BUFFET van Odette

Hands down the best meal in Amsterdam! Recommended by a friend as the perfect place to take my parent to dinner - it was perfect on all levels! Food, atmosphere, staff, price - all 10/10. Already planning my next visit back! Thank you for the best meal I’ve had in a very long time 😋

Simple but tasty food - make sure you book a table before going there as it quickly gets crowded

Buffet van Odette on the Prinsengracht is a great place for lunch, though the atmosphere would also be nice in the evening. It has a bistro-style feel in the heart of Amsterdam, with Museum Square around the corner and canals everywhere you walk. The service is professional and friendly, and the dishes are always excellent. As locals, we appreciate the quality and consistency. Buffet van Odette is also well-loved by those who live here.

We spent a week in Amsterdam and Copenhagen and our best meal was at Odettes. Menu is unique (as an American), food was fresh, and absolutely delicious. We tried going back but they're closed on Tuesday. Highly recommend.

Delicious food at the loveliest terrace. We went to have some lunch in an uncharacteristically sunny day in Amsterdam, and had the loveliest experience eating here! The views eating at the terrace gave us a brilliant experience that we’ll always remember. We ordered the mixed beans salad with burrata and the truly outstanding truffle cheese omelette - oh, and don’t forget to ask for a side of their incredible sourdough bread.

Went here on Saturday for lunch. Well-decorated place with beautiful plates of food. Opted for some mussels and roast beef and polenta. Both were tasty but the polenta could’ve used more seasoning. Good portion sizes. Outdoor tables are lovely with good weather. I’d recommend to reserve in advance.

Nice food and really friendly waiters. We enjoyed the pumpkin and sage ravioli. The menu is very very small, with only three mains a night so if you have dietary needs or are a bit more fussy, probably avoid this spot.

Not as good as it used to be. The menu is limited. The ravioli was quite greasy, the steak tartare is not great and the smoked salmon choucroute doesn't make any sense. I used to love coming here but the last few times were disappointing.

We had a wonderful experience at this elegant bistro. Inventive and appealing flavor combinations with friendly and attentive service in beautiful surroundings. We'd certainly recommend this restaurant.

Cute restaurant in the corner by the canal. Delicious food and good wine is the perfect combination for a lovely lunch in Amsterdam

Well, if nothing else, Buffet van Odette offers a properly casual European feel to the entire service experience. From standing around waiting to be shown to a table for five or ten minutes to extended pauses between being presented with menus or putting in our orders, this is clearly -not- the place to go if you're at all in a rush to be anywhere. That said, why would anyone be in a rush to do anything on a lazy, sunny Sunday afternoon in Amsterdam? That would just be ridiculous. I question the necessity of having an electronic touchscreen tablet ordering system at a café like this. Wouldn't it be just as efficient to just write down your order like they do at most other places? It actually looked like our server was having a challenging time hunting down the right buttons to press to select our food and drink selections. A pen is so much more versatile - I can't even begin to imagine what would happen if you tried to make any requests for substitutions or anything off-menu... But once our meal actually arrived to the table, all was vindicated. Buffet van Odette's fare is every bit worth a wait. Presentation is simple, but lets the food speak for itself. Our quiche was stunningly savoury, with sides of beetroot and lentil salad. The cheesy omelette was delivered without flair, but with crunchy streaky bacon that one doesn't often find in England! To round it all out, I thoroughly enjoyed my americano coffee. Not that it was terribly noteworthy, but I had no complaints on that front. This is certainly an option best suited to those with vast amounts of patience. But if you can handle the waits, there's definitely a pot of gold at the end of that loooooong rainbow.

In mood for a light lunch? Pay this place a visit! With a selection of all-day breakfast with all sorts of egg dishes, healthy vegan and non vegan salads, sandwiches and soups, this place feels modern without being try-hard. The interior is minimalistic, and the staff sort of goes with the place with their chilled and mellow staff. Overall a cute place that suits pretty much anyone, which to me is the thing with Amsterdam overall.

The cafe is located near the museum district and we were enticed by the white table cloths and outdoor cafe seating. The service was fast and we got a table quickly. There is even inside seating options available if the outside is full. Their brunch menu offers quiche, omelets, and various pasta and salad dishes. Although everything was tasty (including the in-house baked apple pie), Buffet van odette isn't a MUST eat when it comes to Amsterdam. It's typical brunch food.

Whaaaat?! Loving the mushroom polenta with ricotta. So good! And consistently good, which I find very important. Great dish for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Which actually also applies to the place itself. Buffet van Odette is a place with a very intriguing vibe. Using the words of a dear friend of mine: "Like a bistro, but not as chaotic as a Parisian one. A bit more New York style". (Give yourself some kudos if you read this with a French accent.) Since I have not been to New York myself, I have to trust her on that one, but I can definitely agree with the first part of the statement. On weekends it is full, as expected from a nice place like this. There are no reservations, but the waiting time is not too long. Very reasonable, I never waited longer than 15 minutes. Unlike some other trending places, let's say in the Pijp. The staff is very nice. Well, actually, with only one exception. But maybe the girl was not having a good day, can happen to anyone. Yet, I do not need to know that as a customer. Food service is quite fast. Af for the food - everything I ordered or tasted was delicious. My choices during my last two visits: Pumpkin soup with coriander - nice. Quiche - nice. Mushroom polenta - awesomeness! Half a poussin with mayo - loving it! One comment, or point of improvement, if you wish: I would suggest not seating 3 people at that table for 2 you have in the back corner. Yes, theoretically it should totally work, as you have the corner of a couch and a chair. But in practice, if everyone orderes a main dish (and we had 5 dishes) and some water, it is very uncomfortable to eat. You either have someone's elbow in your face, or need to take turns to bring the food from your place into your mouth. Other solution - service table / bijzettafel. But I assume that is also not going to work as there is no place to put it. Either way, the current solution does not make for a comfortable eating. I am aware of the (mis)conception that putting 3 people on a table for 4 is 'wasting a place'. But if you have 3 ordering 5 dishes, you might be winning after all, no? ;) As one of my favorite people in the food industry, Tom Colicchio said, "I always say that people will come to the restaurant for food, but they'll come back for service." He said it about service, but I think it applies to the whole experience surrounding the food itself.

Great spot with delicious foods, good service and calm environment. Try spinach quiche, omelette and toffee cake! All the best!

Really cute on the canal. A recommendation from local friend and you definitely feel that, which is very nice in Amsterdam. The ambiance is really sweet- modern, european. I had their famous truffle cheese omelette with bacon- was yum. But the meals, coffees and deserts around me looked amazing- so need to go back!

Buffet van Odette is a great cafe/restaurant. Me and my husband found this place by accident. We were actually looking for a restaurant that used to be at this location. At first, we were so disappointed that the restaurant was gone but we were pretty happy with Buffet van Odette. Pros: - food is good and fresh - reasonable price for organic material - nice, bright interior - friendly stuff members - perfect location for having a nice lunch after going to museums or strolling antique street Cons: - pretty busy and noisy - sometimes it's hard to get waitress's attention

We met our friend here for dinner. My friend has been living in Amsterdam for almost a year and recommended this not touristy, rather a local spot. We ordered smoked salmon, steak and ravioli. All are very tasty. Service was good as well. Side order of potatoes is a must!

Dropped in here for a late lunch, friendly and efficient service, small but excellent menu with tasty and fresh products. Also good coffee! We had the tomato soup and the hamburger, some wine, tea and a machiatto. Well located, out of the main drag but easy stroll from the rijksmuseum.

Came here last night for dinner and while menu selection is small the quality is outstanding. I had the sea bass with polenta and it was cooked to perfection and the polenta was delicious/ creamy and probably the best version I have had. My husband ordered the cheese ravioli it was equally delicious. The cheese was amazing!! Food came out quick which is not too common in Amsterdam but much appreciated as we were starving. Restaurant is small and quant and the candle lighting helps to create a romantic ambiance. I can't forget to mention the dessert. I am not even a big dessert person but since everything was so good I tried the brownie with caramel sauce and their version of a brownie was flourless perfection and the caramel here is on a different level when compared to the fake overly processed crap we have in the U.S. Meal was about $56 euros (including wine) and well worth it when considering the quality. If in Amsterdam give this great place a try!

Buffet van Odette's kitchen is really good. Had their smoked salmon with lentils and poached eggs, with (as side dish) potatoes with tarragon mayonaise (which you have to order separately). Their products are from local producers (like Frank's smokehouse and Lindenhoff). We were sitting on the terrace. Although during the evening the sun disappears on this side of the canal, you still have a lovely view on the canal and can see people passing by.

Worst service in a while. Took them nearly 10mins to seat us and then waited nearly an hour for food - the premade "buffet" salad. When it did arrive - meh. Beets were tasty, but wouldn't order it is again. A must-miss.

"Buffet van Odette" is a perfect place for a light lunch alongside the canals of Amsterdam. You will enjoy fresh meals home-made, good coffee and a nice service. Be sure to taste their delicious "Flemish meatloaf"!

I went here for Sunday brunch, so I was hoping for something like Eggs Benedict, but instead they just had omelettes and sandwiches. I'm trying to avoid eating bread, so that left me with the choice of soup, or artichoke. For 8.50 I imagined this artichoke must have something special going on, like being deep fried with a cheese mountain on top and a sparkler sticking out from the whole thing. Why else have an 800% markup for an artichoke? But it turned out to be a regular old boiled artichoke with something they called 'vinaigrette' on the side that tasted like mustard mayonnaise. My boyfriend had an omelette that was 'ok' (that's Dutch for 'pretty good') and the bread was 'not bad' (Dutch for 'excellent'). The omelette inexplicably came with 'mayonnaise' that was actually horseradish mayonnaise. So, boo for incorrectly labeling their condiments. The service was ok, and their outside terrace was nice and shady, but for some reason every time I go past here the place is lousy with Germans. I think it must be listed in some German guidebook or something, because they're always filling the outside tables and shambling along on the sidewalks with their children, blocking the bike path, and just being very noticeably German. So if you are into German tourist watching, this is a good place.

Walked by Buffet van Odette around dinner time and thought it looked interesting...just completely serendipitous. They explained the 3 course dinner and it sounded perfect. They start you off with an amuse bouche of little olives and they are flavorful. First course was a risotto with fresh white asparagus..a large portion. I tried not to eat the entire portion but it just wasn't possible. Oops....gone. The second course was cod in a delicious lemony sauce on a bed of baby vegetables. Third course ..strawberry rhubarb pie. A glass of french white wine was a refreshing accompaniment.. Charming surroundings. excellent service. So glad I walked in.

Cute and chic cafe on the Prinsengracht. Welcoming service (although a bit harried on the weekend). Tasty food, and lots of it! The inside is attractively modern, but the outdoor tables (occupied by both tourists and locals) are the place to be. Breakfast here was the perfect start to the day. The portions are large, and everything comes with bread. Now, I love bread, but it was scary even for me. Especially when I also had a gigantic omelette and my husband's oatmeal trying to get my attention. (Fortunately, we both shared, so little was wasted. Still, next time I would ask how much food I'm actually ordering.) Everything was tasty; I thought the oatmeal was beautifully thought-out, even luxurious. I agree that the prices are on the high side, but if you're hungry, Odette's is a good value.

This is a darling little cafe, and is completely misleading because there is no buffet involved. I had read reviews on one of the travel/review sites and someone mentioned a grumpy waitress...well I think we got her, she was definitely all business in a uncharacteristically Dutch way. But fortunately, as the evening went on she completely warmed up to us and by the end insisted that we try the sticky toffee cake. I was sort of amused because this is neither a Dutch specialty NOR a seasonal treat. But it was damn good and a great way to seal the deal on a good nights sleep after a long day (or more?!) of travel. Don't go too late because they do run out of entrees. I was jonesing for the roast chicken that I had spied when we walked past a little earlier in the evening and it was sold out by the time was came back for dinner. Also smokers sit at the outside tables so better to ask to be seated inside.

We had a great brunch here. We tried spinach quiche with goat cheese (it was delicious), omelette and toffee cake (very tasty), service was good. We sit outside very nice location.

I've been wanting to check out Buffet (don't be fooled it's not really a buffet) van Odette for quite some time now. Surprisingly, I haven't been sooner as it is, like, a two minute walk from my place. Anyway, I went in yesterday and I was overall very happy. Most importantly, the food. It was super lekker. I forgot my phone and didn't have my camera, so unfortunately, no pictures. However, I ordered the salads from the buffet, a chef selected spread of healthy and well executed salads, veggies and purees. The beets were divine. In a world where you can find beets at every cafe, bistro and resto, they made theirs standout. Asparagus was equally good. Their lentil salad was very tasty with a mustard vinaigrette, white raisin, coriander and almond slivers. Quinoa and chick pea salad was less outstanding. The sun dried tomato puree was very good, however I didn't like their hummus (in a word, I can just make it better at home). My boyfriend had their omelet and smoked salmon, which he liked very much, and found very filling, which, with is appetite, really says something. Crisp, cold white wine and fresh jus d'orange made for a very nice lunch. However, considering what we ordered, and mostly that my plate basically just had to be, well, plated, we waited an exorbitant amount of time. We showed up at around 1:15, and they said there was a half hour wait. No problem. We went back home and came back 30 minutes later. The restaurant had cleared out considerably, but was still at about 60-70% capacity. We ordered our drinks, waited for quite some time, then after ordering our food waited another 40 minutes before it arrived. Just a bit disappointing for such a simple order, and seeing as it was lunch time in a casual restaurant. Luckily, neither of us had an appointment to run off to. Ambiance was good. Really bright inside, tons of light even on such a gray, drizzly day. Possibly a hair stuffy with a ladies-who-lunch quality. Overall reaction, very satisfied.

This is by far the most uptight place I have ever been in. You can't join tables, you can't sit without asking the chef (not even a waiter/ess), you can't smoke outside. If you just want coffee, your waiter has to ask for permission inside. Don't bother, just go somewhere else. (At 12.00 on a Sunday) +coffee tasted good

This is a popular place with the locals. No tables available so we sat at the bar. They had a nice selection of various salads but no good choices for protein.

We arrived today (three of us) at this establishment for lunch. The menu looked interesting. About third of the menu is based on eggs. Imagine yourself our surprise that when we ordered three egg dishes, the answer was: "sorry we have only enough eggs for two dishes". For the readers, this restaurant is in the heart of Amsterdam and supermarkets are available all over. We took time to see what else we could order. Then we ordered three glasses of rosé wine. We were informed there are only two left, and that if we wanted, a bottle of rosé could be put in the freezer for us. The waiter didn't even try to offer us an alternative: a white wine, a red wine.... We saw in the mirror on the wall a special: asparagus! When we asked for that, we were informed that unfortunately, asparagus was available only in the evenings. We reluctantly settled for two egg dishes and I went for the salmon, lentils and poached eggs (those are poached ahead of time, so luckily they could still offer those. Not an amazing dish to my taste, but this is personal). I asked whether the owner was present, the waiter informed politely this was not the case. We have shared our discontent with the waiter. When we went to pay the bill, nothing was offered by the house to compensate for the bad experience. We were surprised, as we had quite a good interaction with the waiter. "Quite arrogant", I thought to myself: why not try and keep us as a customer? Seeing the above, I decided to write an informative email to the restaurant owner, asking for a reaction about the lack of proactiveness; please note it it was a Pentecost holiday falling in a weekend, and instead of stocking eggs and wine ensuring customers can be served, not a lot was done. This holiday wasn't a surprise to anybody. Doesn't take a lot to realize this is needed, and we are talking about...eggs... What shocked me and made me decide to write this post, was the reply from the owner (I guess), Mrs. Odette Rigterink: I'll copy paste the email and will translate: Quote ------ Bedankt voor het uiten van u ongenoegen. Ik wil graag even reageren op de klachten. -Na een heel druk Pinksterweekend heb ik in samenwerking met de koks in de keuken de beslissing genomen de boodschappen bij de AH door de namiddagdienst mee te laten nemen zodat er goed voorbereid kon gaan worden op een drukke avond. Dat wat betreft de eieren . -Jammer dat u de zalm met linzen niet zo lekker vond, kwestie van smaak denk ik -De rosé was op, daar bestellen we nooit zoveel meer van omdat wij heerlijke witte wijnen op de kaart hebben en rose niet meer in onze persoonlijke top 5 staat. -Asperges is bij ons een avondgerecht en zijn net geschild. Heel vervelend dat u zich in de maling genomen voelt, dat is van niemand hier de bedoeling geweest . Ik heb veel vertrouwen in het team dat vandaag aan het werk was en vind dat ze heel professioneel gewerkt hebben en bovenal bijzonder aardig zijn. Het allerbelangrijkste in ons restaurant. Hierbij onze reactie , ik hoop dat er andere restaurants zijn die wel aan u standaard kunnen voldoen. Vriendelijke groet, Odette Rigterink BUFFET van Odette UNQUOTE. Translation: ---------- Thank you for expressing your dissatisfaction. I'd like to react on the complaints: -After a very busy Pentecost weekend, I've decided together with the cooks in the kitchen to do the shopping at the AH (Albert Heijn Supermarket) by the afternoon shift, in order to prepare for a busy evening. -Pity you didn't find the salmon an lentils tasty, a question of taste, I guess. -The rosé was finished: we never order a lot of it, as we have wonderful white wines, and rosé isn't anymore within in our personal top 5. Asparagus is for us an evening dish and we're not pilled. Such a pity you don't feel taken seriously, nobody meant to cause that. I have a lot of confidence in the team working today, I found that they worked professionally today and above all they were very nice, the most important in our restaurant. This is our reaction, I hope there are other restaurant which can satisfy your standards. Kind regards, Odette Rigterink End of translation. I invite you to judge for yourself whether this is a reply you'd write if it were your business. I have drawn my conclusions about the way this restaurant is being managed.

That was yummy, indeed! The cafe was jam packed inside during the lunch rush, though it turned out that the tables outside were even better with the space heaters and a hot chocolate. It's a great location, looking out on Prinsengracht and primed for people watching or reading outside. The steak sandwich was particularly good, cooked medium rare and sizzling on the outside. The service was speedy and friendly. The idea behind the hot chocolate was excellent: a glob of dark chocolate on a wooden spoon for you to stir in. However, in the Christmas cold, it didn't work quite as well as we'd hope before cooling off. All in all, not a must try, but a great place to while away a leisurely lunch.

This so a great little local place- steak sandwich not good at all, but they replaced right away... Rooster is very good Service is right on point - Considering that they only have 3 people working

Came here for dinner. Had the beef, fish (turbot), beet appetizer and crumble for dessert. Fish was ok. Had the bones in it so would have been nice to have a side plate to put them on as the dishes were small so was constantly eating around it. Beef too was just ok. I liked the simplicity of the beets and found the combination of them with the goat cheese, roasted hazelnuts and some kind of purple mash really nice but my dinner date thought it was too simple. The absolute best was the apple and blueberry crumble with creme fraiche and wanted at least four more servings of it. Likely because the portion was ridiculously small so if you get it don't split it like I did. Although it was busy, the wait staff never checked in on us and we had to constantly flag them down to order or pay. Overall, a warm and intimate vibe inside. Decent for a date or catch up with a long-time friend. Suggest ordering different mains than we did.

After a night at the Van Gough Museum, I was starving and pulled out Yelp to see where I could go for a late dinner, I found myself at Buffet van Odette, one quick look at the menu, and they had me at Lentils. I ordered the Smoked Salmon, Lentils, and pouched egg. ... every time I think about it I salivate ... I took staff recommendation for dessert and wine, and they were both very pleasant.

Said they were "too full" for us but then seated others that walked in after we did. Guess they don't want Americans in their eatery.

Great atmosphere, great service, great food, fresh juice, great cappuccino. The omelette's come with bread and Dijon mayonnaise which was great. The grapefruit brûlée was a treat. It's right on the canal and you can sit outside and watch boats and people-watch.

The service of this place is atrocious. What a disapointment. I just spent a fortune here to ok food, high prices and very unfriendly staff and owner. Completely over rated. And if you want to sit outside, you Better call and make a reservation days in advance because they won't let you be outside otherwise, even if tables and empty and without any sign of being "reserved" I'm never going back here. Ever

This was our last meal in Amsterdam so we decided to order many items. I had the half rooster which may have just been chicken. My friend had the steak and another had poached salmon. We shared three sides; beets with goat cheese, leeks (they were served chilled), and potatoes with tarragon mayonnaise. All tasty! The wait was long since we had no reservation...and the restaurant is small...the service was also inadequate in my opinion, but great food none the less!

Nice place for a brunch whenever the time during the day. Fresh juices and delicious eggs cooked as you wish. Nice deserts also. Good to know : very popular and do not take reservation

On a stormy (typical) Dutch night we wondered in to Buffet van Odette. We got seated at the one high table they have as the rest was reserved. The menu is small but very nice and diverse. We each had an appetizer and main which were all well prepared. The service was very friendly and knowledgeable. Portions are not very big but the taste and quality more than made up for that. Too me it initially felt a bit more like a lunch place but the coziness of the warmly lit room grew on me very fast.

Not impressed. On the pricier side with VERY slow service and the food was just ok. Wouldn't go back.

This little corner is so cute and cosy. The food is very tasty and fresh, a good place to have a nice lunch, enjoy the atmosphere and relax a little.

There's two Buffet van Odette's: one for (br)(l)unch and one for dinner, one could say. I've had both and was quite content. The menu is simple, yet delicious. Expect easy french-inspired cuisine (bistro-style) with a decent wine list. I had the squid and chickpea salad which was great and a confit de canard (which was even better). What most suprised me were the fantastic desserts. If you're ever lost on the canals on a rainy afternoon; this is the place to go to for comfort. The only minor dissappointment was that the service was rather French-inspired as well, so if you're in a hurry, or have problems getting attention, maybe this is not the place.

Delicious fresh food in a clean atmosphere. Service was a little slow, but worth the wait. Special salad was delicious and plentiful. Bread was fresh and tasty. Watermelon tomato gazpacho highly recommended (lots of garlic so make sure you all have some).

I came here by myself and it was crackin! I sat at the bar and got the Meatloaf dish. The best part was the salad that it came with. It's pretty pricey here. The meatloaf was dry and had to be doused with the sauce that it came with.

All organic ingredients, super location at one of the famous canals, nice blend of locals and tourists.

Wonderful little restaurant along the canal. Beautiful decor - chic but cozy. Had a great quiche which was accompanied by a little lentil salad that was great. Would absolutely return here for dinner or breakfast, too.

Arrived without reservation on a busy Sundaynight. Felt welcome from the moment I entered the restaurant. Friendly personnel and warm ambiance. Wines accompanied the lovely and tasty food perfectly. Espressos and dessert were define as well. So to summarize: must go for dinner as well!!!

Excellent for lunch and a snack. A cosy environment with a great atmosphere. Very attentive service with the waiting staff working very hard to make sure everything. Is satisfactory. Great location and I will come back in the summer so we can sit outside. Menu is simple and to the point.

We came across this adorable little eatery by chance. I had the carrot apple juice with ginger, which was fresh and my favorite part of our lunch, and lentil soup. Caeser salad came unexpectedly with bacon so I couldn't eat it but the hubby seemed happy with that and his BLT (he loves bacon as much as I hate it).

This is a very popular lunch spot (you need to book) during the week. The staff are super friendly and relaxed, with the service being above par for Amsterdam. They have a number of different options on the menu to cater to nearly everyone's tastes. The steak sandwich and smoked salmon are particularly tasty (or lekker in Dutch) on the lunch menu.

There's not a miss on the menu. Exceptional, locally sourced food. Simply stated and not trendy.

Delicious food. Very fresh and organic. They have good breakfast and lunch. The staff is friendly and this place always is crowded.

Does Buffet mean something other than gouging my face until I hate myself? Guess so, because this place serves breakfast food to order. Good isn't bad, but I feel my expectations were high since I was looking for an all you can eat.

A very nice little restaurant offering organic breakfast, cakes, coffee and lunch specialties. Everything is fresh. Service is good. A very nice place at the canal for a romantic breakfast on a Sunday morning if you happen to be in town with the love of your life!!!