Nice Thai and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Baan Thai

The reviews on this restaurant vary rather. From very enthusiastic to a bit grumpy. OK, so the restaurant's intererior is nice and well maintained, good linen on the tables, nice hostesses that speak good Dutch (for our Dutch visitors). And for a Wednesday evening, in a street full of restaurants, quite some guests.

Favorite Dish: The meats they use here are steak, chicken breasts and pork fillet. In my opinion not very interesting meat and I was right when our dish of pork fillet (small pieces) with Thai basil and chillies arrived: the meat was too chewy. We left most of it uneaten.

The fried mullet (a whole fish) in curry sauce and coconut milk however, was excellent. Fingerlicking good! Served with white rice. Fried rice or noodles cost extra (3,25 euro). I would certainly return for this dish! Price of the fish: 21.50 euro. Look at the 2nd photo in this tip: we ate it all!

For starters deepfried shrimp meat in wantan (the shrimp meat was somewhat shredded and as such not recognisable, nor any possible additives), announced on the menu as fried shrimp. Not bad. ANother starter was the Thai fish cookies, a classic. A bit watery to my taste.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0206756632
Address: Amstelveenseweg 83, 1075 VW Amsterdam
Directions: At the most western end of Vondelpark.
Website: www.baanthai.nl

Restaurant Name: Indrapura

Indrapura, Indonesian Restaurant
Rather upmarket and very good Indonesian restaurant. It belongs to a group called Selected Indonesian Restaurants (SIR). This group of restaurants supports an orphanage in Indonesia, the FOUNDATION GIRI ASIH NEDERLAND

Favorite Dish: Pangsit Goreng, the wan tan soups, Rendang (spicy beef), fish dishes... the menu is on the website mentioned below!

I base my average price per person on a starter and main course plus 2 drinks.

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Theme: Other
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: + 31(0)20 6237329
Address: Rembrandtplein 42, 1017 CV Amsterdam
Other Contact: info@indrapura.nl

Restaurant Name: Ibis Eetcafé

January 17th 2003

No cutlery here! Food is eaten by hand with help of thin pancakes. The pancakes are called enjara.

Food for all diners at one table is served in little piles on a large tin tray. So no individual plates either!
Beer is served in halved coconut shells which looks really nice.
The restaurant was full (Friday night) at aroun 18.00 hrs. and there were plenty of tables already reserved.

Vegetarian is also possible.

Kitchen open 17-22 hrs
Bar open 17-01 hrs

Favorite Dish: My friend ate Kitfo, spicy minced meat (€ 8,60) with salad, 2 lentil dishes, boiled vegs and ayb (feta).
I ate the Ibis special (€ 12,00), a mix of a few Ethiopian dishes. The main dish was a spicy tomatosauce with chicken and egg.
Side dishes like lentil sauce, spicy feta cheese (called ayb), pea sauce, salad, boiled vegetables.

The total bill (including one African beer and one African tea) was € 26 for 2 persons.

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Theme: African
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +31 20 6926267
Address: Weesperzijde 43, 1091 EE Amsterdam
Directions: Near Amstel hotel
Other Contact: ibisafrican@hotmail.com

Restaurant Name: Bazar Amsterdam

January 17th 2003 (original)

Kitchen open: Mon-Thur 11.00-01.00, Fri tot 02.00, Sat 09.00-02.00, Sun 9.00-24.00

Located in a former protestant church (Gereformeerde kerk) built in the 19th century. The grand café is on the ground floor, the restaurant on the balcony on either side of the building. It's a very imposing building with 5 art-deco chandeliers from a casino from the Belgian Blankenberg, seven ceiling lamps come from New York, the entry is from a theatre in Paris and the toilets still show it's church history.
Great place to take a break from shopping on the Albert Cuyp (daily market and many special and exotic shops).

Visit 2008 This Grand Café has changed to Bazar Amsterdam, a North African style restaurant with two levels.

Favorite Dish: We had a mint tea here (€ 1,90) with fresh mint.

The menu is the same as at Bazar Rotterdam (the original Bazar!). Though it puts itself forward as 'international' the cuisine is more Mediterranean (Morrocon, Turkish). I liked the falafel, the spicy chicken looked good. The attempt at the Dutch 'broodje gezond' (bread with ham, cheese, egg, salad, etc.) was waaayyy overdone and as such not a good idea.

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Theme: African
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 6750544
Address: Albert Cuypstraat 182, Amsterdam
Website: www.de-engel.net

Restaurant Name: La Colina

It was the 3rd time that I ate here during the VT meeting on 22-2-2003. And again it was very nice. The Egyptian owner and staff are friendly and service is reasonably quick.
During the evening we saw the place fill up nicely too, which is a good sign.

Favorite Dish: The main item is Argentinian steaks but there is also chicken, lamb and vegetarian.

I ordered a round of garlic bread and melted cheese from the oven.
Side dishes can be ordered separately. Some dishes have side-dishes included.
My favourites are the garlic bread, roast corn, the farmhouse chips and baked potato with sour cream.

Including drinks (wine and lemonade) we spent about ?20 per person.

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Theme: Steakhouse
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020-6247015
Address: Nieuwezijds Kolk 9, 1012 PV Amsterdam

Restaurant Name: Café Wildschut

Very busy during lunchroom. The Oud-Zuid neighbourhood is very nice, expensive to live too.
The café looks like a real meeting point for lunch, coffee, drinks or dinner.
The interior is very stylishly art-deco. Looks original too.

Favorite Dish: Club-sandwich bacon/chicken/egg/mayonaise/guacemole
for € 7,50
Big fresh orange juice for € 2,80

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Roelof Hartplein 1-3, 1071 TR Amsterdam
Directions: Oud-Zuid

Restaurant Name: Belgian and French Restaurants / Bistro

A cheese fondue restaurant in a narrow building near Central Station, spread out over 3 floors (with VERY narrow staircase!).
Visit: 10 October 2003.

Favorite Dish: Grande fondue (5 different fondues) € 39,50 per two persons, additional mushrooms, broccoli and pineapple for € 2,10 each.
A tournedos roquefort is € 19,25
A heavenly mousse au chocolat or sorbet at € 6,15 each.
1 bottle of Merlot Pays d'Oc € 17,50
Two soft drinks at average € 2,40 each.
Good coffee.

On average we spent € 35 per person (including tip).

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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 6246428
Address: Gravenstraat 28, 1012 HM Amsterdam
Directions: From Central Station walk down Damrak, turn right just before the end and walk the narrow street towards LZ Voorburgwal. It's on your right hand.

Restaurant Name: Boerderij Meerzicht

Just outside Amsterdam is the Amsterdamse Bos, a city park where you can row, cycle, picknick and walk. Then it's fun to have a little refreshment here. A former farm turned restaurant, ideal to take the children (there is a playground) and enjoy the open air.

Favorite Dish: Not memorable kitchen really. But the pancakes are popular with kiddies and for a simple lunch or dinner it's perfectly fine. The restaurant is selfservice, though any hot food (apart from soup) will be brought to your table.

Lunch for two: € 15,10
Some soup, a sandwich and a drink each.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 6792744
Address: Koenekade 56, 1081 KG Amsterdam
Website: www.boerderijmeerzicht.nl