3-course menu at Cafe Cenc in Centrum — French bistro classics and three courses of your own choosing

Cafe Cenc knows its French classics—and when to take a detour. This family-run spot brings the easy charm of a French neighborhood bistro to Amsterdam’s Centrum. The menu runs lunch to dinner, and a heated terrace keeps outdoor dining on the agenda well into fall. All three courses are yours to choose.

Start with toasted brioche piled with prawns and crème fraîche, or open with house-cured lox. Follow with market fish, caramelized fennel, olives, and harissa, or poussin with sauce charcutière and sauerkraut. Dessert presents another decision: choux pastry with spicy soft serve and caramel beurre salé, flourless chocolate cake, or bread-and-butter pudding with lavender crème anglaise.

Go with someone willing to share. You’ll want a say in their three courses, too.