I\u2019m an omnivore. Which means I love a burger, a smoky BBQ platter, a properly grilled steak or a plate of fried chicken as much as the next person. Amsterdam has no shortage of places promising your next meat fix \u2013 but not all of them are worth the splurge. Steak, in particular, is something I don\u2019t order lightly. More often than not, I\u2019d rather grill one at home than pay restaurant prices for it. So when I was asked to write about steakhouses in the Netherlands a few years ago, I realised I needed to dig deeper. Since then, I\u2019ve visited, compared and occasionally been surprised. These are my personal picks for the best steakhouses and burger bars in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Amsterdam-steakhouse-guide-pin-A.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Planning your visit to Amsterdam<\/strong><\/h2>\nBefore you can sate your steak craving, you\u2019re going to need to get here! Below are a few trip essentials, but you might also be interested in my complete visitor\u2019s guide to Amsterdam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n- Getting to Amsterdam:<\/strong> Schiphol airport is well-connected, and Expedia<\/a> and Omio<\/a> are good starting points for comparing flights and rail options. If you\u2019re coming from London, Paris or Brussels, the Eurostar<\/a> is a relaxed alternative to flying, though Dutch national carrier KLM<\/a> has direct flights from most major cities in Europe, the US and beyond.<\/li>\n
- Getting around:<\/strong> Amsterdam is compact enough to walk, and public transport covers everything else. Skip the rental car<\/a> unless you plan to leave the city \u2013 use GVB<\/a> to plan your route, or do as the locals do and rent a bike<\/a>!<\/li>\n
- Where to stay:<\/strong> From canal-side luxury (Pulitzer<\/a>) to boutique quirkiness (Hotel Not Hotel<\/a>), there\u2019s plenty of choice. Browse the full range on Booking.com<\/a> or visit my neighbourhood guide for specific hotel recommendations<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Tours and experiences:<\/strong> A canal boat trip is a must \u2013 find options on Viator<\/a> or GetYourGuide<\/a>. For food tours, I recommend Eating Amsterdam<\/a> plus any of the other Amsterdam tours and experiences<\/a> in my dedicated article.<\/li>\n
- Further reading:<\/strong> For restaurant and wine bar recommendations, grab a copy of my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a> or Amsterdam Wine Lover\u2019s Guide<\/a>. If your love of meat extends past beef, check out my guide to fried chicken in Amsterdam<\/a>!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Best Amsterdam steakhouses<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt Amsterdam prices, steak needs to be sourced well, cooked properly and served with a bit of theatre. Done right, though, a great steakhouse can deliver exactly what you want on a celebratory night out. These are the steakhouses in Amsterdam that I think are worth the reservation.<\/p>\n
Carstens Steakhouse<\/h3>\n
I first visited Carstens \u2013 the Park Plaza Victoria\u2019s<\/a> elegant hotel restaurant \u2013 in its former guise specialising in Dutch cuisine. More recently, it\u2019s reinvented itself as a steakhouse<\/a>, but the location right by Centraal Station is just as handy as it was before, and the service just as attentive.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Carstens-Steakhouse-500x757.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSteak tartare at Carstens Steakhouse<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Meat lovers can expect beef tartare, dry-aged rib-eye, bavette, tomahawk and even wagyu \u2013 but there are a few fish and veggie options if you\u2019re with a mixed group. We kicked off with a cocktail (a Victoria sour, made with rum, lemon and ginger, which felt positively medicinal!) and tucked into some bread and olives while deciding what to eat. In the end, we tried both the beef and tuna tartares, which were deliciously tangy with pickles and mustard seeds, followed by the rib-eye and the classic fillet steak. Both were perfectly cooked (almost-rare), and with an array of sauces that didn\u2019t overpower the meat: from creamy peppercorn to buttery bearnaise. Sides were tasty, too: simple but perfectly formed mac & cheese, plus crunchy green veg. For dessert, the chocolate trio was the obvious choice: chocolate mousse, chocolate cheesecake, and one of those oozing, molten chocolate fondant cakes. My +1 is a self-confessed chocoholic and she deemed it a triumph. All in all, Carstens delivered an elegant steak dinner, slap bang in the centre of town.<\/p>\n
Midtown Grill<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nWidely reputed to serve the best steak in Amsterdam, the Midtown Grill<\/a> is on the ground floor of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel<\/a> \u2013 conveniently close to both the buzzing Leidseplein and the leafy Vondelpark. And indeed, they do serve a damn good steak. I tried the dry-aged, corn-fed ribeye from the US, and the MRIJ filet mignon from the Netherlands. Both pieces of meat cut like butter and were perfectly seasoned.\u00a0If you like sharing, the kitchen will serve your steaks already sliced and kept warm on the table, so you and your dining companions can take strips of whichever cuts you like. And while the meat is tender enough that you don\u2019t really need a steak knife, the fun part is getting to choose one: from a delicate French Sabatier knife to a Japanese KAI knife that resembles a miniature samurai sword.<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Best-steak-in-Amsterdam-Midtown-Grill-500x689.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDry-aged, corn-fed, USDA ribeye at the Midtown Grill<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Looking for hotel dining options? Take a look at my guide to the best hotel restaurants in Amsterdam<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nCafe Carbon<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nWith two branches in Amsterdam,\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Carbon<\/a>\u00a0is a slightly unfortunately (but actually aptly) named steak and grill restaurant.\u00a0Not only is everything prepared over charcoal, but you can almost taste your carbon footprint following you out of the door after you\u2019ve paid up and left.\u00a0I\u2019d walked into the restaurant not even sure I felt like eating meat that night, but changed my mind once I looked at the menu. I\u2019m sorry-not-sorry that Mr Foodie and I ended up ordering a triple meat feast: we started with a 250 g ribeye steak and a small rack of lamb, divided into five cutlets. But somehow the meat was so tender and so tasty, and the char of the grill so moreish, that we skipped dessert in favour of a portion of hot wings. I\u2019m pleased to say, they were just as good as the steak.<\/p>\nSagardi<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nBang in the centre of town on the Spuistraat, Sagardi<\/a> is a Basque restaurant that\u2019s known for two things: pintxos<\/em> and steak. For pure carnivorous pleasure, head past the pintxos<\/em> bar<\/a> to Sagardi\u2019s meat fridge and charcoal grill \u2013 which are quite the sight to behold. After a couple of meaty starters (we tried the txistorra<\/em> sausage and the charcoal-roasted p\u00e2t\u00e9), we moved onto the main event: a 2 kg hunk of on-the-bone, premium txuleton<\/em> (otherwise known as ribeye). Grilled to rare perfection, it came with sweet piquillo peppers and hot potato wedges. Paired with a bottle of Rioja Reserva, it was a thing of great beauty. But (and this is a big but) you\u2019re going to pay a lot for this privilege. The meat alone came to \u20ac250. I have no problem paying for quality, but for this price I\u2019d expect the service to be slick \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t quite there.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Sagardi-Amsterdam-steakhouse-500x500.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSagardi\u2019s beef fridge, txuleton and meaty starters<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Cannibale Royale<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nCannibale Royale<\/a> has grown to half a dozen locations in Amsterdam since it first opened in 2014, so they must be doing something right! Over the years, I\u2019ve visited their original location at Handboogstraat plus their Lange Niezel branch in the Red Light District and their Ruysdaelkade branch in Zuid. Cannibale\u2019s steaks are always reliable, whether you go for a ribeye, bavette or flat iron. They\u2019re cooked to order and come with a small side of chimichurri<\/em> sauce, although you can order peppercorn sauce for a supplement. Sides are simple but well cooked: unctuous mac & cheese, simply grilled asparagus, skinny fries and corn on the cob. Good value and good service.<\/p>\n![\""Le](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Cannibale-Royale-steakhouse-amsterdam.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\u201cLe Modeste\u201d: flat iron steak from Cannibale Royale<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Salmuera<\/h3>\n
Another oldie but goodie! My own website told me it had been over a decade since I last visited pan-Latin American restaurant Salmuera<\/a> (which says something about how long in the tooth we\u2019re both getting) and these days I prefer to go back to old classics than jump on new \u201chotspots\u201d that are here today, gone tomorrow. As well as Peruvian ceviche, Mexican tacos and Argentinian steaks, Salmuera specialises in Mezcal and mixes some fabulously smoky, grown-up cocktails.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Salmuera-steakhouse-amsterdam.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSalmuera \u2013 not your average Argentinian steakhouse!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But you\u2019re here for the steak: choose from ancho<\/em> (ribeye), chorizo<\/em> (entrecote, not in fact a spicy pork sausage) and lomo<\/em> (tenderloin) \u2013 all priced by weight and served perfectly medium-rare. There\u2019s a curious brown medicine bottle on each table, which turns out to be a sort of \u201cliquid seasoning\u201d with which to dot your steak. Or get an order of chimichurri on the side. Either way, you can\u2019t go wrong \u2013 especially when paired with a hearty glass of Ribera del Duero.<\/p>\nThe Uptown Meat Club<\/h3>\n
Handy for the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark, The Uptown Meat Club<\/a> on Van Baerlestraat is a steakhouse that does a lot of business with visiting carnivores. We went for the c\u00f4te de boeuf<\/em>, which was well seasoned and seared perfectly \u2013 at 600 g (bone included), it\u2019s easily enough for two to share. The sides were all decent: creamy mashed potato, fries, asparagus with shaved parmesan, and a tomato and feta salad. The chimichurri<\/em> and b\u00e9arnaise were both a little on the runny side, though, and I\u2019m still a bit indignant that they don\u2019t offer free tap water. On the plus side, the waiter was helpful when we didn\u2019t take to our first wine, and steered us towards something that suited us better.<\/p>\nWant to eat more than steaks and burgers in Amsterdam? <\/em>Download my\u00a0Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Amsterdam-Restaurant-Guide-2023-banner.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBest Amsterdam burger bars<\/strong><\/h2>\nSome years back, Amsterdam went nuts for American-style gourmet\u00a0<\/strong>burgers\u00a0\u2013 especially if served with craft beer. While that trend has died down a little now, there are still some pretty decent burger bars to be found if you know where to look.<\/p>\nThe Butcher<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Butcher<\/a> got its start in life (I believe) on Albert Cuypstraat \u2013 home to Amsterdam\u2019s biggest market \u2013 but has since branched out all over the Dutch capital and various other cities Europe-wide. My favourite location is The Butcher Social Club in the A\u2019DAM Tower, which is the place to go if you like some hip beats and old-school games with your meal. All their burgers are made with Aberdeen Angus that\u2019s still pink in the middle, served inside brioche buns. My favourites included the truffle burger (with a truffle-laced sauce) and the \u201ccowboy\u201d (with jalapenos and BBQ sauce).<\/p>\n![\"Amsterdam](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Amsterdam-burger-restaurant-The-Butcher-500x625.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGourmet burgers at The Butcher Social Club<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Lombardo\u2019s<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nOn the Spiegelstraat, Lombardo\u2019s<\/a> gets a steady flow of tourists from the Leidseplein and the Museumplein. But despite its location, it serves one of the best burgers in Amsterdam. I chose the wagyu burger, which described itself as the best of the best \u2013 so why choose anything else? A simple, medium-rare beef patty that tasted suitably meaty if a tad under-seasoned, topped with onion compote, pickles, tomato, lettuce and a mayo-based sauce. It was served in a sesame bun, whose texture I liked and which tried to hold itself together but failed eventually due to the sheer magnitude of the toppings \u2013 Mr Foodie wouldn\u2019t have given it a very good manageability score. Luckily, he wasn\u2019t there and I just let the whole thing drip down my fingers (and, probably, my face).<\/p>\n![\"Lombardo's](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Lombardos-burger-amsterdam-500x500.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe wagyu burger at Lombardo\u2019s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Buurtcafe de Tros<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nOn one corner of the leafy Oosterpark, Buurtcafe de Tros<\/a> looks a bit fancy to be a burger bar. Which is probably because it isn\u2019t. In fact, they serve a nicely curated range of higher end dishes alongside a good selection of European wines. But on the day I visited, I had one mission and one mission only: the smash burger. The two crisp patties came in a brioche bun with melted cheese, mayo, pickles and a smattering of lettuce. It\u2019s pretty much everything you\u2019re looking for in a burger (so long as you have napkins at the ready for the dripping juices). Except for perhaps the speed of service. I was there on a Sunday lunchtime, and it felt like the kitchen staff were still prepping for the lunch rush while diners were already sitting at their tables ordering food. Perhaps the evening sitting is a little better organised.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Buurtcafe-de-Tros-smash-burger-500x445.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSmash burger at Buurtcafe de Tros<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Transparency disclosure: I was invited to eat at Carstens Steakhouse, the Midtown Grill and Lombardo\u2019s as a journalist, and I didn\u2019t pay for my meal. I try to remain as objective as possible, but I always disclose when I\u2019ve had a freebie.<\/em><\/p>\nWant to eat more than steaks and burgers in Amsterdam? <\/em>Download my\u00a0Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Getting to Amsterdam:<\/strong> Schiphol airport is well-connected, and Expedia<\/a> and Omio<\/a> are good starting points for comparing flights and rail options. If you\u2019re coming from London, Paris or Brussels, the Eurostar<\/a> is a relaxed alternative to flying, though Dutch national carrier KLM<\/a> has direct flights from most major cities in Europe, the US and beyond.<\/li>\n
- Getting around:<\/strong> Amsterdam is compact enough to walk, and public transport covers everything else. Skip the rental car<\/a> unless you plan to leave the city \u2013 use GVB<\/a> to plan your route, or do as the locals do and rent a bike<\/a>!<\/li>\n
- Where to stay:<\/strong> From canal-side luxury (Pulitzer<\/a>) to boutique quirkiness (Hotel Not Hotel<\/a>), there\u2019s plenty of choice. Browse the full range on Booking.com<\/a> or visit my neighbourhood guide for specific hotel recommendations<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Tours and experiences:<\/strong> A canal boat trip is a must \u2013 find options on Viator<\/a> or GetYourGuide<\/a>. For food tours, I recommend Eating Amsterdam<\/a> plus any of the other Amsterdam tours and experiences<\/a> in my dedicated article.<\/li>\n
- Further reading:<\/strong> For restaurant and wine bar recommendations, grab a copy of my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a> or Amsterdam Wine Lover\u2019s Guide<\/a>. If your love of meat extends past beef, check out my guide to fried chicken in Amsterdam<\/a>!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Best Amsterdam steakhouses<\/strong><\/h2>\n
At Amsterdam prices, steak needs to be sourced well, cooked properly and served with a bit of theatre. Done right, though, a great steakhouse can deliver exactly what you want on a celebratory night out. These are the steakhouses in Amsterdam that I think are worth the reservation.<\/p>\n
Carstens Steakhouse<\/h3>\n
I first visited Carstens \u2013 the Park Plaza Victoria\u2019s<\/a> elegant hotel restaurant \u2013 in its former guise specialising in Dutch cuisine. More recently, it\u2019s reinvented itself as a steakhouse<\/a>, but the location right by Centraal Station is just as handy as it was before, and the service just as attentive.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSteak tartare at Carstens Steakhouse<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Meat lovers can expect beef tartare, dry-aged rib-eye, bavette, tomahawk and even wagyu \u2013 but there are a few fish and veggie options if you\u2019re with a mixed group. We kicked off with a cocktail (a Victoria sour, made with rum, lemon and ginger, which felt positively medicinal!) and tucked into some bread and olives while deciding what to eat. In the end, we tried both the beef and tuna tartares, which were deliciously tangy with pickles and mustard seeds, followed by the rib-eye and the classic fillet steak. Both were perfectly cooked (almost-rare), and with an array of sauces that didn\u2019t overpower the meat: from creamy peppercorn to buttery bearnaise. Sides were tasty, too: simple but perfectly formed mac & cheese, plus crunchy green veg. For dessert, the chocolate trio was the obvious choice: chocolate mousse, chocolate cheesecake, and one of those oozing, molten chocolate fondant cakes. My +1 is a self-confessed chocoholic and she deemed it a triumph. All in all, Carstens delivered an elegant steak dinner, slap bang in the centre of town.<\/p>\n
Midtown Grill<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Widely reputed to serve the best steak in Amsterdam, the Midtown Grill<\/a> is on the ground floor of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel<\/a> \u2013 conveniently close to both the buzzing Leidseplein and the leafy Vondelpark. And indeed, they do serve a damn good steak. I tried the dry-aged, corn-fed ribeye from the US, and the MRIJ filet mignon from the Netherlands. Both pieces of meat cut like butter and were perfectly seasoned.\u00a0If you like sharing, the kitchen will serve your steaks already sliced and kept warm on the table, so you and your dining companions can take strips of whichever cuts you like. And while the meat is tender enough that you don\u2019t really need a steak knife, the fun part is getting to choose one: from a delicate French Sabatier knife to a Japanese KAI knife that resembles a miniature samurai sword.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nDry-aged, corn-fed, USDA ribeye at the Midtown Grill<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Looking for hotel dining options? Take a look at my guide to the best hotel restaurants in Amsterdam<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
Cafe Carbon<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
With two branches in Amsterdam,\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Carbon<\/a>\u00a0is a slightly unfortunately (but actually aptly) named steak and grill restaurant.\u00a0Not only is everything prepared over charcoal, but you can almost taste your carbon footprint following you out of the door after you\u2019ve paid up and left.\u00a0I\u2019d walked into the restaurant not even sure I felt like eating meat that night, but changed my mind once I looked at the menu. I\u2019m sorry-not-sorry that Mr Foodie and I ended up ordering a triple meat feast: we started with a 250 g ribeye steak and a small rack of lamb, divided into five cutlets. But somehow the meat was so tender and so tasty, and the char of the grill so moreish, that we skipped dessert in favour of a portion of hot wings. I\u2019m pleased to say, they were just as good as the steak.<\/p>\n
Sagardi<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Bang in the centre of town on the Spuistraat, Sagardi<\/a> is a Basque restaurant that\u2019s known for two things: pintxos<\/em> and steak. For pure carnivorous pleasure, head past the pintxos<\/em> bar<\/a> to Sagardi\u2019s meat fridge and charcoal grill \u2013 which are quite the sight to behold. After a couple of meaty starters (we tried the txistorra<\/em> sausage and the charcoal-roasted p\u00e2t\u00e9), we moved onto the main event: a 2 kg hunk of on-the-bone, premium txuleton<\/em> (otherwise known as ribeye). Grilled to rare perfection, it came with sweet piquillo peppers and hot potato wedges. Paired with a bottle of Rioja Reserva, it was a thing of great beauty. But (and this is a big but) you\u2019re going to pay a lot for this privilege. The meat alone came to \u20ac250. I have no problem paying for quality, but for this price I\u2019d expect the service to be slick \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t quite there.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSagardi\u2019s beef fridge, txuleton and meaty starters<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Cannibale Royale<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cannibale Royale<\/a> has grown to half a dozen locations in Amsterdam since it first opened in 2014, so they must be doing something right! Over the years, I\u2019ve visited their original location at Handboogstraat plus their Lange Niezel branch in the Red Light District and their Ruysdaelkade branch in Zuid. Cannibale\u2019s steaks are always reliable, whether you go for a ribeye, bavette or flat iron. They\u2019re cooked to order and come with a small side of chimichurri<\/em> sauce, although you can order peppercorn sauce for a supplement. Sides are simple but well cooked: unctuous mac & cheese, simply grilled asparagus, skinny fries and corn on the cob. Good value and good service.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\u201cLe Modeste\u201d: flat iron steak from Cannibale Royale<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Salmuera<\/h3>\n
Another oldie but goodie! My own website told me it had been over a decade since I last visited pan-Latin American restaurant Salmuera<\/a> (which says something about how long in the tooth we\u2019re both getting) and these days I prefer to go back to old classics than jump on new \u201chotspots\u201d that are here today, gone tomorrow. As well as Peruvian ceviche, Mexican tacos and Argentinian steaks, Salmuera specialises in Mezcal and mixes some fabulously smoky, grown-up cocktails.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSalmuera \u2013 not your average Argentinian steakhouse!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But you\u2019re here for the steak: choose from ancho<\/em> (ribeye), chorizo<\/em> (entrecote, not in fact a spicy pork sausage) and lomo<\/em> (tenderloin) \u2013 all priced by weight and served perfectly medium-rare. There\u2019s a curious brown medicine bottle on each table, which turns out to be a sort of \u201cliquid seasoning\u201d with which to dot your steak. Or get an order of chimichurri on the side. Either way, you can\u2019t go wrong \u2013 especially when paired with a hearty glass of Ribera del Duero.<\/p>\n
The Uptown Meat Club<\/h3>\n
Handy for the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark, The Uptown Meat Club<\/a> on Van Baerlestraat is a steakhouse that does a lot of business with visiting carnivores. We went for the c\u00f4te de boeuf<\/em>, which was well seasoned and seared perfectly \u2013 at 600 g (bone included), it\u2019s easily enough for two to share. The sides were all decent: creamy mashed potato, fries, asparagus with shaved parmesan, and a tomato and feta salad. The chimichurri<\/em> and b\u00e9arnaise were both a little on the runny side, though, and I\u2019m still a bit indignant that they don\u2019t offer free tap water. On the plus side, the waiter was helpful when we didn\u2019t take to our first wine, and steered us towards something that suited us better.<\/p>\n
Want to eat more than steaks and burgers in Amsterdam? <\/em>Download my\u00a0Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nBest Amsterdam burger bars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Some years back, Amsterdam went nuts for American-style gourmet\u00a0<\/strong>burgers\u00a0\u2013 especially if served with craft beer. While that trend has died down a little now, there are still some pretty decent burger bars to be found if you know where to look.<\/p>\n
The Butcher<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Butcher<\/a> got its start in life (I believe) on Albert Cuypstraat \u2013 home to Amsterdam\u2019s biggest market \u2013 but has since branched out all over the Dutch capital and various other cities Europe-wide. My favourite location is The Butcher Social Club in the A\u2019DAM Tower, which is the place to go if you like some hip beats and old-school games with your meal. All their burgers are made with Aberdeen Angus that\u2019s still pink in the middle, served inside brioche buns. My favourites included the truffle burger (with a truffle-laced sauce) and the \u201ccowboy\u201d (with jalapenos and BBQ sauce).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nGourmet burgers at The Butcher Social Club<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Lombardo\u2019s<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
On the Spiegelstraat, Lombardo\u2019s<\/a> gets a steady flow of tourists from the Leidseplein and the Museumplein. But despite its location, it serves one of the best burgers in Amsterdam. I chose the wagyu burger, which described itself as the best of the best \u2013 so why choose anything else? A simple, medium-rare beef patty that tasted suitably meaty if a tad under-seasoned, topped with onion compote, pickles, tomato, lettuce and a mayo-based sauce. It was served in a sesame bun, whose texture I liked and which tried to hold itself together but failed eventually due to the sheer magnitude of the toppings \u2013 Mr Foodie wouldn\u2019t have given it a very good manageability score. Luckily, he wasn\u2019t there and I just let the whole thing drip down my fingers (and, probably, my face).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe wagyu burger at Lombardo\u2019s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Buurtcafe de Tros<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
On one corner of the leafy Oosterpark, Buurtcafe de Tros<\/a> looks a bit fancy to be a burger bar. Which is probably because it isn\u2019t. In fact, they serve a nicely curated range of higher end dishes alongside a good selection of European wines. But on the day I visited, I had one mission and one mission only: the smash burger. The two crisp patties came in a brioche bun with melted cheese, mayo, pickles and a smattering of lettuce. It\u2019s pretty much everything you\u2019re looking for in a burger (so long as you have napkins at the ready for the dripping juices). Except for perhaps the speed of service. I was there on a Sunday lunchtime, and it felt like the kitchen staff were still prepping for the lunch rush while diners were already sitting at their tables ordering food. Perhaps the evening sitting is a little better organised.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSmash burger at Buurtcafe de Tros<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Transparency disclosure: I was invited to eat at Carstens Steakhouse, the Midtown Grill and Lombardo\u2019s as a journalist, and I didn\u2019t pay for my meal. I try to remain as objective as possible, but I always disclose when I\u2019ve had a freebie.<\/em><\/p>\n
Want to eat more than steaks and burgers in Amsterdam? <\/em>Download my\u00a0Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
- Getting around:<\/strong> Amsterdam is compact enough to walk, and public transport covers everything else. Skip the rental car<\/a> unless you plan to leave the city \u2013 use GVB<\/a> to plan your route, or do as the locals do and rent a bike<\/a>!<\/li>\n