On the corner of the Ten Katestraat in Amsterdam Oud-West, you see a big, red neon sign spelling 'MEAT' inside a bar, and that is exactly what you can get at Bar Brouw. American meat, that is. I am not the biggest meat-eater in the whole wide world, but after seeing brisket on the menu I was sold. I have only eaten brisket once before in my life in Texas and immediately fell in love with the dish. Never having been able to find this in Amsterdam, I was surprised to discover a place that makes brisket and was eager to try.
First of all Bar Brouw is decorated in a no-nonsense way, with a beautiful wooden bar and wooden tables, a big chalk-board that shows the menu and another chalk board that shows the many beers they serve. Bar Brouw is decorated with a spectacular light construction of copper pipes with light bulbs in it (it does not sound as appealing as it looks). The bar is quite small, so it is very cozy and when I was there it was not overcrowded. The staff is friendly and the beers are good. The brisket was ok, but definitely not as good as in Texas. Unfortunately it had not cooked long enough, so it was still very fatty (which should have been dissolved during the many hours of cooking), but my friend did really like it that way so I guess it is also a matter of taste. Outside you will find a couple of picknick tables, so you can enjoy your meal and/or beers sitting outside.
Why Bar Brouw is worth mentioning is because it is a great place for an easy, quick meal and a really good place to have a few beers and some snacks with friends. I would also definitely go there just for drinks and sit on the terrace in the sun after work.