On Nieuwe Leliestraat, in the middle of the Jordaan, sits an eatery that lives up to its name. De Reiger has been there a long time, and it shows. Not in the sense of worn or neglected, but in the good sense: the place knows exactly what it is and doesn't make a fuss about it. No cooking star restaurants, no signs you have to look for where the food is. Here you just eat.
The menu leans toward Dutch and Italian-inspired dishes, and the classics are plentiful. The fried fish of the day with beurre blanc is a regular, as is the chicken breast with tarragon sauce and apple sauce. Those who prefer meat can choose a schnitzel with ravigotte sauce or a steak. And then there are the mussels, because that just comes with the territory. Meat and fish almost always come with fries and salad, exactly as it should in an eatery of this caliber. Het Parool once rated De Reiger with a 9/10 and described the place as honest and unpretentious. That's right.
The building itself is a classic Amsterdam building, and inside it feels like a brown pub that somewhere along the way has also become a restaurant. A large painting hangs on the wall as a central decorative element, the bar is at the front, and the restaurant space connects seamlessly to it. You can sit down quietly for a full dinner, or you can just have a beer at the bar without anyone looking at you funny. Both options are welcome, and you feel that right away.
In a city where new business is coming in rapid succession, it's reassuring that a place like this just keeps going.
The Heron is not a discovery, it is a constant. In a city where new business comes in rapid succession, it's reassuring that a place like this just keeps going. No hype, no waiting list, no QR code for your menu. You walk in, you slide in, and you eat well. It's that simple sometimes.
Recently, the owners of the Heron also acquired Eetcafé Van Beeren, their portfolio now houses three cafe restaurants, the Heron in the Jordaan, Café de Druif and From Beeren. The line is clear: affordable food without sacrificing quality.