Amsterdam Restaurant Tips by davequ

Sarang Mas: Another good little place to have a rijstaffel Sarang Mas - Indonesian restaurant (former Kong Fu) Review

It should be obvious I love rijstaffels and never tire of them.

Since I don't have a picture of Sarang Mas, here instead is a good picture of a rijstaffel (Indonesian Rice Table).

Favorite Dish: Guess

At Sarang Mas it was again a combination meat & seafood rijstaffel with saffron rice.

Washed down with a Dutch beer. burp!

Address: Rokin 84 Amsterdam Centrum (NEW LOCATION)

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: MAP
South on Damrak (becomes Rokin) below Paleisstraat. Spui (Rokin)ý Tram station.

Other Contact: fax 020 - 528 95 91

Phone: 020 - 528 95 90

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

de Roode Leeuw: Good DUTCH food De Rode Leeuw (Hotel de Rode Leeuw) Review

Restaurant de Roode Leeuw is a good Dutch restaurant, serving the very underated "Dutch" cuisine out of the Hotel Amsterdam (now the Hotel Amsterdam - De Roode Leeuw) on Damrak, just a couple of blocks from the Dam Square.

Most people I know don't think about Dutch food when they talk European cuisine, but I will from now on. This food is delicious,..... and from a hotel, no less!

The dining room and terrace have been "renovated" but thankfully it retains the same feel and ambience - here are some pictures of the dining room - click on it to make if full-screen.

So what's Dutch cuisine?
One type is referred to as "Neerlands Dis": traditional Dutch dishes prepared with Dutch dairy, meat and vegetables.

Favorite Dish: Have eaten here three times: had -

Steamed mussels were excellent ( I don't see them on the current MENU - ask for them);
soups and bisques superb, and the lamsfilet was fabulous.
Great herring appetizers. Killer pea soup w/ham or sausage (best I've ever had).
Marrowfat peas Kapucijners “met alles erop en eraan”…(sounds awful, tastes great)
Again, here's the spartan menu they post online, but I suspect they still serve the dishes I mentioned previously (if not, they are crazy).

For the excellent service cuisine, prices were reasonable (great meal w/wine & drinks/dessert/espresso for approx. 30-40 EU max). A great "splurge" dinner in a great location.
They also have a BRASSERIE with windowed terrace seating for claustrophobics.

The website (like the hotel & restaurant) has been "updated" so I had to go find some pix here

De Roode Leeuw re-opened its doors after a full renovation on March 14th, 2006

(The nice, witty, older fellow in my pic, who was my waiter is now ill and doesn't work there, and they removed his picture... (shame on you)... get well mijn broer...).
He was one of the best waiters I have ever had the pleasure to know. If there is a restaurant in heaven (and if I can con / lie my way in) he will be there, proud, warm, professional, and friendly. Meneer, hold a seat for me, A.U.B.

Due to the current drubbing the dollar is taking from the euro I've changed the price-per-person to "$41 and up" while leaving "comparative price" to "about average."

I honestly hope you get a chance to try this place. I'm picky, and I went back, and enjoyed it very much every time. Please also see John Gayton's tip on it in his Amsterdam pages.

Enjoy. x

Address: Damrak 93-94 1012 LP Amsterdam

Comparison: about average

Directions: Walk a couple blocks (north toward Centraal station) up Damrak from the Dam square. It's in Hotel Amsterdam on your LEFT.

Other Contact: e-mail: info@hotelamsterdam.nl

Phone: 31 20 555 06 66

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.restaurantderoodeleeuw.nl

EETCafe St. Paul's: My favorite night cafe on Gravenstraat St Paul's - Lunchroom/Lounge Café Review

On one of my favorite streets (Gravenstraat, behind the new church) in the center of Amsterdam sits Cafe St. Paul's.

It sounds and feels like THIS

It is owned and operated by a very warm, welcoming and affectionate family from Iran/Persia.

Reza, his wife Fery, and his sons Amir and Muhammed run the most wonderful little cafe and give warm, friendly and professional service and advice.

I had an excellent chicken sate' dinner there, and the Fromagerie Crignon next door (also theirs) provides cheese and meat fondue, both inside and outside on the narrow but comfortable Gravenstraat terrace.

But most of all, they will introduce you to what became my favorite Amsterdam drink of choice: ice cold jong jenever.

I spent an hour or two of almost every evening in Amsterdam enjoying a jong jenever with them at Cafe St. Paul.

I also met the most interesting man I have ever met in my life there: Jonathan De Waal.
More on him later. But that would take another set of chapters.

I miss you Jonathan.

I will return to Cafe St. Paul's on Gravenstraat every night I am ever in Amsterdam if possible, to spend time with Reza and his family, and to stand Jonathon a Pernod.

Favorite Dish: Chicken sate' and any fondue, on the terrace of Gravenstraat outside if possible,
sipping Jenever and watching Reza and Fery's beautiful granddaughter dance with her mother Sara.

When I die, if there is a heaven, Eetcafe St. Paul's is around the corner and open 24/7, with Jonathan holding court.
*****************

Note: vt added the name / category "lunchroom / lounge"
it wasn't called that when I was there ... it was "Eet Cafe St Paul's"
If it's changed, thanks vt for the update -
if not - make sure you goto the one I'm talking about behind the New Church @ Gravenstraat 24

Address: Gravenstraat 24b

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Behind the New Church (Nieuwkerk) on Gravenstraat between Nieuwesijds Voorburgwal and the Nieuwendijk.

Phone: 020-627 70 44

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

d'Vijff Vlieghen: 5 flying stars Dutch Restaurant d'Vijff Vlieghen Review

"d'Vijff Vlieghen" (5 flies) might seem to be an inauspicious name for a restaurant.

Not to worry.. this is one of the better restaurants in Amsterdam.

"New Dutch Cuisine" is what d'Vijff Vlieghen produces, using only fresh Dutch products...
with organically grown vegetables as much as possible.

If you want to splurge on good top-shelf Dutch food... along with another good Dutch restaurant, Vermeer,

this is one good place to do it.

Favorite Dish: Entree/appetizer .. stewed eel w/ potatoes..

Main course.. Grilled Dutch beef filet with cheese...

They have 4, 5, and 6 course Prix Fix dinner menus as well ( 39, 44, and 51 Euro respectively in 2002).

Dress code: Dress "up" a little. And be sure to make and check reservations.. this place is popular ... and not cheap.

Address: Spuistraat 294 - 302 1012 VX Amsterdam

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Located in five authentic 17th century buildings between the Spuistraat and the Singel...
across the street from the Amsterdam Historical Museum.

Other Contact: E-mail: restaurants@d-vijffvlieg

Phone: (31) - 20 - 530 40 60

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://%bhttp://www.d-vijffvlieghen.com/%b

Wilma & Albert's: Killer Steakhouse in Haarlem Restaurants outside Amsterdam Review

IN HAARLEM

Not in Amsterdam, but just a quick 15-min trainride to Haarlem, (or about 15 miles by bicycle) - it's worth the trip.

Wilma & Albert's has some of the best steaks in Nederlands.

Then you can walk around Haarlem and take a quick train back, or continue on west to the beach at Zandvoort.

Favorite Dish: Steak steak, meat with meat sauce.
Opening hours: 12.00 to 24.00 hours daily

Address: Oude Groenmarkt 6 2011 HL Haarlem

Comparison: about average

Directions: Just to the right of the big church in the town square.

Phone: +31 (0)23 532 1256

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Steakhouse

Website: http://www.wilma-alberts.nl/home.html

New King: Louis / NoeHill Recommendation of the Month (?) New King - Chinese restaurant Review

Just for fun I will occasionally share an Amsterdam restaurant recommendation from the venerable Louis Bryan @ NoeHill

For the uninitiated, Louis is a Bay Area writer of world-class essays and journals about his exploits in Amsterdam, along with many other topics.

Louis is also one of the few Americans with the energy, brains and chutzpah to get off his ass and actually learn to speak Dutch (we are not worthy...)

One of my favorite Louis Bryan essays is Dutch in Three Weeks

Provided you are not a mouth-breathing american drug tourist, and if you like good writing, kick back some evening with a bottle of jong jenever (and maybe even a puff or two) and savor some of Louis Bryans writing "downstairs" at Noe Hill. ..it will grow on you....

On to the food.....

Favorite Dish: Louis recommends babi pangang, (sometimes "bami ") what I thought was an Indonesian pork dish, but New King is touted as "one of the best Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam, " so go figure..?

Either way, both at New King's website menu and in Ms Verheydens lovely foto it looks delicious!!

I have been fortunate enough to share a meal or two with Louis, and though I have yet to eat at the New King, you can bet that will be my first stop next time I'm in Amsterdam and babi pangang will be my entree of choice. Give it a shot, and let us know what you think.

Geniet van uw maaltijd, alstublieft!

Here is a review of the restaurant:
New King review

PHOTO CREDIT: Tine Verheyden Babi Pangang by the amazing Tine Verheyden
© Copyright Tine Verheyden 2003-2004
Ms Verheyden is an excellent and talented photographer. Check her work out here: Tine Verheyden

Address: Zeedijk 115, Dam, Amsterdam

Comparison: about average

Directions: Clue contained here:

DITW

a map: New King

Other Contact: Fax (020) 420 07 54

Phone: Telefoon (020) 625 21 80

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.newking.nl

Christophe: Great French along a beautiful Canal Christophe Review

Christophe is one of the restaurants awarded a Michelin star in Holland.

It's in my favorite part of town, along the pretty Leliegracht canal, just west of city center before you enter the Jordaan.

The owner/chef Jean-Christophe Royer is french, french-schooled, has cooked all over the world from Paris to NYC, and is very talented.

Favorite Dish: Poached goose-liver with vegetables ' en pot-au-feu' ;
Sautéed lamb cutlets prepared with sweet onions, zucchini and wild mushrooms.

Just think of a french michelin-starred restaurant with the Hollander twist sitting on one of it's prettiest canals.

Expensive, but worth going at least once. For a great dinner you will spend about 70 Euros/person, without wine.
Check out the website listed below for more details.

Address: Leliegracht 46 1015 DH Amsterdam

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: From Dam square, come up to Gravenstraat behind the new church, then walk west on Leliegracht. It is on your right

Phone: 020-6250807

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 4

Theme: French

Website: http://www.christophe.nl

Manneken Pis / Vlames Frites: The Secret is in the Sauce Manneken Pis - Fries Review

.... and nothing satisfies the late-night A'Dam munchies craving better than Belgian-style Vlames Frites. Why are they so good? Hope their logo isn't the reason.

Favorite Dish: Fries of course.

and you have to have them buried in mayonaise.

Address: On west side of Damrak between Centraal and Dam Sq

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Walk north on Damrak from Dam Square, past the first vlames frites to the second one that is closer to Centraal Station.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Fast Food

Kantjil en de Tijger: Have a Rijstaffel, an Amsterdam specialty Kantjil & De Tijger Review

You haven't lived until you have had an Indonesian rice table (rijstaffel) in Amsterdam.

I had a good one for a decent price here at Kantjil en de Tijger. Delicious.

An Amsterdam specialty, and one of the best meals to be had on the planet.

Favorite Dish: The rice table I had at Kantjil en de Tijger, a large, 10+ dish combination of seafood and meat rijstafel on yellow saffron rice was excellent.

Noisy, busy, crowded, and great food.

Address: Spuistraat 291-293 1012 VS Amsterdam

Comparison: about average

Directions: Located on Spui

Phone: 020-620-0994

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.kantjil.nl/