Balthazar’s Keuken

Small restaurant with amazing set price set menu. Very good value. Attentive service.

My boyfriend and I had dinner here on Friday and had a slightly unfortunate incident. We had a reservation and when we got to the door a party of 4 had just arrived before us and a server came to the door to greet them and said they would prepare the table. We arrived just after and they thought we were the same group (despite there being 6 people at the door). Several servers looked over but no one came to greet us. We waited patiently. A few minutes later a party of 2 decided they were too good to wait in line and passed us. They went deep into the restaurant where they proceeded to be helped and sat. I started fuming. I walked in and told the sever that we had been waiting in line and no one helped us and the couple had cut the line and been seated. She said she thought we were one group. She apologized and gave us the last table. I think it was an honest mistake, and if it had ended here this would likely be a 4 star review.
But the drama continues: As we were sitting my boyfriend was saying how entertaining it was when I got mad, so I was letting off the remaining steam and rehashing what had happened. The same server was passing by and made a very snide comment to me. Which is why I can only give them 3 stars.
The food was good (but not amazing, especially for 32,50 a person; that said, the butter was really yummy). I really liked that it was possible to get a half bottle of the house wines. But when staff are rude it really detracts from the whole experience. We will not be going back.

Understaffed, overbooked, middlin’ food. The bass was good, the Oslo bucco, however, was tough and way too fatty… the sauce over the risotto didn’t quite match the flavor of the meat. Oh well, Amsterdam, I suppose, is not about the food.

Should say this might be the best Dutch-​experimental restaurant in town. They change the menu in regular basis so better ask before making a reservation and for the weekends reservation is a must. (They have a fix menu so you don’t get the chance to pick. You might either go for vegetarian or not, that’s all). The service is good and friendly. Have been there twice and would go again!

Balthazar’s did not disappoint in terms of food… everything was excellent! The appetizer that we each had was outstanding — it was a plate of several marinated veggies and beans. For the main course, we had the spinach gnocchi, and again it was delicious. The service was attentive and friendly, but I cannot give Balthazar’s 5 stars due to the fact that half way through our meal we were asked to move to a different table to accommodated another party. This is not acceptable in general but especially not ok since we had indeed reserved ahead so it just should never have happened. Even with that said, we plan on returning because the food was really good and the prices were very fair.

I really really like Balthazar’s Keuken. The warm atmosphere, the pleasant decoration, the French flair. The room is small and it feels intimate like in a private home. But: although it’s a romantic place you don’t want to come here for a rendez-​vous (did I mention that the tables are lined up very closely?).
Once you’re seated the owner will take a seat next to your table and read the weekly menu from a hand-​written note. At this point the guests get the chance to bring in eating preferences. And then the feast begins.
You can see and taste that the chef at Balthazar’s Keuken has got love and passion for cooking. I enjoyed the creative combination of flavours, like goats cheese with pancetta and apricot jam, carrot humus with pistachio crumble or avocado mousse topped with fried artichokes. And the dessert was one of the best I had in a long time. The medley of ginger cream custard and crème fraiche, garnished with marinated ginger and roasted nuts was simple yet intriguing and just incredibly delicious.
So why 4 and not 5 stars? They serve in shifts in the evening and that’s really onhollands ongezellig, especially because this place is so cozy and inviting to sit and enjoy the whole evening.

Cozy local atmosphere, everything was so delicious from the roasted sardines to the seafood soup to the yummy desserts.

A solid dinner with thoughtful dishes. Good ambience, but not over the top. Just good. Presentation is an opportunity area. I enjoyed myself, but I doubt this is one of the best spots in Amsterdam.
*** note– they have two sittings a night. Reserve for either the 7 or 9pm seatings.***

Fantastic! Fixed menu on the night we went and everything from start to finish was fantastic. Personal touch. Main course fish with lentils was superb, cooked to perfection. Starters were creative and delicious.
Come in, sit down and let them do their magic. Tiny place so don’t be surprised if you have to wait. But it’s worth it.

Balthazar was terrific, basically.
The night we went they were offering set menu (with a few choices for main course). This may not be to some people’s taste but we found it to be excellent. The dishes were creative and delicious and seasonal. It’s not typical Amsterdam cuisine but it is very European in a modern/​good way.
Compact But good wine list. Excellent service and a very charming and lively atmosphere. Sit and enjoy!
I’d recommend booking if possible.

Dank Qype haben wir Balthazar’s Keuken entdeckt und waren am Samstag (das Restaurant hat entgegen der o.g. Angaben auch Samstags geöffnet!) abend dort essen. Es war wirklich einfach total total lecker, gemütlich und originell, da man direkt in die Küche blicken kann.
Das Restaurant hat Platz für ca 30 Gäste und es man kann dort ca. gegen 18.30 und gegen 20.30 Uhr einen Tisch reservieren. Alle bekommen ein 3-​Gang Menü, bei dem man als Hauptgang zwischen Fleisch und Fisch wählen kann. Passend zu dem jeweiligen Menü kann man auch den Wein der Woche bekommen. (Natürlich gibt es aber auch eine normale Weinkarte).
Es gab erst eine gemischte Vorspeisenplatte, u.a. mit super leckeren Miesmuscheln, Spinat-​Kroketten, einem grandioser Dip aus Ziegenkäse, roten Zwiebeln und Zimt (ja, ZIMT!) und einem Karottensalat mit Datteln und Rosinen. Als Hauptgang gab es Entenkeule (mit Linsen und Cous Cous, angeblich war das sehr gut) oder Schwertfisch (mit Sepiarisotto — toll!) und als Dessert einen wunderbaren eingelegten Weinbergpfirsich mit Basilikum-​Mascarponencreme.
Die Stimmung ist total locker und gut gelaunt (wie übrigens ganz Amsterdam).
Alles in allem total empfehlenswert!!!
PS TISCH RESERVIEREN! Spontan geht da glaube ich nix.

Dieses kleine, feine Restaurant ist an nur 3 Tagen /​Woche geöffnet — Mittwoch, Donnerstag & Freitag, eine Reservierung ist daher dringend zu empfehlen. Es gibt zwei Schichten, nämlich um 18:30 oder 21 Uhr (wir wählten die Spätschicht). Wem das zu umständlich oder reglementiert ist, ist selber schuld ‘-D
Empfohlen worden war Balthazar’s Keuken von mehreren guten Quellen auf
& darüberhinaus preiswert: für 27,50 Euro wird ein wöchentlich wechselndes 3-​Gang-​Menü kredenzt.
Die Einrichtung ist spartanisch, die Küche offen & von jedem der etwa 12 – 15 Tische gut einsehbar.
Der Koch persönlich kommt an den Tisch, um das aktuelle Tagesangebot vorzustellen. An diesem Abend gab es eine gemischte Vorspeisenplatte für zwei bestehend aus
schwarzen Sesam-​Cracker mit Korianderpesto — schmecki
Entenrillette mit pikanten Aprikosen — ein Gedicht
junger Pecorino mit Anchovis-​Tapenade und confierter Zitrone — großartig
Teigtaschen mit gegrilltem wilden Spinat und einer indisch gewürzten Macadamia-​Vinaigrette — fantastisch
* *
als Hauptgang wahlweise
Schwertfischsteak mit knuspriger Salami, Jakobsmuschel & Estragonbutter, serviert mit Kartoffelpü & Knoblauch-​Rösttomaten — schmecki
oder
Entenconfit mit Shiitake-​Pilzen, Entenspeck, Salbei & grünen Spargelravioli — oberschmecki
* *
Das Dessert war eine Kardamom-​Pannacotta mit einer Karamel Beurre Salé — wunderbar
Ich kann mich seither freudig in die Riege der Keuken-​Freunde einreuen ich meine –reihen.
:-D

This is my favorite restaurant in the city for a special dinner. Really excellent food, pretty decent service and lovely cozy atmosphere. The appetizers are a little unusual (roasted sardines or the like) and tasty, and I still dream about one of the desserts I have had: it was salted dark chocolate fudge and pears. MMm!
Sometimes the servers are a little slow and/​or distracted but when I go I am never in a rush anyway so it doesn’t bother me.