Wils Bakery Café

Disappointing Service and Portions at a Promising Bistro – Room for Improvement A close friend absolutely adores Wil's Bakery Café and surprised me with a birthday dinner reservation there, opting for their special "Game Dinner Menu." I'm always excited to try new spots in Amsterdam, especially one blending bakery craftsmanship with French bistro vibes, so I was looking forward to the experience. Unfortunately, the evening fell short in several ways, starting with the service. Throughout our 5-course meal, no staff member checked in on us—not once for food quality, drinks, or general satisfaction. It reached a frustrating point where I had to wave my hand vigorously just to get a water refill after waiting over 10 minutes. For a restaurant of this caliber, I expect more attentive and proactive service, and this lack of engagement made the dinner feel neglected. On the food side, while the flavors were intriguing (the game meats had a unique, earthy profile), the portions were disappointingly small. We left after five courses still feeling hungry—my husband even raided the pantry for snacks when we got home. For example, one course featured just half a skinny sausage paired with a thin slice of game meat, which simply wasn't satisfying. I appreciate creative, refined dining, but guests shouldn't depart unsatisfied. That said, the ambiance was cozy and the concept is appealing, with fresh bakery elements shining through. Suggestions for Improvement: To elevate the experience, I'd recommend training staff for more frequent table check-ins, perhaps every 15-20 minutes during multi-course meals. For portions, consider slightly larger servings or offering optional add-ons—even if it means adjusting prices upward—to ensure diners leave full and happy. A small bread basket refill or complimentary amuse-bouche could also help bridge the gaps. With these tweaks, Wils could match the hype from fans like my friend. Overall, 2.5/5 stars. I hope they take feedback to heart for future visits.

The second stop on my tour of Joris Bjdendijk's restaurants was Wils Bakery Café, which has rightly been awarded a Bib Gourmand. Great location, wonderful menu, deliciously prepared by the kitchen team, really great service and sensational value for money. I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

Good experience overall but I had higher expectations. The food was nice but the portions were small for the price. I just wanted more of some of the dishes. The service was a bit slow too but the waiter was friendly.

Sister to Michelin starred Wils Restaurant it is actually Wils Bakery Café that garners more accolades from global travelers, the space hidden behind a larger building just steps from an aging Olympic Stadium drawing a sizable crowd for lunch and dinner daily. Defined as a casual concept, though certainly not to be confused with Panera or similar American chains, a Bib Gourmand on the door nonetheless suggests bargain pricing that proves true across the menu from Chef Joris Bijdendijk that highlights seasonal Produce. Offering an extensive Wine list including several good choices by the glass, Riesling and a natural bottle from Spain both well matched to what was ordered, all tables begin with Sourdough that outpaces even some of Amsterdam’s 2* spots, though Escargot and housemade Fries were both overly salted. Broad across the menu, Appetizers highlighted by a good portion of lightly fried Pumpkin for €8, the set menus were skipped to allow more variety such as decadent Chicken Pie bound by Foie Gras and al dente Noodles marrying Scallops to Spanish Iberico Ham. Not about to skip a signature, three large slices of Sweetbreads laid across White Asparagus the size of a cucumber, Bijdendijk ups the ante further via grilled Langoustines and Crab Sauce before laying out an array of Desserts from Soft Serve to a delicate Paris Brest lent nuance by Miso and Sesame Seeds.

Beautiful cafe, very fast and efficient service. It's nice to see the open kitchen where chefs are working. We had lunch and the food was absolutely great. The veal cheek was very tender and moist and the accompanying vegetable puree was super smooth and delicious. The shrimp ravioli was delectable with well balanced flavors. We loved the food presentation. The portion size was very reasonable, not too much, not too little. Huge compliments to the chefs! We appreciated the friendly and fast service. Excellent experience overall. We will definitely come back.

Pretty good, but I can't wholeheartedly recommend this place. Let's find out why. We started our meal off with a selection of 5 shared starters and bread on the side: • Steak tartare, deep-fried potato, radish, anchovies • Sea bream ceviche, avocado, jalapeno, grapefruit • Stracciatella, fennel, rhubarb, pistachio • Farm chicken pie, foie gras, morel, "meloes" onion • Deep-fried pumpkin At €42 for 2 people to share, it's a bit steep; however, to be fair, the portions are quite sizable. If you're not very hungry, this is enough for an entire light meal. My main: • Redfish, lobster risotto, fennel, gremolata, herb salad Dessert: • Kouign Amann, pecan ice-cream Flavor-wise, every dish was very well balanced. Take the ceviche, for example: despite the clear acidic denaturation, the fish retained its fresh character and flavor. The smokiness and sweetness of the charred corn balanced the acidity, while the avocado added a creamy richness to the party – every component supported the fish. However at this premium price point, I expect better execution. Here are some of my nit-picks: • The deep-fried elements were a bit oily and greasy. After eating, they left your mouth coated in frying oil. Not pleasant. Usually a case of temperature control or old oil. • The pieces of fish in the ceviche were very roughly cut with lots of jagged edges. Not an ideal mouthfeel. This is a knife skill issue. A minor gripe in this case. • The biggest letdown was the baked goods, especially for a restaurant that incorporates the term "bakery" in its name. The pie crust was uneven, and in some parts even undercooked. The bread was slightly over-baked in places, and the crust overall was slightly bitter. My hypothesis is that the oven hasn't been properly cleaned; crumbs and flour residue get repeatedly baked and burnt, transferring bitterness to the bread. This can be a common occurrence in high-volume bakeries. Furthermore, baked goods are usually very fragrant; I was missing that aroma here as well. So, there you have it. Wils Bakery Café is a fun place with an interesting menu. If you're in the neighborhood, give this place a go. I personally wouldn't mind eating here again and trying their other dishes, but this place really needs to dot the I's and cross its T's.

Amazing place. The service and the food were top. I had lunch at a local Michelin restaurant on the other side of town and I am more excited to return here. I left very happy. Thank you

Nice place that is easy to reach by car. Relaxed atmosphere and a warm welcoming staff. Went there as it was recommended by Michelin, and it did not disappoint. Started with some appetizers and we loved the snails.. not easy to find in Amsterdam. The starters were also very tasty and beautifully presented. The main dishes were delicious, only comment on the steak that was partly less tender than expected. Deserts were a highlight with the perfect delicious framboise soufflé (we will come back for you)! A place to visit more often.