BAK | Fine dining Restaurant Amsterdam

We recently visited Restaurant BAK and had an exceptional fine dining experience. The seasonal tasting menu is thoughtfully crafted around locally sourced ingredients: vegetables, fish and selected products from Dutch farmers, breeders and fishermen. Each dish was beautifully composed, and the progression of the courses showed remarkable harmony – both in flavour and in texture. Every plate complemented the next, and the wine worked perfectly with the entire menu. The service was truly outstanding. After one year living in the Netherlands, this was the first time we encountered such a level of attentiveness and professionalism. The staff were fully informed and confidently knowledgeable about every dish, ingredient and preparation technique. Their understanding of the menu elevated the experience and added a sense of trust and comfort throughout the evening. A special mention goes to the sommelier, who was warm, welcoming and genuinely passionate about his work. Instead of the wine pairing, we asked for a single bottle recommendation. His choice was exceptional — a wine that not only matched but enhanced every course, highlighting flavours we would not have noticed otherwise. The dining atmosphere was warm, intimate and thoughtfully arranged. The spacing between tables offered privacy for personal conversation, yet maintained a lively ambiance without feeling distant or cold. The setting felt comfortable and elegant without being overly formal. Considering the culinary quality, the level of service, the expertise of the staff and the impressive wine selection, the pricing is exactly where it should be for a restaurant of this calibre. The value felt fair and well-aligned with the overall experience. We highly recommend BAK and will certainly return. A sincere thank you to the entire team for a wonderful evening – memorable, refined and genuinely enjoyable.

This was one of my food highlights on the trip to Amsterdam. With my reservation I mentioned I have a food reaction to caffeine and they made me some halva from pumpkin seeds instead of the chocolate . This was an awesome ending to the great meal. Kombucha tasting was very good as a food pairing. The restaurant is in an odd location, but journey before destination. This is one of very few reviews I have done one Google.

Great degustation menu. Fantastic variety of tastes, excellent service, lovely view of the river. Best eggplant dish in my life 😁 PS. Getting there is tricky due to uninviting entrance to the building.

One of the most scenic and beautifully designed restaurants in Amsterdam. The space feels like a cross between a refined atelier (arched windows and gorgeous skylights) and a warm, luxurious wooden cabin—elegant but somehow rustic. We opted for the early bird compact tasting menu, which offered thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing seasonal dishes. The egg yolk and beetroot course was a standout—rich and balanced. A few others, like the milk curds, felt slightly underseasoned in comparison. Maybe they work better in the full tasting menu. Service was excellent throughout—attentive, friendly, and well-paced without ever feeling stiff.

We had high expectations for BAK given its reputation and fine dining setting, but unfortunately, our experience was underwhelming. The tasting menu, priced at €97.50 per person, consisted mostly of vegetable-based dishes, with only two very small portions of fish—each no larger than the palm of a hand. While the plating was elegant, the flavors lacked depth and didn’t leave a lasting impression. The pacing of the meal was also disappointing—eight courses took over three hours to complete, which felt unnecessarily long. Service was polite but not particularly refined; plates were often cleared without a word, which felt abrupt and not quite up to fine dining standards. If you’re a vegetarian or someone who enjoys plant-forward cuisine, this place might suit you better. But for those expecting a more balanced or memorable tasting experience, BAK may fall short.

Good attentive service during our meal, innovative dishes and nicely presented, seasonal menu. Nice view by the sea. Tho the entrance was a bit hard to find.

Cool industrial premises - view to the harbour. Experimental menu with fresh local ingredients by season. I loved bitter vegetables. Also two fish dishes in the menu were well-prepared and presented. Surprisingly, 2/3 cheeses in the cheese plate were from Belgium :-). Recommended wine was spot on. Staff relaxed and amicable. Groovy playlist fitted to the atmosphere.

Absolutely delicious!! Be advised there’s no meat dishes. Mostly vegetarian and a few fish. Everything we tried was delicious and unique. My favorites were scallop and cauliflower dish, egg and mushroom dish and smoked radicchio salad. Atmosphere is amazing, the building is old shipyard, now I think it’s an office building with restaurant on the top floor. There’s open kitchen so you can spy on masterpiece being made! Extremely high level of service, which I find rare in Netherlands.. It’s definitely more of a special occasion restaurant and we enjoyed our anniversary dinner there!