for tourists than for locals.

Absolute must visit in Amsterdam! Great family style service, a lot of nostalgia and very tasty cold cuts. We will be back for sure.

Nice place to try authentic Dutch-style sandwiches.

An Amsterdam staple, known for typical Dutch snacks. Van Dobben is a Amsterdam based producer and distributor of Dutch snacks and This is their special cafe where you can enjoy their snacks straight from the source. They offer many different kinds of old school Dutch sandwiches (Broodjes), I went for a broodje kroket. The atmosphere and staff are all typically Amsterdams. It made me feel welcome and at home. Although you pay a bit of a premium here, it is 100% worth it. It's one of the essentials if you want to truly experience the traditional Amsterdam food scene.

Cozy spot for a delicious sandwich! Highly recommended and good price

The tartar sandwich and roast beef sandwich were tasteless (no sauce, no salty seasoning). The female staff member was rude. The tables were dirty. I wasted precious travel time at this restaurant and regretted not checking other people's reviews beforehand.

Wierd atmosphere. The food tastes better than it looks, roast beef is bery good but expensive

Had a great King's Day, and it was absolutely beautiful to look at from above 🙌

Horrible food, anyone who knows real Dutch food knows that this is nothing more than a bad experience. People handle bread without gloves, using the same hands they use to handle money and other people's hands. Terrible place, there are more hygienic Dutch places. I will never go back and I don't recommend it. We paid over €40, they charge for things that are out of the ordinary without informing people, and service is charged separately, so if you want a fried snack you'll have to pay for it 😂

Very high prices for the quality of the product.

Found this through a tiktok recommendation. The croquette was outstanding! We had to order another one!! The bread was the softest airiest dinner roll & the croquette was crunchy and with warm filling inside. The mustard they had to pair was so good as well, perfect tart. The locals seem to love it here, we sat for a while and as we enjoyed our meal & the locals were in & out in the middle of the day (3pm). They would get the sandwich in the photo or the croquette & a glass of milk! Recommend trying this stop for Dutch food in Amsterdam

When I ordered the new vegan croquette, they initially acted as if I were an alien. When it turned out that it actually existed and was even in stock, I was asked in a surprised manner why I ordered it. Never again! 👋🏻🎉

Thank you for the great food, and service !!

Typically Amsterdam, real croquette sandwiches served by lovely Amsterdam ladies. You can also get other things besides croquette sandwiches there. Nice quotes on the wall.

Horrible experience. Counter women mocked me to everyone seated at the counter for saying I "Needed" a kroketten when I ordered. As Dutch women from America I did not appreciate her abuse. It was rude and because she assumed I was just a stupid America she treated me that way. I went there thinking I would have a authentic meal and was truly disappointed in the food. I do not recommend this place .

Awesome experience! We loved it! Very good and authentic experience

A step back in time: a place straight out of the 70s. Ordering was tricky because I didn't know where to queue. The food is typical of the region and definitely an acquired taste. It must be a local secret.

Upon entering, it was immediately clear that this was a place frequented mainly by locals, so anyone looking for something authentic will find it here! We're not from the area and don't speak Dutch, so we were a little overwhelmed at first, as the menu wasn't translated into English. However, the staff was very friendly despite the busy atmosphere, and we ordered on a whim to try a few things. The bitterballen, the roll with egg salad, and the sausages were all delicious, and we'll definitely be back for more tasty, authentic Dutch classics!

Typical for Dutch rolls and bitterballen. Very good and fresh. Affordable prices.

Crispy, piping hot croquets! On its own or in a roll. So good! Also tried the roast pork roll with peanut sauce. Definitely worth a visit!

We ate our fill with two families! Delicious croquettes in an authentic setting. Thankfully, little has changed here in the past decades.

Best place to get authentic kroketten

Always enjoy a croquette at Van Dobben, very busy today but we were helped quickly.

This is simply fantastic... a delicious Van Dobben croquette on a soft bun. Yes, I could eat that every day! The roast beef bun was also excellent. Ordering is chaotic, the staff is friendly, and it's not like you can sit here for hours, which is perfectly fine. Definitely worth a visit!

One of the nicest sandwich shops in Amsterdam with friendly staff.

Best kroquetten in Amsterdam! The place is always crowded. You'll likely share a table.

delicious, old school and very dutch. perfect

I think it's a good place to eat and enjoy what they offer, but it's true that they should pay a little more attention to cleanliness.

We visited Eetsalon Van Dobben after seeing a video online, and it truly is a local, traditional Amsterdam spot. We tried the croquette sandwich and another one with their classic beef/veal filet (the lightly-cured, raw-style meat they’re known for). Both were really tasty and exactly what you want from this kind of place. Service was super fast, everything was clean, and despite how busy it gets, we found a table easily because there’s a constant flow of people. Prices are a bit on the higher side, but the quality and the proper old-school experience make it worth it. It was raining outside, so stepping into this warm, lively spot felt perfect. My unexpected favourite part? A big cold glass of milk with the sandwiches, such a fun, classic Dutch touch. And the huge glasses of mustard on the tables are iconic and delicious.

Great food ! Even my dog loves it!

We love coming to Van Dobben every month for a delicious veal croquette or steak. The staff is always cheerful, warm, and incredibly friendly. You can still feel that authentic, old-world Amsterdam warmth and hospitality here. A true gem in a city where more and more places are being taken over by the yuppies. Fortunately, Van Dobben remains true to itself—authentic, honest, and hospitable.

American tourists here - I found the staff to be polite. Food was not my favorite though. If you like cold cuts and mustard, this is your spot.

Delicious warm meat sandwich on

Classic broodje kroket. Must try in this hidden gem, which has remained virtually unchanged for decades.

As always, a delicious sandwich

Famous cozy old Amsterdam lunchroom, wide choice of various sandwiches, served quickly by friendly staff.

Delicious Dutch sandwiches! Excellent service.

The diner was really good vibe and the food was delicious. Service was fast too

Highly recommended if you're in Amsterdam. Fantastic!

Whenever I have friends visit if we are in Amsterdam I always take them here. You really get an old diner vibe from the place and the krokket is probably the best I've had in the country. The menu is nothing too fancy, but I couldn't recommend the place more. It'd great for a quick bite or lunch and a must in visit when in Amsterdam

Delicious sandwiches and home-made pea soup!

The food was fine — just typical Dutch home-style dishes, nothing particularly good or bad. What really disappointed me was the service. When we went to the bar to pay, one of the staff members completely ignored us. She didn’t explain whether we were supposed to pay at the bar, nor did she acknowledge us at all. We stood there waiting for quite a while. When she finally spoke, she used a very unfriendly, almost joking tone and said, “I don’t even know what you’re doing walking back and forth.” It felt disrespectful and really ruined the dining experience. I hope the restaurant takes this issue with service attitude seriously.

Fantastic food! Great people! A place I will always return back. Congratulations 👏🏻

I absolutely do not recommend this place for eating. The service to tourists is very unpleasant; if you're Dutch, it's a completely different experience. They took ages to take our order, and when we finally managed to speak to a waitress, she was incredibly rude and treated us badly because we were tourists. If you lack manners, don't work in customer service. The food is very expensive for the quality, and I wouldn't recommend it at all. The portions are small, and the hygiene is poor, as they serve everything onto your plate with their bare hands after wiping their noses with them… You're forced to pay for service, a tip, and who knows what else, making the whole thing even more expensive. You can save yourself the trouble of going to this place.

Authentic and delicious sandwiches! Filet Americain is even better than the famous croquettes 🤩

We went to eat at the restaurant and managed to get a spot at the bar (which is difficult because it's packed). The first problem was ordering; the women behind the bar were overwhelmed and completely ignored us. I tried politely to tell the woman I wanted to order, and she replied in English that I should relax because she was on vacation, which I found quite rude. After we finally managed to order, they served us the roast beef and the typical croquettes from there. To be honest, the food was nothing special, and the burgers were cold. Getting the bill was another ordeal... They took ages to attend to us, and when one of them finally paid attention to me, she said it was her break and that I should sort it out myself. We finally managed to pay, and to our surprise, they charged us a service fee even though we were at the bar. I really wouldn't go back. We left hungry, and the place was quite expensive for what we ordered. I also still don't understand the extra service charge on the bill. I noticed that they were quite friendly to the locals, but the complete opposite to foreigners like us. In my opinion, it's best to avoid it if you can. I don't understand why it's so infamous.

Best croquettes on bread and very tasty fillet

Super fun place and of course, delicious food. Always fun to pop in again. I definitely recommend it.

A must visit when in Amsterdam. Ordered the pork with peanut sauce and the beef croquet, paired with a glass of milk. A perfect snack in the gloomy and rainy weather. Would recommend!

I pop in here every week for a sandwich – always delicious and a pleasant atmosphere! The sandwiches are fresh, well-filled, and you can tell they put a lot of care into them. The staff is friendly and always creates a pleasant atmosphere. It's the kind of place you'll happily return to.

When I came here, it was still quiet — only a few tables were taken. We purposely came early in the morning so we wouldn’t have to wait for a table once it got busy. It’s definitely the best food I had in Amsterdam. Honestly, I was invited here and didn’t really know what to order, so I just let my friend pick and we shared everything to try different dishes. As for the milk, it tasted pretty normal — nothing special, just usual milk 🥛 Oh, and apparently this is considered Dutch food! My favorite one was the dish with satay sauce, though I’m not sure what it’s called. Maybe it was the warm roast pork in gravy roll? If I ever get the chance, I’d definitely come back just to eat that again ❤️❤️

A very nice local spot, more like a snack bar than a typical restaurant. A very relaxed and pleasant atmosphere with its own unique charm. They serve typical dishes that you'd expect to find in the Netherlands.

Another tiktok famous! I came here outside eating hour and it’s still a bit packed, the waiters are a bit busy so it took a while to order & pay (but after you order, the food was served really fast) I LOOOOVEE the ambience, somehow it screams LOCAL! & AUTHETIC! Because almost all people inside are locals i think and the menu is representative of what dutch food is~ tried the Broodje halfom (half meat half liver) OMG SOO GOOD! Please use their mustard in the table too! It is 100/100! Would love to be back for other menu~

For many years, this has been the go-to place for an American sandwich or hot meat with satay sauce. Absolutely nothing should change.

Went here because this place was all over tiktok, the influencers were insisting that this place look unassuming but is delicious. I can’t agree, I am not sure what’s worse the service or food. I kept getting ignored by the servers, I would stand right in front of them and try to speak to them but they prioritized joking with each other or other customers that came later than me. Not sure if it’s because I’m a tourist. We tried different food from their menu, I honestly did not like any of it. The buns were promised to be so light and airy, but they taste like regular american store-bought buns. Meat is also very mid, lowkey looks like slop.

Great little spot for a snack while walking the streets. We had the ballen and roast beef sandwich. Mustard was👌🏽

Old fashioned tasty tartare sandwich special delicious

Very welcoming atmosphere, perfect service, and delicious food. The croquette and roast beef roll were wonderful. The house mustard was divine.