Amsterdam: Dutch Bitterballen and Croquette Tasting

Amsterdam Centraal hides one of Amsterdam’s most unusual places for a snack: Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas, set inside the station’s former first-class waiting rooms. I like the ornate room, the old railway details, and the chance to see Pierre Cuypers’ architecture without adding another museum visit to your day.

I also like the tasting itself. You receive six different fried Dutch specialties, from veal bitterballen and Peking duck to Thai green curry, shrimp, cheese and arugula, and chicken satay. The main drawback is value: at $15, it is reasonable for the setting and the variety, but drinks are extra and the portions form a tasting meal rather than a large lunch.

Key points to know before booking

• A railway setting from 1885: The restaurant occupies a restored first-class waiting room inside Amsterdam Central Station.
• Six different Dutch snacks: You sample veal bitterbal, Peking duck bitterbal, Thai green curry bitterbal, cheese arugula croquette, chicken satay croquette, and shrimp croquette.
• A one-hour stop: This fits neatly between sightseeing, train connections, or a walk through central Amsterdam.
• Drinks cost extra: Table water is included, but Heineken draft beer, wine, and soft drinks are purchased separately.
• A useful introduction to Dutch comfort food: Staff explain the fillings, and you receive a sheet with extra food information.
• A good choice for architecture fans: Pierre Cuypers, who designed the station, also designed the Rijksmuseum.

Why platform 2B is worth finding

Amsterdam Central Station can feel like a place you pass through rather than a place you visit. That is the clever part of this tasting. You are already in one of the city’s main transport hubs, yet the restaurant gives you a quiet reason to stop and look around.

To reach it, use the staircase in the station’s Cuypers Hall and follow the signs for Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas. The meeting address is Stationsplein 15. Once you arrive, ask for the floor manager and allow yourself enough time to find the room. The station is large, and rushing in at the last minute would spoil the sense of occasion.

The restaurant occupies a former first-class waiting room. Its restored interior includes old railway signs, including the board indicating waiting times. Those details give the meal a purpose beyond eating six fried snacks. You can look up at the room, watch people moving through the station, and imagine how rail passengers once waited here before boarding.

The building dates from 1885, during the period when master builder Pierre Cuypers was designing Amsterdam Central Station. Cuypers also designed the Rijksmuseum, and the relationship between the two buildings is one of the most interesting reasons to visit. This is not a modern station café with a few antique decorations added later. The room was made for railway passengers and has been renovated for present-day dining.

What the six-piece tasting includes

The tasting presents six separate items, each with its own filling and style. Dutch croquettes and bitterballen share a crisp fried shell, but they are not identical. A croquette is usually longer, while a bitterbal is round and bite-sized. Both often contain a thick savory filling, making the inside soft and the outside crunchy.

The veal bitterbal offers the most traditional point of reference. If you have never tried a Dutch bitterbal, start here. It helps you understand the classic idea before moving on to the more international flavors.

The Peking duck bitterbal takes the familiar Dutch snack in a different direction. It is a good example of how the format has expanded beyond the old meat-and-sauce fillings found in traditional cafés.

The Thai green curry bitterbal is the boldest choice in the tasting. It adds a clear international note and gives you a useful contrast with the veal. You should expect the six pieces to vary in character, rather than tasting like repeated versions of the same snack.

The three croquettes are cheese and arugula, chicken satay, and shrimp. Cheese and arugula should appeal to anyone who prefers a meat-free option, although the overall tasting is not vegetarian. Chicken satay adds another international flavor, while shrimp brings a seafood choice to the plate.

You receive written gastronomic information about the items. That matters because the fillings can be difficult to identify from appearance alone. The explanations turn a plate of fried food into a small food lesson, especially if Dutch snack culture is new to you.

A one-hour meal, not a full restaurant dinner

The scheduled duration is one hour. That is enough time to sit down, taste the six pieces, read the information sheet, and order a drink if you wish. It is not designed as a long meal with several courses.

I would treat it as a substantial snack or a light lunch. The portion is six pieces per person, which gives you variety but may not satisfy a large appetite on its own. One rating specifically described the serving as a little expensive for six items without drinks, and that is a fair way to look at the price.

At $15 per person, you are paying for three things: the food, the explanations, and access to a historic restaurant room. If you judge it only by the quantity of fried snacks, the deal is less impressive. If you already plan to visit Amsterdam Central Station and value an unusual setting, the price makes more sense.

Drinks are not included. You can order Heineken draft beer, house wine, or a soft drink, and table water is provided. Keep this in mind when comparing the total cost with a normal snack stop. A beer or glass of wine adds to the bill, but it also fits the Dutch café tradition better than treating the tasting as a quick takeaway.

The room is the real star

The food is interesting, but the room carries much of the appeal. The former first-class waiting area has an old-world railway atmosphere, with restored decoration and a view toward Amsterdam’s Old City Centre. You are close to the station’s movement, but the restaurant itself gives you a more settled place to sit.

The interior has been described as colonial in style, and it is certainly more decorative than most places where you would grab a croquette. There is also a memorable cockatiel named Elvis connected with the restaurant. You may find his presence amusing, though anyone who prefers a completely quiet dining room should know that this is part of the venue’s character.

The setting also makes this a good place for people-watching. The station brings together local commuters, international visitors, and people meeting friends in central Amsterdam. You do not need to make a separate architectural tour from the visit. Simply look around while you eat.

This is also a practical rainy-day stop. You do not have to cross the city for a food activity, and the restaurant is directly inside the central station. It works well before a train, after arriving in Amsterdam, or during a day focused on the canals and nearby old centre.

Staff service and what to expect

Staff explain the different fillings and provide the written food notes. Several parts of the experience depend on the service at your table, so the visit can feel more personal when the waiter takes time to explain the tasting.

Service has not been perfectly consistent. Some diners have found the staff warm, professional, and engaging, while others felt the welcome was less friendly or the service moved slowly. One especially charming Filipino waitress was praised for her humor and friendliness, but the overall service may vary from one visit to another.

That is worth considering if you have a tight train connection. The activity itself lasts one hour, but ordering drinks and waiting for service can reduce your spare time. I would not book this immediately before a train you cannot miss.

The restaurant has also been recognized by The Guardian as one of Europe’s top station restaurants. That attention helps explain why the room can be busy and why the experience is as much about place as plate. Do not expect a private cooking class or a long guided tour. This is a seated tasting with explanations from restaurant staff.

Is the food worth the price?

The six flavors are the strongest argument for booking. A normal order of bitterballen might give you one filling, while this tasting lets you compare traditional veal with shrimp, cheese and arugula, chicken satay, Peking duck, and Thai green curry.

The selection also suits people who are unsure about Dutch snack food. You do not need to commit to a full plate of one unfamiliar filling. If you dislike one, five other styles remain to try.

The main question is portion size. Six pieces are enough for sampling, but you may want another dish if you are hungry. The restaurant menu includes other food, and diners have ordered soup and additional items. Those purchases are separate from the tasting and will increase the final bill.

For a food-focused visitor, $15 is a fair price if you value variety and atmosphere. For someone who simply wants the cheapest possible snack, it is not the best choice. You can order food independently at the restaurant, and one rating noted that you do not necessarily need to book the tasting to eat there. The booking adds structure, the six-item selection, and the written information.

Who will enjoy this Amsterdam tasting?

I would recommend it to you if you like trying local food in a setting with a story. The tasting is especially suited to first-time visitors who want a simple introduction to bitterballen and croquettes without spending half a day on a food tour.

Architecture fans will get more from the stop than people who only care about quantity. Cuypers’ connection to both Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum gives the restaurant a useful place in the city’s design story.

It also works well for couples, small groups, and solo visitors. The one-hour format is easy to fit into a busy schedule, and the central location makes the meeting point simple once you are inside the station.

Families may enjoy the small portions and the playful range of fillings, though the activity is still a seated restaurant visit rather than a hands-on class. The unusual room and Elvis the cockatiel may be as memorable as the food for younger visitors.

You should think twice if you need a fast meal, want a large lunch, or dislike paying separately for drinks. You should also leave extra time if you are using the station for a connection.

Booking, timing, and access

The experience runs for one hour, with starting times shown when you check availability. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the scheduled time, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Amsterdam plans are still changing.

The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. The listed start and end point are the same, at Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas on platform 2B.

Arrive on time and ask for the floor manager when you reach the restaurant. This is more useful than wandering around the station looking for a host. The activity finishes back at the meeting point, so you do not need to arrange transport between parts of the tasting.

Should you book it?

Book this tasting if you want a small, well-located food stop with genuine railway character. The restored first-class room and the six contrasting fillings make it more memorable than a standard snack order, especially if Dutch bitterballen are new to you.

Skip it if your priority is a large meal or the lowest possible price. You can eat independently at the restaurant, and drinks are extra. For most visitors, the best reason to book is not the amount of food. It is the combination of Dutch comfort food, Cuypers’ architecture, station history, and one of Amsterdam’s more unusual dining rooms.

FAQ

Where does the Dutch bitterballen tasting begin?

It begins at Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas, located at platform 2B inside Amsterdam Central Station. Use the staircase in Cuypers Hall and ask for the floor manager when you arrive.

How long does the tasting last?

The scheduled duration is one hour. Starting times depend on availability.

Which foods are included?

You receive six different items: a veal bitterbal, Peking duck bitterbal, Thai green curry bitterbal, cheese and arugula croquette, chicken satay croquette, and shrimp croquette.

Are drinks included?

No. Table water is included, but beer, wine, and soft drinks are not included in the tasting price.

Is the restaurant wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.