Cafe Nassau

I went here for a quick meal with a girlfriend, and when I saw the menu I was very surprised at the prices. The place looks like any old brown bar, but the menu is priced like a quite decent mid-​range restaurant (20 € for a main course). Something about paying 15 € for a bar burger just throws me.
However, in the end I shared an Antipasti platter with my friend and it was AMAZING. A veritable high-​tea of starter dishes, and all of them were delicious. Hefty portions of meat, cheeses and various canapes, and even a little dish of mussels on top. And the wine selection was lovely as well — not huge, but 3 very decent by-​the-​glass options for each color. All in all, would recommend for a «relatively nice» dinner if you’re in the neighborhood — a place to take the parents or a long-​lost friend.
Oh, and the terrace is lovely! (When the weather is good… sigh)

Okay, so it’s pretty well known that I’m a burger whore. So naturally I ordered a burger here as if it was the only item on the menu, to all intents and purposes.
I’m giving it 4 stars because the burger was good, very good but not perfect. Let me break it down for you.
Here’s what I didn’t like:
The buns were overpowering! They used Italian rolls which were not very fluffy but rather firm. The star of any burger is the patty and these buns with middle child syndrome were trying to steal the patty’s thunder and I gotta say… they somewhat succeeded.
What I also wasn’t very happy about was the lack of real bacon. Let me be clear here, there was NO bacon, let alone real bacon. I just love the sweet savory pork grease adding wonderfully unhealthy juices and flavors to my burger.
What I did like:
They used Cheddar cheese. Real Cheddar, and not some kind of orange concoction or American cheese. I’m not a big fan of sauces on my burgers because I want the juices of the patty, cheese, tomatoes, pickles (bacon) etc. speak for themselves but I must say, the truffle mayo was not a bad touch, not bad at all. I especially liked it with the fries. The fries were not overly greasy and looked hand-​cut. Very nice balance between crunchiness, toughness and gooeyness in layers.
What I’m ambiguous about:
The patty… Was it good? Very. Was it juicy? Definitely! Was it at the right temperature. Oh yes… But there was still something missing in my not so humble opinion. I didn’t feel guilty eating it! This burger felt like a gourmet burger with its Italian rolls as buns, truffle mayo and juicy BUT NOT GREASY patty! I know I’m supposed to be pleasantly surprised and impressed but somehow, deep down, I’m a bit disappointed at the lack of greasiness. Yet, the patty was, and I repeat, absolutely juicy and at the right temperature (medium or medium rare depending on what you like).
So I would definitely recommend this place for a burger but I would classify it as a gourmet burger. Not too expensive either. If I could change something I would:
Change the buns, add bacon and make truffle fries instead of just truffle mayo.

This is a cozy little restaurant with outdoor seating on a canal. The interior had a comfortable feel about it though I have to admit the chrome lamps over the table seemed out of place to me in this kind of décor. Still it seemed a comfortable, laid back environment to enjoy a meal with friends.
There are some interesting choices to be made on the menu for both lunch, dinner and dessert. I was there with a group to try the house burger. I really had no idea why they named it «the Italian Citizen.» You could have it with or without cheese. There were no other choices to be made. To our surprise and dismay the waitress told us that all burgers were generally cooked to well done. However, with a little persuasion and persistence they gave in to cooking the burgers to a nice juicy medium. The burger had a nice thick patty that sat on a generous slathering of truffle mayonnaise adding a very interesting flavor to it. The bun completing the ensemble in my opinion was a little harder, crisper than I prefer. Regardless, overall it was a nice flavorful experience. The service was also good.
I enjoyed my experience at the café and will probably return to try some other things on the menu that caught my eye. It seems like a nice place to hang out with friends and have a few drinks as well.

I write this review with hesitation because I really wanted to like this place. It’s cute. The terrace looks like it will be awesome when the sun is out. The people are really nice. But the day I went it was for the burger and it was just meh. Maybe I’ll go back to see if I can add a star.
On to the burger. The good parts. I found the meat really tasty and well flavored. Hmmm… what else?
On to the not so great parts. And this is HUGE. I asked for my burger medium rare. The waitress said and I quote, «oh we only make our burgers well done.» Wait, whaaaat? Luckily we were able to negotiate so that we could have our burgers cooked medium… so next time you go, unless you like you’re burgers well done — SPEAK UP!
The other burger killer was the bun. It was a corn bread bun that was super crunchy. Like tear up the roof of my mouth crunchy. Had the slice up my burger cause biting in was not fun.
They do have a great selection of beers. And lets face it, enough beers makes a lot of things taste better. Plus, I did eat my whole burger so it couldn’t have been that bad! I think it really had to do with the company and the location — hence me wanting to give this place another try. If it were just the burger — three stars would be a stretch. But as for the location for a place to hang out and get a bite with friends I think this could potentially deserve FOUR STARS.

This is my favorite spot in the quiet Westerpark area. A large and clean cafè with an outdoor area next to the channel and a cool atmosphere. Attended almost exclusively by locals it’s a great spot to enjoy a beer or some food while in the west side of Amsterdam.

Café Nassau is an adorable little local restaurant. I didn’t get a chance to eat here, but we ordered two beers. So this review is solely based on service and atmosphere.
Imagine a clean, comfortable, swing sets placed beside tables, wooden tables and chairs on patio overlooking the canal. Sitting there on a sunny yet windy day, we just drowned ourselves in conversation and the beauty of Amsterdam.
This place is worth a visit if you are in the area.

I like this neighborhood place — great area for sitting outside well into the fall and spring on the canal is sublime. The food is good, standard Dutch café fare — sandwiches, tosti’s, soup, super expensive burgers, pasta at night… I think — all moderately priced (I still can’t get over how expensive burgers are here!). Waitresses are cool, if a little distracted. Nice and busy on sunny weekends and otherwise chill.

Good food… ! Nice sandwiches and a good evening menu as well.
Coffee is also very good.
I love the crowd: trendy model-​like girls sit next to the local grandmother. Everybody is welcome here which makes it a unique mix.
At night the 30-​something crowd takes over and the restaurant turns into a nice bar.
They also have a nice Patio at the water… and inside it’s modern, trendy, but still cosy. A rare combination.
Nice place!