Restaurant Max in Grachtengordel-West

We had the 2 course table menu. All of the dishes were excellent, and the service was incredible. I could have stayed and eaten until I couldn't move. The best part is that you can get more of any dish.

Location was within 10 Minutes of the Centre if you walk. My 7 friends and I were on a long weekender and I arranged via email 2 weeks before for our table, although when booking it the booking only allowed for a maximum of 6. I followed up with a request for 8 and staff responded with a yes! On arrival we were seated in a window seat overlooking the street, although I sat within 6 feet of the friont door the waiters were always ensuring that the door was firmly closed so no drafts, it was a warm, Light and airy atmosphere, the staff were young and enthusiastic to serve, the food was full of flavour and well presented, and the smells got our taste buds fired up! Not the cheapest but the quality of the food and the attention to detail makes this retaurant worth a 2nd Visit.

A great restaurant offering really tasty Indonesian food. The taster menu is well worth a try. The spice levels were varied, but all tolerable. The flavours and aromas were top-tier. Would recommend for couples and small groups. It was however, not very child (young children) friendly.

We chose this restaurant because it advertises itself as child-friendly, but our experience was very disappointing. We had a 5:30pm reservation and arrived to find there were no high chairs and no baby changing facilities, which made things quite difficult. Our waiter rushed us through the meal, saying he wanted to ensure we didn’t “disrupt other diners” — even though the restaurant wasn’t full and our children were completely well-behaved, ate nicely, and made no fuss at all. To make things worse, our food was taken away before we’d even finished, clearly in an effort to hurry us out. For a place that claims to welcome families, this was a very uncomfortable and disappointing experience despite the food being delicious!.

I’ve been trying to go to this restaurant for years, but unfortunately they’ve been closed when I go to book because it’s always a random holiday. Finally made it last night and it DID NOT disappoint. My old favorite was Tempo Doeloe, but since they closed I’ve been on the hunt to find a place I liked as much. Finally got there last night. My husband and I got the 2 course. We had the Gado gado, tofu salad, the chicken, and the beef stew. The flavors popped, the spice was perfect, the beef was tender, and everything was super fresh. The service was great (not something you are always promised in Amsterdam), and the restaurant was cozy. Will definitely be back and will absolutely be recommending to others.

My first experience at a rice table restaurant. Loved it! Delicious and wonderful service.

I love some of the food but not all when we ordered Indonesian Rijsttafel. The service is good and location is nice.

Very good food. Staff extremely friendly!!

An amazing restaurant focused on Indonesia, interesting intense cuisine, delicious dessert and red wine, a truly extraordinary culinary experience.

I don't like writing negative reviews because I always want to give people a chance. This restaurant was on my list of places to go because of the Amsterdam shortlist (great books). It seemed promising. Two weeks earlier, I emailed to say I wanted to dine with six people, but no response. I sent another email, and then called. I asked on the phone if the email had gone through. Apparently not, it happens. I immediately asked if I could make a reservation, but this wasn't possible because he was too busy, and he hung up on me immediately. Because of this, I've lost my appetite for dining there. Such a shame.

Please note - after leaving reviews throughout my trip, I admit that I may be a tougher reviewer than others. I was excited to finally try "rice table" after reading about it 30+ years ago and missing my chance then. Booked here based on the positive reviews. Now that it's over, I would summarize as follows: - this is a tourist-focused destination (in my opinion), not a place catering to locals or indonesians. We are a mixed Chinese/Korean couple and we were the only Asians in the place besides an Indian couple next to us. - the food is ok, maybe decent, but not awe-inspiring or great. If you order the rice table set meal, basically all tables get the same dishes unless you specify an exception (vegetarian, vegan, don't like seafood, etc.). Which means a lot of the food can be mass produced ahead of time and it sort of feels like that is what we got - the price of 49 Euro for the food we got seemed pretty precious. The difference between "2 courses" at 41 and 3 courses at 49 is dessert, so you're paying an extra 8 for a shared dessert that was ok, but not worth it - the starter (javanese chicken salad) was quite good - that's course #1 - the 2nd course is shared rice, a small bowl of asian-themed cole slaw and 8 small dishes - 2 chicken, 1 beef, 1 shrimp, 1 veggie curry, 1 hard boiled eggs, 1 eggplant, and 1 side of shrimp chips - I was shocked by the shrimp chips as one of my 8 dishes. Really? Shrimp chips after the chips that came with the table?!? - the 3rd course was dessert - a banana tart, 2 scoops of ice cream, and 2 small pieces of cake. The ice cream was great, the tart ok, the cake was dry and not interesting I felt like I was on an assembly line - get the order, bring out the same dishes, clear the dishes, get dessert on the table, get the bill paid, turn the table. Great business for MAX - lots of turns, high revenue per customer, probably low food costs per person. It wasn't great. I can see that people not as familiar with Asian cuisine might find it interesting, as you get 8-9 flavors in one meal. But they weren't of high quality and the price felt steep.

DON’T!!! I live literally just around the corner from the restaurant and had been waiting a long time to come and eat here. I reserved over a week in advance requesting a table near the window. On arrival the host told us we could have a table outside (cold, rainstorms expected) or upstairs above the kitchen (next to a noisy group). When I mentioned our request to be downstairs near the window the host was quite snappy. When I said that most restaurants try to accommodate guest requests his response was “Some do, some don’t”. Clearly Restaurant MAX is in the ‘don’t’ category!! With that response we left. I can understand that tables might not be available as requested but there is a way of communicating with guests and this is certainly not it. It was rude, arrogant and unprofessional. It felt like they were doing us a favour in having us eat there! In Amsterdam there is a constant stream of visitors looking for somewhere to eat so some restaurants don’t care much about customer service. This is clearly one of those. We went to a nearby Indonesian restaurant on Rozengracht where, despite it being a busy Saturday night and we had no reservation, they treated us nicely and managed to find us a table within 10 minutes. That’s customer service! Some restaurants have great customer service, some don’t. I recommend you don’t spend your money here.

I rarely write reviews, but the experience at this restaurant was so disappointing that I feel I must warn others. We had a confirmed reservation, yet the older gentleman responsible for seating guests treated us with shocking rudeness and complete lack of professionalism. Instead of welcoming us, he acted as if we were a burden, spoke to us with no respect, and made the whole experience uncomfortable from the very beginning. Hospitality is supposed to be about making guests feel valued and respected, but here it was the exact opposite. If the staff cannot handle basic courtesy, then no matter how good the food might be, the overall experience is ruined. This is not what anyone should expect when spending their time and money at a restaurant. I strongly do not recommend this place, and I will never return

Very delicious food. We had the rice table with various Indonesian specialties, which you could add to your order free of charge. For starters, we had a delicious salad with chicken satay. We felt a bit like we were in Bali. The service was attentive and very friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant!

The sampling menu showcased an exceptional array of Indonesian delicacies, elegantly served in a sharing style. This experience allowed us to truly savor a variety of exquisite offerings. It was undoubtedly a remarkable meal and an unforgettable experience.

Delicious Indonesian food! The rice table menu is nice to share and served in large portions. The prices are a bit high but it is worth to try.

Excellent restaurant. The tasting menu is strongly recommended. Great way to try a variety of interesting dishes.

Coming on Sami's advice we discovered a cozy place (5:45 p.m.) where we were immediately taken care of, discovering the Indonesian world with aromas of wine tastes (German) everything was delicious! Not being able to tolerate spices, the chef in the kitchen

We chose the tasting menu, which features a revisited satay, a tasting menu, and a salad served as a single course, along with a selection of desserts to share. The presentation is attractive and the dishes are very good. I appreciated the textures and freshness of the ingredients, but above all, the flavor. Compared to other Indonesian restaurants, here, while there's no shortage of spices, you can still distinguish the ingredients. The service is friendly and fast. The place is perhaps a little sparse. I was surprised by the dessert. The play on temperature was very tasty and fun.

A simple menu with good food. Staff was nice aswel

Amazing food, amazing place, amazing service.

As tourists, we had to try this type of cuisine during our day... And Max is a reference here (Reservations required). Classic menu with two "courses" to share. Lots of flavors, some fairly spicy dishes that really warm up those who aren't used to it #likeUs Classic atmosphere for a restaurant, nothing fancy. Impeccable service.

Great restaurant! Nice and attentive staff. The food is fantastic. Rijsttafel 😀👍

The restaurant is highly recommended. We googled it by chance and simply wanted to try Indonesian food because it was recommended. There are basically only a few ordering options in the restaurant, but they are wonderful. The rice table offers a total of eight different Indonesian dishes in small portions, each tasting completely different. What's special is that none of the dishes has a "European-Asian" feel. So, little consideration is given to spiciness or spice, and therefore it truly tastes authentic. Therefore, the price is completely reasonable. To enjoy dessert, however, you shouldn't have eaten much beforehand, because the rice table is very generous. In general, we would go back to this restaurant anytime we visit Amsterdam again and recommend it to anyone else.

Definitely go with Indonesian Rice Table. We didn't have room for dessert. The opening salad course was amazing. I asked the wait staff if they bottled the dressing for sale.

Delicious food and perfect location! My friend and I got the 3 course tasting menu and it was well worth it. The staff were also very sweet and ensured we were having a great time.

A really beautiful meal, everything tasted divine but prepare yourself, if you’re sensitive to spice it might be worth taking it easy. The wine list was excellently varied and also included an orange wine which I love to see and tasted scrummy (wine noted for buying bottles later heh)! The service was top notch and I love how they don’t pester you to leave after 2 hours in Amsterdam, it’s so refreshing to be told to ‘take your time.’ 100% recommend and very comfortable prices of €82 for two starters and two mains.

Super delicious food and fantastic service! Highly recommended.

Unreserved recommendation. We had the delicious Indonesian rice table with good wine. Satay was served as a salad: new to us—but really delicious! Very attentive and unobtrusive service. We'd love to come back!

We got the tasting menu and really enjoyed the variety and flavors. Restaurant is nice inside and service was excellent. This was our favorite meal in Amsterdam and would definitely return.

Great, nice and friendly staff. We tried to find a nice Indonesian cuisine restaurant on google map with high rating. It was a hesitant to us first when we saw the pricing. However, it was so lucky for us to insist to go on a savoury adventure at Max. The starter was a great start. Although it was a bit pricy, you would find it rewarding. This is actually our best dining experience in 10-day trip in Amsterdam. Thanks again for the great introduction to the Indonesian cuisine.

It's my first time eating Indonesian food other than Nasi Goreng. But I didn't know it would be this delicious!! It was really the best👍 The service was also great 😃 I had a 3-course meal, and the appetizers were especially delicious, and among the desserts, the coconut ice cream and banana tart were so delicious!! I think I'll come here again when I come to Amsterdam.

Great food, great service, absolutely brilliant in terms of accommodating us and our needs, allergies. From the owner to the server everyone cared and no wonder this place is full!

Six of us had the set menu. The starter was excellent. The peanut sauce was easily removed for those with allergies. The main course was excellent, very individual, with special spices. The chicken was fantastic. Dessert was quite small, but still a good ending. The owner, Max, was also there and made a personal connection with each guest.

Enjoyable experience and great food

Amazing food with a great sharing option!

Recommended by a friend, we ate here and really enjoyed the food greatly! We did the tasting dinner and everything was tasty! A couple were spicy but nothing crazy compared to Thai or Mexican dishes. It’s a small place, quite nice inside, good for up to 10 people but you better have reservations for anything over 4 people. Great experience!

Loved the food here - very flavourful. Their prices are reasonable, the wine was great and the service was fantastic. A nice, casual dining experience.

A big compliment to this place. We had made a reservation for a group of 8 men for a bachelor party. Maybe not the right location for this in advance, but we really wanted to have a nice meal before we went into town. We were served to our wishes. The food was delicious and we were helped so well. I can imagine that it takes a while with such a group, but that went really well. We were kept well-watered, there was good (casual) sales and above all we just sat very comfortably. Thank you for the hospitality and thank you for this nice experience on a very successful evening!

Amazing atmosphere and food! Fantastic service! Thank you!!

Excellent indonesian food served here. Professional service. Relaxed upscale ambiance. This is a top three indonesian 🇮🇩 restaurant in Amsterdam.

Very enjoyable. The rijsttafel was full of flavour and beautifully balanced. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. The staff are kind, attentive and create a natural sense of ease. I’d gladly come back.

The chef and staff were great. Plenty of very wonderful dishes to taste. Good location.

One of the cuisines we wanted to try in Amsterdam was Indonesian. So we made an effort to choose a restaurant. And we hit it off. After a short conversation with the owner, and a few minutes of waiting, they freed up a table for us and seated us. The staff was smiling and very professional. Rijsttafel met all our expectations.

This place was awesome: service was excellent, and food delicious! Rijsttafel is definitely the way to try out Indonesian food for the first time, or to just enjoy small selections of a variety of dishes.

Super nice restaurant. Nice staff. Great food Highly recommend.

The rice table is a truly special treat. So many different and delicious dishes at once are extraordinary, you should definitely be hungry so that you can manage dessert at the end.

I am not convinced by their small plates. The food tastes like precooked for mass and scooped into small dishes. I would prefer each dish done individually. The desert is very good.

The best authentic indonesian food i‘ve had outside of Indonesia. The flavors are amazing and a perfect mix of sweet, sour and spicy. It‘s a nice family Style Restaurant and the owner is super nice. Highly Recommend

First time here together with my wife but we loved a lot. The food was delicious, sauces were different and tasty, We were informed about the details about the dishes we have. The service was so perfect, you don't need to call anyone to ask something because you are always asked if you need anything. Perfect, wonderful. Thanks for the nice evening Restaurant max family<3

During our Amsterdam visit we wanted at least one good Indonesian meal. Restaurant Max is probably more modern than traditional Indonesian, but it mixes creativity, friendliness, and service to create a wonderful dining experience. Our server was especially helpful and knowledgeable in recommendations for menu items that avoided certain allergies and kept the spice levels at enjoyable levels (for us). The salmon and boneless chicken were incredible. Max was ever present to ensure everyone enjoyed their meal.

Wow just wow. We came here on a whim suggestion of a local and WOW the flavors were on point. Salads amazing. Spicy for the spice lovers and well seasoned. The dessert even more wow. The banana cake with coconut sorbet. What a lovely place! The service is a little slow but that’s only because they are busy and for a good reason. Come for a great culinary experience and good time. We will be back

Great place. Found it by browsing google and it did not disappoint. Food was excellent (first time trying this Indonesian dish) and service was great as well. Staff was so friendly.

A wonderful and delicious meal! I’m a huge fan, and cooker, of many Asian cuisines but Indonesian was a new one for me. While you could certainly taste similar flavors from Thai or Vietnamese dishes, it was incredibly unique. The Rijsttafel was a great way to share the experience and amazing food with friends. The staff were delightful and engaging. The only downside was room for dessert was nonexistent.

Lovely staff and location that is a fact, but the food is not outstanding. I have visited many places in Indonesia the last 25 years, but the food at Max is not by far as good as the original Indonesian kitchen.

Delicious Indonesian food with a twist

We make a reservation directly with them one month ago, it was accepted by the restaurant, surprise, we arrive here and it’s closed. Unacceptable

Hands down my favorite dining experience in Amsterdam! From the warm welcome by, I assume, Max the owner to the food, great music playlist and casual conversation with the owner. Food and wine were perfect! Would definitely go back and highly recommend!

Best Indonesian restaurant in Amsterdam. Highly recommend ordering the Rijsttafel, an assortment or tasting of the best Indonesian dishes. Reservations recommended.

Delicious food. Small bowls with different dishes. Perfect for the little eater, but if you want more you just get a refill

Delicious Indonesian food served in a nice atmosphere by hospitable hosts.

Perfect place. Friendly staff. Great food. What else?

Cozy /classy restaurant….love it…

An excellent experience, attentive and friendly service and above all it is a treat from start to finish! Excellent !

Reserved with a notice and the restaurant itself canceled my booking. Sad and very unprofessional…. While the website states that you can ask about the ingredients and allergies.

Great meal! This was our first time trying Rijsttafel and it was a wonderful experience. The food was delicious and everyone who worked there was very nice. Would definitely recommend!

Delicious food and calm, intimate environment. A great option if you are looking for an interesting restaurant while travelling to Amsterdam!

I very rarely put reviews, but Max Restaurant was spectacular! Thank you Max!

We had a great time, the service was great. I recommend.

Great selection! 3 course meal was delicious, fantastic service, as well as cozy atmosphere.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Restaurant MAX, and I was thoroughly impressed by the entire experience. This cozy spot offers incredible Indonesian food, and every dish was bursting with authentic flavors. The service stood out for being not only extremely fast but also highly professional, ensuring that we were well taken care of throughout the meal. The highlight of the evening was the food itself. From the rich and aromatic spices to the perfectly balanced sauces, each dish was a treat for the senses. The wine selection was also impressive, complementing the meal beautifully and enhancing the overall dining experience. One of the most enjoyable aspects was the beautiful view from our table by the front window, overlooking the charming street outside. It added a lovely ambiance to the already fantastic dining experience. I highly recommend Restaurant MAX for anyone looking to enjoy top-tier Indonesian cuisine with excellent service in a picturesque setting.

Excellent rijsttafel, service and dessert! This is one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam.

Good restaurant to discover Indonesian cuisine. Attentive service

Pretty good Indonesian restaurant, but to me, the food is not at the top of Amsterdam. Dishes dont taste that authentic to me. Staff is very friendly, and the interior looks great and quiet fancy, but I feel they seat too many guests in the space they have.

Very bad restaurant . Racist waiter I don’t recommend it for Arab or GCC (gulf) tourists . Stay away

Excellent restaurant. Great service. Delicious food. Would be nice to see some cheaper wine options.

We had a really delicious dinner here. Great flavours and excellent service. I would highly recommend if you are visiting Amsterdam!

Thank you very much for these incredibly tasty dishes and the hospitality. Really great!!!

So good! My favorite dish in the rijstaffel is all of them.

Restaurant Max is a smaller restaurant with very personal and friendly service. They have a somewhat diverse Indonesian menu, but we go there for the rijstafel, which is outstanding.

Everything was SO disappointing. The price was absurd, very expensive considering both the lacking quality and quantity. Did not like it. Would not recommend it to anyone. We love rijsttafels but this one was just not it. Again, very expensive and the food was not even good, and also too little portions.

Far from Indonesian cuisine for my taste! A little bit of lemon grass doesn't make a meal an Indonesian dish! Little and overpriced too

Our second visit here, and it does not disappoint. Tasty food and plenty of it

Very good food and good service. We ate "rijsttafel" (several small dishes) which were all good. Topping up was included if you wanted more of any dish. Quite loud otherwise it would have been top rated on everything.

We felt like we had their tasting-menu forced on us a little, they were very keen for us to have it anyway. It was tasty, and varied, but we both left still hungry, not cheap either. The restaurant was very nice but a little cramped inside.

Good food, but prices not adequate and too high for what is offered. Also the wine was not adequate value for money and not cold enough. As soon as we finished eating and said we didn't like dessert, they immediately brought us the bill without asking. It's fine for a place where you pay little but not in a restaurant where you leave a minimum of 50 Euros per person.

Nice diner location, food twist

Excellent food, super helpful and attentive staff and great atmosphere. Make sure to make a reservation. Will definitely come back when in Amsterdam.

This Indonesian gem in the heart of Amsterdam’s beautiful canal area offers a modern twist on traditional flavors. The rice table meals are a must-try, allowing you to savor a variety of dishes. The friendly staff and cozy atmosphere create a welcoming feeling. And let’s not forget the delightful desserts! 😊 If you’re in Amsterdam, consider MAX for another culinary adventure.

Great rice table dinner, prompt service and nice decor. Servings were on the small side, we ate everything and left satisfied but not full. Water is given to you, beware 6€ a bottle, more expensive than a beer. The main dishes tasted good, but not noticeably better than fast food takeout Indonesian curry dishes.

Very over priced. No option to pick a meal - only the big tasting available for 39 EUR (42 USD) PER PERSON. See attached photo of what we got for 78 EUR (84 USD) for 2 people (drinks not included)! We had Indonesian food in a few restaurants in Amsterdam and this was both the most expensive (by far!) as well as the least tasty (in our opinion and because we love Indonesian food we have it everywhere we travel to). I understand paying a premium for quality but the guests were totally squeezed in, the bathrooms were dirty and the service was not great.

I came to MAX following the recommendation of a friend some years ago, and it was totally worth it. Not very hungry so I tried the Rijstaffel, a splendid tasting menu to experience the different flavors and textures of the Indonesian cuisine. The menu started with a Javanese chicken satai on crispy marinated vegetables. Then the main course with a mix of smaller portions of many specialities: beef rendang slowly cooked, giant shrimps in red curry, Balinese chicken curry, spicy eggplant curry, oriental spiced soy chicken and egg in yellow curry, vegetables curry in Indonesian coconut sauce, spicy shrimp crackers with aromatic pandan rice, and gado gado a fresh vegetable salad with spicy peanuts. The dessert is the house speciality: the MAX banana tarte tatin baked from the oven with rum coconut sauce, coconut ice cream and Indonesian spiced layered cake

Had a great date night at Max. Really enjoyed the tasting menu. Would recommend.

5 STARS! It was our first time trying Indonesian food and we were not disappointed - Food was so delicious. :D It was served family style along with rice and salad. Each dish was filled with so much flavor and with various spices. The service was excellent too. The owner Max accommodated us including our toddler. Pema our waiter was also great and very friendly & efficient. Looking forward to returning when we visit Amsterdam again! :)

While going on a stroll, my wife and I couldn’t help but notice the numerous Indonesian restaurants that we encountered. Since it was late, a majority of them were closed; however, we made a note to have Indonesian food for dinner the next day. The following day I browsed Yelp and found Max Amsterdam, which would be our destination for dinner (I was so excited that I failed to notice that reservations are preferred). Upon entering the very busy restaurant we were greeted by an employee that informed us that they generally prefer that patrons make reservations; however, by the grace of God (or whomever you believe in), a table for two became available due to a no-show. Once we were seated, we both ordered glasses of wine and opted for the two course Rijsttafel menu without the MAX dessert. Like clockwork, a serve brought out the tasteful Javanese chicken satay on a crispy marinated vegetables. After finishing this course, the server brought out the main course which consisted of small portioned Indonesian specialties such as Beef rendang and Balinese chicken curry. To be honest, there was nothing placed in front of us that was short of being delicious. I’m a creature of habit that generally sticks to Thai and Vietnamese cuisines. Therefore, I’m grateful that my wife encouraged me to try Indonesian food. If you’re looking for authentic cuisines from Indonesia, I highly suggest checking out Max Amsterdam.

Excellent food with full of flavor. Trust the chef’s recommendation and indulge in a delicious journey that will tantalize all your taste buds. 11/10!

@lydieats 💕 We stopped by MAX thanks to their kitchen remaining open late 🙏 Starts off with a chicken satay salad. Kinda salty but lekker. For the main rijsttafel, there’s a total of 9 side dishes. A mix of proteins, curries, and spices. Everything had a lot of flavor and each one tasted unique. I don’t think it was particularly mind blowing but I loved the buffet style eating & it was fun picking out your fav items. They are very generous with the rice too. 🌷 2 Course Rijstaffel €39 When traveling in Europe, the third day is the critical moment. I'm craving Asian food like crazy. There are many different options in Amsterdam, but one that is special is rijsttafel, a reinterpretation of Indonesian cuisine. You can taste various Indonesian dishes like side dishes. 9 dishes are prepared at MAX. There are a variety of ingredients and different sauces, so it's fun to choose 😋 What I liked the most was the satay salad that came as an appetizer!

Great people, excellent service.

We made a reservation in which we stated a 2 year old would come along. The reply we received indicated they had a booster seat available. Based on the reply we expected everything to be alright. The reservation was at 17:30, because of a prosperous journey we arrived a bit earlier; at 17:15. Upon entry we were immediately confronted with the owner who angrily asked us “What are you doing here?” following up with “We are not open, we are eating” and “No strollers here, you must be in the wrong place”. We kindly informed if anything could be arranged, for instance if we were welcome if we would fold the stroller. The owner kept saying “no”, and told us to go elsewhere. People with strollers, be wary! You are not welcome. I can’t say anything about the food because we had none here. But if you are looking for delicious Chinese food, in a wonderful atmosphere, and great service, I can highly recommend China Sichuan Restaurant / Zeedijk (at Zeedijk 103)!

This is a great place to eat, we loved the Rijsttafel (rice table). The favours are blended with care and the dishes are well presented. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and the staff are attentive and helpful. You need to book to make sure you have a table! It's very popular!