Café Caron

David and Tom Caron wanted to open a restaurant that evoked the warm homeliness they experienced growing up from their parents, Alain and Roeltje. This resulted in Café Caron, located on Frans Halsstraat. It has since become an indispensable and charming neighborhood bistro that is packed every evening with guests who truly appreciate authentic French cuisine. The menu is small but excellent, offering a selection of fish, meat, and vegetarian dishes. The wine list features French classics, while the Red Booklet showcases beautiful cellar finds. A cozy atmosphere fills the dining room, which is snugly arranged with small tables that the staff navigate with ease. We sample a lovely Chenin Blanc from Clau de Nell and feel transported to France. Delicious is the poached egg served on crispy cavolo nero, topped with slices of eikhaas and surrounded by sauce soubise. And the braised rabbit with La Ratte potatoes, al dente Brussels sprouts, and shallots is heavenly. Save room for dessert: a classic pear tart with chocolate sauce, almond tuile, and pear sorbet. Mon dieu! Today, 'Restaurants Caron' operates four locations across Amsterdam, each with its own distinct ambiance, yet all bearing an unmistakably French flair.

A characteristic shared by French bistros, alongside their unpretentious cuisine, is the simplicity of the menu. At Café Caron, they indeed like to keep the choice simple with a small menu and a three-course meal. Dis...

Television chef and icon Alain Caron gave French cuisine in the Netherlands an even bigger platform, and his sons David and Tom Caron carry on the culinary philosophy of their parents, Alain and Roeltje, across the four restaurants of the family-owned Caron group, established in 2016. Café Caron on Frans Halsstraat exudes the ambiance of a classic French bistro. The tables are closely spaced, creating a lively atmosphere. The now-famous red wine notebook holds hidden gems—handwritten entries of leftover wines from opened bottles, some already crossed out. The inscription pas d'eau dans le vin ce soir (no water with the wine tonight) perfectly captures the essence of their French culinary philosophy. Executive chef Rogier Trip cooks – as one would expect – firmly rooted in French tradition. Alongside a non-alcoholic aperitif served in a slender highball glass, they present huitres à volant accompanied by a flawless shallot vinaigrette. A poached egg served with artichokes, peas, and broad beans arrives with a rich, velvety beurre blanc infused with artichoke jus. Accompanying it is a fine, full-bodied white Limoux Bourgogne. Next comes a pithivier (a classic French puff pastry pie) filled with cauliflower and cabbage, served with a celeriac jus and fermented green peppers, followed by a juicy sea bass pan-seared skin-side down, accompanied by pleated tomatoes, fennel, and a bouillabaisse sauce. This is matched with a crisp, bone-dry Provençal rosé from Château La Mascaronne. For dessert, cinnamon-infused gin and mint-pickled rhubarb is served alongside a bright, tangy rhubarb granita and creamy yogurt ice cream. The only drawback is the rushed service. We haven’t even reached dessert yet when we’re abruptly moved to the end of a long table due to a table turnover. That simply won’t do. The staff is young and partially inexperienced, and their wine knowledge falls short. There is still room for improvement in these areas. Yet their warmth and likability easily outweigh their lack of experience. And the outstanding French cuisine leaves us thoroughly satisfied.

Francophiles will find plenty to love at the family restaurant of David and Tom Caron—yes, the sons of television chef and cookbook legend Alain Caron. Everything here is lovingly infused with French charm. The menu is modest, the atmosphere warm and inviting, the food honest and unpretentious, and the prices quite reasonable. This isn’t the place if you’re after a quiet dinner. It’s bustling, lively, and the tables are set closely together. But so be it. That’s all part of the experience. Alongside the regular menu, a chalkboard highlights daily specials such as oysters. The wine list features exclusively French labels, which are quite pricey apart from a few exceptions. The shrimp bisque, made with Dutch prawns and parsley oil, boasts a rich flavor and a silky consistency. Next is a vegetarian dish featuring tender chanterelle mushrooms in a frothy beurre blanc, paired with fresh peas that offer a pleasant snap and surprisingly bright, sweet raspberries that add a refreshing contrast to the plate. It’s finished with a lightly poached egg yolk that enhances the creaminess and silkiness of the sauce. The fish of the day is perfectly pan-seared sea bass served with caponata and ’nduja. The portion is somewhat modest for a main course. It comes with another beurre blanc, which we gladly welcome, as Caron is a true master of crafting exquisite sauces. Coffee is served black, and the bill arrives promptly. Very French indeed.

Tables placed close together, lively chatter, and a wonderful atmosphere define the bustling family restaurant of Alain Caron and his sons David and Tom. French cuisine takes center stage here, with delightful aromas wafting from Chef Rogier Trip’s kitchen. The menu offers modest à la carte options, daily specials are listed on a chalkboard, and the wine list showcases French labels. Of particular note is the so-called red booklet, a handwritten collection of unique wine secrets. Café Caron also produces its own wine, Lowel, which sommelier Ed Selles explains with great flair. The Dutch tomato starter is an absolute flavor bomb. Pleated and stuffed with blackberries, Dutch Brie, and hazelnuts, it is finished with a tomato and raspberry sauce. Delicious! The main courses—a wild carrot roulade with strained sheep yogurt, and black-foot chicken served with pommes Robuchon and Albuféra sauce—both excel in their expert preparation, flavor, and generous portions. The only drawback is the lengthy wait for our wine, a Philippe Le Hardi Burgundy Pinot Noir. And since we’re already nitpicking, the price per glass is quite high compared to retail wine prices. Otherwise, nothing but praise for this lovely establishment right in the heart of Amsterdam.

There’s a vibrant buzz at Café Caron. The place is packed with guests of all ages from home and abroad who share one thing in common: a craving for relaxed, enjoyable dining. And it works brilliantly here. In the dining room, a long bar sits alongside an identical regulars’ table topped with a massive bouquet of sunflowers. They complement the mustard-yellow wainscoting perfectly. Stained glass marks the transition into the conservatory. Fine French dishes emerge from chef Rogier Trip’s open kitchen. First up is a cod carpaccio featuring a pleasant tang from lime vinaigrette and a subtle sweetness from chopped nectarine. Fennel and dill round off this successful starter. For the main course, a beautifully red-braised lamb neck takes center stage. It pairs exquisitely with lightly peppery chanterelles, chestnutty coco de paimpol beans, salted lamb ear, thinly shaved carrots, and a rich, creamy lamb jus. To finish, chocolate and coffee mousse served with crispy meringue, a bolete chip, and caramelized hazelnuts. The young waiter clearly takes pride in his work and, going beyond what’s ordered, invites you to sample the chilled wine developed by the Caron family in collaboration with winemaker Vincent Leclair. We’re also treated to a complimentary pour of two dessert wines. Bravo! Book in advance—it’s always packed.

Café Caron is the family restaurant of Alain Caron and his sons David and Tom. It is a cozy establishment in this unpretentious spot. The atmosphere is relaxed, with plenty of lively chatter. But that is all part of the experience; the intention is for young and old, chance passersby, and local residents to gather around the tables to enjoy the rich French cuisine prepared here under the direction of chef Rogier Trip. And they pull it off perfectly! It is bustling, and the generously filled plates are each and every one appetizing and beautifully balanced in flavor. The wine list is French, focusing on classic wine regions such as the Loire, Burgundy, and Bordeaux. Tom Caron: "We also carry a special cellar list, the Red Booklet, featuring great houses with exceptional vintages." A new addition: the family has launched its own wine in collaboration with Vincent Leclair: the fresh, young Loire wine 'Lowel', named after the youngest brother. It is perfect for serving chilled. Dishes change frequently here, depending on what the season offers. Café Caron is open daily and also serves lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Au revoir!

It’s a cozy chaos in the inviting restaurant of the Caron family. The acoustics are unpleasant despite numerous acoustic foam panels attached to the ceiling of the sunroom, and privacy is limited as the tables are placed closely together. But that’s all part of the ambiance, making you feel as though you’ve stumbled into a cozy, cluttered Parisian café. This impression is further reinforced by the Quartier Latin-esque neighborhood in which the restaurant is situated. The service is busy and therefore sometimes pays less attention to the guests. For instance, there’s no description provided when the dishes are served, just as there is none when the wines are poured. From the kitchen of chef Roel Paping comes duck egg ‘en meurette’, essentially a runny soft egg in a robust red wine sauce with crispy bacon lardons, cooked mushroom chunks, and paper-thin shavings of raw button mushrooms served on toasted bread. A dish you’ll want to return for immediately. Next, two perfectly cooked drumsticks and equally beautiful, reddish, and tender fillet of Anjou pigeon in a rich, aromatic house jus, accompanied by earthy beetroot and grilled Little Gem lettuce. A well-balanced dish, simple yet bursting with flavor. The dessert features lemon caviar, white chocolate, and mint sauce, and is decoratively presented to resemble a lemon.

Café Caron is the restaurant of David and Tom Caron, the sons of chef and TV cook Alain Caron. The brasserie is a hit and completely packed inside and out. It’s warm summer weather tonight, so we dine on the terrace. That is to say: on the sidewalk in front of the establishment, with scooters zooming past, seated on wobbly wooden chairs at a round bistro table. Very French. We order the three-course menu and note that the cooking is excellent, rooted in French cuisine but with a modern twist. For the starter, the octopus in cold sardine broth with coriander and kohlrabi is delicious and original, but the vegetarian dish of smoked and puffed beets with rosemary mayonnaise and grated Reypenaer cheese is a bit coarse. The rotisserie-grilled chicken for the main course is nicely juicy, the accompanying potato mousseline is creamy, and the braised Savoy cabbage in beurre noisette is simple yet flavorful. We pair it with a good Barbera d’Asti. The cod is also perfectly cooked, served with a delightful beurre blanc in which we can taste the craftsmanship of the kitchen crew. Add to that the cheerful and hospitable waitstaff, and we know: we will gladly return. Welcome to Lekker!