Kade West

Brilliant! Very trend place with nice drinks and great food. Would definitely come back!

Why does this place have such high reviews?
Ok, the location is great. It’s on a sun-​drenched terrace on the Kinkerstraat, perfect for an afternoon coffee or wine and people watching.
But the food was a total miss for me. Weird dutch combinations that had me scratching my head. Ham + Cheese toastie with sambal. Club sandwich with eggs. Everything else mayo-​laden.
Great service but mehhhhh.

I have high hopes for Kade West and hope they last a while (opened just last week or so). I think they will. Here’s why:
1. Location and Hours
It has a great terrace for the afternoon sun. And while there seems to be an abundance of cafés in the area, there was a lack of all day eateries turn late night bar options — until Kade West that is. So now all the zzp-​ers who squat across the street for wifi and coffee can spice things up and eat a proper meal here and even call it a late night with some beers, since they’re open to 3 am on the weekends. Oh the options.
2. Tasty Food
It’s not a shockingly original menu but what they do serve (at least what I’ve had off their menu) is well executed. Fresh ingredients. Generous without being too gluttonous portions. Their Kade West salad is with grilled shrimp — simple but really good and no skimping on ingredients. My friend had the carpaccio and she was very pleased. Empty plates all around.
3. Friendly Service
I always worry when something is new. Lack of training usually means lots of waiting. The staff is friendly without being excessively attentive. Asked for water and they brought over a whole carafe of it without us having to ask. The bill was processed quickly. All simple touches but that make a big difference.
I’ll definitely be back!

Finding a name must be one of the most exciting things when you open a café. I can’t understand why the horeca people in Amsterdam are so uninspired recently. Examples like Dapper (which isn’t even in the Dapperbuurt) and Filter make me frown. Yes, Kade West IS at a kade indeed. In west. Replacing Café Day, yay.
Btw, I never understood why they painted Café Day in a very unpretty greenish grey. They even painted the wooden tables and benches outside, in a different shade, aw! New name, same paint.
BUT, apart from my personal taste I only have to report good things about Kade West. Because it’s actually a great place. It’s got an ideal room size, not too big and not too small. Next to the ground level with the bar there’s a lower and an upper level with tables and chairs. The latter fits around 20 people. During the day it’s an eetcafé and at nighttime it’s a bar. There is a terrace by the canal with space for around 30 people. The staff is very nice and attentive, I hope they keept that up!
AND, since I arrived they keep playing a lot of my favourite music so they’re unfairly influencing me in my opinion. And without knowing what I’m doing here they boodled me by offering me fantastic big kalamata olives. I cannot not like this place. And you will neither.
Come here for work, coffee and a bite during the day or for borrels and true gezelligheid at night.