I ate here twice in Nov 2018 when M. & I spent a week in AMS. It was so fresh & delicious and it stayed in my mind all this time. So, now that I'm visiting AMS again with a good friend, I had to bring her here! We went to the Van Gogh Museum & then we walked all the way to Rainarai for the promise of subtly spicy and flavorful Algerian cuisine. Yes, it delivered!! Thankfully, Rainarai is exactly as I remembered it. The service was kind & friendly, the chicken plate I ordered was heaped with all kinds of delicious veggies, flavorful chicken & couscous. At 24 euros, the plates are a little pricey, but they are generously portioned. The dining area is small, but serviceable and homey. I enjoyed coming back here so much, and my friend did too. One note: I believe the server who we paid with charged us for a bottle of water when we just drank tap water... because the server who took our order ended her shift while we were dining. Bedankt! read more

See all

I stumbled on this place for lunch after leaving the Jordaan neighborhood, and it was the absolute best. I ordered the chicken tangine with rice and green beans and carrots. The seasoning was off the charts. My goodness - I'd say so flavorful and colorful. Your palate will be refined! There are not a ton of seats but I chose to sit and eat which made the experience even more cosy. First time having authentic Algerian food and I was very pleased! Well done and a very welcoming space. read more

Rainarai - Chicken tangine and rice - Caterers Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

We had the most amazing dinner at Rainari. The food was perfectly seasoned, the chef and others working there were delightful. I could not have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend it! read more

I didn't even look at the menu. The lady working recommended me this sandwich and I just said "sure." And it's truly the best sandwich I've ever had read more

Rainarai - This sandwich changed my life - Caterers Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

This was definitely a highlight of my trip! Flavors are perfection. Healthy, everything cooked perfectly and flavors were delightfully paired! read more

Rainarai - Stuffed pumpkin, lentils and zucchini - Caterers Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

See all

The food was delicious. The service and atmosphere were just as well blended as the spices in the warm and delicious meal.

Phenomenal food. By far the best food experience in Holland. The gentleman who prepared our food and waited on us was a wonderful person. The food had a tremendous amount of effort put into it with fresh worldly ingredients. I'm full and pleased. read more

Excellent! Great food. Unique flavors in a wide variety of dishes. Great atmosphere. Beautiful building creates a warm atmosphere. Great service. A special dining experience. read more

The food and service were great! Felt as though I walked off the street in Amsterdam and into Algeria

Fantastic place. Stopped by late afternoon to feed the kids and everything was fantastic. Probably our best meal in Amsterdam. Wasn't even hungry but the pizza was great and the apple pie was the best we tried on the trip. Chef/owner is behind the counter and very friendly. Even has a cookbook but unfortunately my Dutch isn't up to the translation. read more

Quaint little place. It's not good for groups since it's so tiny but the food is delicious. First time we've had Algerian and the spices are just on point. It's akin to a lot of middle eastern foods in terms of flavor and set up. read more

Rainarai - Meat combo - Caterers Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

See all

Nummy Indonesian food. Lots of great flavors. Recommended by someone who lives in Amsterdam and he did not stir us wrong

We were in amsterdam for a few days and walked past this place and looked in- we happened to walk by again several hours later and couldn't resist anymore. We had the pumkin soup the first day, which was incredible. Came back a second day and had a full meal, which was every bit as good. The food feels like a home cooked meal that someone spent an entire lifetime learning to make. About 10 dishes sit in the counter, you choose what you want and they reheat it - which sounds odd but it's better than many a high end resteraunt I've eaten in. read more

Wonderful meal. Complex flavors cooked to perfection. Large portions. Very casual. Easy place to dine alone.

I can't really fault this place - I had a salmon filtet with Algerian spices, couscous with egg and herbs and green beans with a multitude of flavours all accompanied by rose wine and very friendly staff read more

One of the most amazing meals I've ever had! Absolutely delicious! Would for sure recommend to anyone who loves Middle Eastern food!

Hands down our favorite restaurant in Amsterdam. In the past two trips my wife and I have taken to Amsterdam, we have gone to Rainarai a combined seven times. They offer what's basically a combo plate. You choose between rice and couscous then top it with a veggie and a meat or three veggies (or two veggies and a meat if you get the large portion). The options change frequently and they are ALWAYS excellent. read more

Rainarai - Caterers Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

See all

Stumbled upon this little gem while walking through Jordaan. The place was packed during lunch with locals eating in the outdoor seating area so I knew it was worth checking out. I found out they served Algerian food...something I've never come across in the states. The food was delicious - you will find a lot of spices, curries, herbs used in all of the dishes. If you enjoy middle eastern, Mediterranean, or Indian food, you will love Algerian food. The operation is very simple, you choose what you want from the deli case - a meat, a side vegetable, and a starch make up one dish. They heat up your dish in a convection oven and bring it to your table. The restaurant seems small from the outside but they have a pretty large seating area. I saw a lot of locals ordering take-out though. Very friendly service, something we noticed was consistent in Amsterdam. Highly recommended! read more

See all

Owner runs an amazing place. His commitment to quality food, presentation, and service is evident. He and his staff were lovely to talk to. Locals were aplenty at this spot. This place has a deli container of freshly made foods every day. From kufta to cous cous. You pick the food and they heat up in convection oven ( don't let that scare you). Perfect for dine in but you can take it to go and hope on boat tour or sit by the canal and nosh away. In summer this place must be amazing. You cannot miss it. Look for all the fresh vegetables outside the doors and windows. read more

Extremely rude waitstaff. Food was alright.

The food was good but their service was terrible. The servers were really rude. We asked for an extra plate and they just said "no". Told us to sit down when we asked a question about a nearby event. read more

Located on the Prinsengracht, Rainarai's smaller, cafe location is great for a mint tea and sweet snack, or a lovely lunch after shopping along the 9 straats in the Jordaan. If the weather's nice, steal a seat by the canal. If it's typical Dutch weather, grab a spot inside where you can sit 2 or 4 to a table. The space is very small, but the flavor is BIG. With dishes that are somewhere between Ottoman meets Levant, sprinkled with Mediterranean, there's tons of drool-worthy dishes for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Not only is the flavor big, but the colors and presentation make it difficult to pick a meal. Definitely a favorite. read more

Wow. What a great place. Food is so flavorful and such a cozy atmosphere. Come in and ask for help, grab a beer and chill out while the owner heats up your meal. Loved our food and loved our conversation about Algeria. Would eat here every meal if doing this again !!!! read more

Rainarai - Cozy spot - Caterers Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

Super cute restaurant right off the 9 Streets and luckily my neighborhood go-to for take out! It may seem a bit on the pricey side, but everything I've had here has been delicious and the carry out portions are pretty big and good enough for two people to share (or to split across two meals). Although the seating in this cozy restaurant looks appealing - think comfy cushions and intimate bistro tables set up for canal views - the portions served when dining in definitely looked smaller than what you'd get when carrying out, for a slightly higher price. If you've never had Algerian cuisine before, it's very similar to Moroccan - a lot of stewed dishes with complex flavors. You get your choice of one "meat" (usually a chicken, lamb, seafood, or total vegetarian option), rice or couscous (although the rice looks great, the couscous tempts me every time - it's usually made with a mix of dried and fresh fruits), and two types of veggies (out of like 8 seasonal choices). Because the dishes vary each day, it's difficult to suggest any ONE thing - definitely ask the person working behind the counter to recommend their favorites! The outside of the restaurant also sells fresh produce sometimes, like unique fruits and veggies that you will probably not see in any other street market. Also, they now have loyalty cards: ask for a card at the register and for every 7 meals you get stamped, the 8th is free! It doesn't seem to be something they readily offer, so don't forget to ask! read more

This home-cooked Algerian food is amazing; honestly one of the top 5 meals of my life. Highly recommend the vegetarian with couscous selection. Worth the wait and the owner and staff are charming! We will be back many times during our one-week stay; of this we are absolutely certain! read more

Rainarai - Caterers Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

I like the idea of this place. Mediterranean restaurant in Amsterdam so good or popular you have to sit on the steps outside and eat. It was a beautiful day when we were here. No spots available by the canal; they were all occupied. When the food came the saffron rice was sour, this was unusual. The cauliflower was great. The chicken had a little more fat and was a little more plain than I would like. Not bad. I would try something else here if time permits. read more

The owner is crabby. He got all our orders mixed up with another table and tried to push us to take them. The food tasted good, but one of the dishes had a rubber band in it--something that held the veg together that they bought I suppose. High prices? Yes. They push you to order a lot, and get angry if you don't. If you like to fight for your food, this is the place. read more

The place looks adorable and in the Summer time, you will find people lounging around on the colorful seats around the corner of this restaurant. The smell of the food in the street left me no other choice than to walk in and buy dinner there. There is a take away menu. It costs 13,5€ and you get to choose between rice or couscous; meat or fish; and two sorts of vegetables. But it's not your regular rice + veggie combo! It's also really good and creative! For instance, my couscous also had apricot in it, and one of my vegetable serving was squash filled with beans. The best! Serving size is pretty generous, so if you don't eat that much, you'll have your lunch for the next day sorted out! Great food. Must try. read more

The food is good, but not for the price. I had cous cous, eggplant, roast carriers, and fennel. Drenched in oil. Service was not good - I chose my food and was expecting to eat it right away and then had to wait another 20 Minutes for it to heat up. There are also no prices listed anywhere other than here on yelp. It was €14 for a small plate which seemed very pricey. read more

Very, very good food but absurdly high prices. More than just the high prices was that the price wasn't disclosed until after we'd eaten, at checkout. We asked to pay in advance and we're told to wait to the end, if we'd seen the prices In advance we may not have stayed. All in all very delicious fresh food but unconsolably high prices for what you get. read more

I used to be "the neighbor" but was always treated like a good friend here. The food is delicious and authentic; owner Lourent is charming, friendly and warm; outide seating right next to the Prinsengracht. The perfect ingredients for success, and that it is! read more

This place is fantastic! This small cozy restaurant has a great atmosphere, right next to the a canal. You can watch people ride by while enjoying your meal. The food is great! The vegetables consisted of sweet potatoes with rice mixed with marinated olives and prunes.The roasted potatoes were really good as well. The lamb was juicy and delicious. You can also do take out, which is awesome! Check this place out if you are in the Jordaan. read more

the rainarai website showed a large courtyard restaurant, so when we found the corner restaurant in the jordaan, we were a bit surprised. it appeared small from the outside. we saw intimate candlelit tables on the street, but the evening winds (and still living in socal) made me want to sit indoors. the little restaurant was even cozier inside than i thought. 3 levels, one server. big firery kitchen in the basement, visible from the ground level which had a counter with a food display to choose from, and the top level with 3 tables, some mediterranean furniture, and two drink coolers with a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. it was warm and homey; the server behind the counter helped us choose what to eat. he piled food high on a plate, with savory-and-sweet couscous and rice and juicy veggies for me, chicken for him, and we enjoyed the rai music in the background. after a long day with tired feet, i was comforted by this homey restaurant. i'd go back -- frequently. read more

The food service here is original: You choose the size of your plate and whether you want a bed of couscouos or rice. Then you have several side dishes to choose, more than half vegetarian. You are charged based on the size of your plate and whether you choose a meat option. Your selection is heated in an oven and served to you indoors, outdoors or to go. My food was perfect and very tasty. It was relatively inexpensive for the quality and the place. Service was friendly and efficient. read more

Cozy, deliciousness on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Single staff member was more than gracious and accommodating. Very impressed with how quickly she handled the influx of guests who arrived before and after us. Food was delicious. read more

alongside with food ware this place has fed me more time than i can remember! this little Moroccan restaurant is located in the corner of a beautiful canal, it has a small outdoor sitting for the sunny days and also a small sitting space inside. their food is delicious and the concept was mainly design to provide take away food. the system is very simple, you choose one of the main couses they freshly prepared and and a couple of sides. Then they have convection ovens where they re-heat the food and voila! you are ready to enjoy a delicious Moroccan meal. you can expect spices, lamb, cous cous, nicely cooked vegetable etc! They also sell Moroccan products to take home , such us olive oil, olives, legumes or tomato paste. my favourite time of the year to go is in autumn or winter, where the tables in the seating area are only lit by candles. very recommended! read more

On my first trip to Amsterdam we happened upon this unassuming restaurant and gave it a try. Boy am I glad we did! My first time eating Algerian food and it was so amazing and we ended up eating there 4 times during our stay! My friend and I are big foodies from NYC, so we are used to eating great food from all-over the world. This place is top notch. Delicious! read more

By far the best meal I had in 3 days in Amsterdam. Walked by one night and it smelled so good that we made a note and returned to make a reservation the following day. We simply asked the server to prepare two dishes for us, and he gave us a good variety -- one dish with chicken, zucchini & eggplant, and couscous and another with tuna, mini Brussels sprouts & carrots, and rice. Both dishes were delicious (including the Brussels sprouts which I normally despise). They had a great baklava for dessert as well as mint tea. The atmosphere is quiet and cozy and I was happy with the price. All of that food plus beer was 50 euro. I think the menu changes daily, but if our experience was any indication, it should be an excellent experience, and well worth the short walk away from the center of Amsterdam's most touristy areas. read more

I live in Amsterdam and have walked by this restaurant for years. I stopped to eat here because a friend came to visit me and we ate out a lot. The food is so good it's hard to express. You have three choices main course only, € 9,50, a small plate € 14,00 and a large plate € 18,00. I had pumpkin with spinach, goat cheese and fig garnish as a main (i am vegetarian but there are also meat dishes), then you can choose from many delicious side dishes. Mushrooms, turmeric rice and the best Brussels sprouts I have ever eaten and many others. Each dish has a separate flavor but nothin is over-powering. The cook here knows how to use spices and knows what good tasting food is. You choose each item on your plate then they heat it in a convection oven. Convection ovens will heat the food without re-cooking or drying it out. The plate gets hot and it keeps the food warm throughout your meal. There are only a few tables and it is sooooo cozy. I got the large dish for € 18,00 and I was very full and satisfied. read more

One of my favorite places to eat in Amsterdam when it's dark, rainy, and cold. In sum: spicy and reasonably priced comfort food in a cozy corner restaurant. read more