Dutch and exotic food around...for all tastes and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Restaurant Reviews

While a French influence is felt in the town's top-end restaurants, the culinary void elsewhere allowed the spicy food of Indonesia to colonise the Dutch palate after World War II, when this former colony was granted independence and the country grew full of Indonesian immigrants. Today, take your pick from the various cheap Surinam-Chinese-Indonesian snackbars or visit the purveyors of the 'rice-table', where every known fish, meat and vegetable is reworked into a gut-filling micro-extravaganza. Along with fondue – a 'national' dish stolen from the Swiss because its shared pot appealed to the Dutch sense of the democratic – Indo is certainly the food of choice for any celebratory meals. The pheasants and hogs that decorated Golden Age paintings have long been replaced with sticks of satay and mountains of rice. Waves of other immigrants helped create a vortex of culinary diversity. Not only is there a vast choice of traditional dishes from Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, but there's also a whole new generation of chefs who take inspiration from the world and ingredients from the freshest of local – and often organic – products. The once mocking term 'New Dutch Cuisine' now actually means something. And vegetarians should be more than satisfied with the decent range of food on offer. If you prefer to stroll and sniff out your own sustenance, here are a few tips… Head directly to the Pijp if you crave econo-ethnic; cruise Utrechtsestraat, Nieuwmarkt, the 'Nine Streets' area (the thoroughfares linking Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht and Herengracht between Leidsegracht and Raadhuisstraat) and Reguliersdwarsstraat if you want something posher; and only surrender to Leidseplein if you don't mind being overcharged for a leathery steak or a porridge-like pasta. In addition to the restaurants listed below, there are many cafés and bars serving decent – even inspired – food at reasonable prices.

Favorite Dish: Dutch Pancakes are really so good to me, both with cheese and ham or sweet syrups on top. They are really good at making them so soft and tasty. Same thing for the typical pea-soup, very nice to eat in winter.

But what I also love most and recommend if you like exotic food are the Surinamese restaurants, very small and simple places, food is cheap but in big portions (exactly the opposite of duch food...)

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local

These bars specialise in the stronger alcohols, and they usually have a disturbingly large range of bizarrely named liqueurs. Ask for recommendations.

De Admiraal, Herengracht 319 (Dam-Spui), 6254334, 17:00-24:00.
Cosy, with settees and armchairs, and barrel architecture.
De Drie Fleschjes, Gravenstraat 16 (behind Nieuwe Kerk, Dam), 12:00-20:15.
Small.

Favorite Dish: Dont miss the new Appletart likeur, real applepie flavour! as well as the fine Bliss and the Goldfish. My favourites in absolute!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Amsterdam's smallest brewpub, Brouwerij 't IJ is an unexpectedly friendly and laid-back place for such a high energy city. Situated beneath a large windmill and only steps from the number 6 and 10 tram stop at Pontanusstraat across the Singlegracht, there are surprisingly few tourists inside.Some tiling and memorabilia still remains from the original bath house that occupied the building in its prior life. Nowadays the small white bar features four taps and rarely an empty stool. The decor is dominated by the 1001 empty beer bottles ringing the room four times around. Like every other bar in the country, tobacco smoke frequently displaces the breathable air and the occasional opening of the front door and the accompanying blast of fresh is welcomed by non-smokers.
The 5% Pilzen is a golden color with a smooth but crisp hoppy flavor. Very popular with the winter crowd, I expect it really sees demand in the summer months when I'm told the sky actually appears in hues of blue. The 8% Zatte creates a white head atop its hazy amber body. With a flavor balance on the slightly sweet side, its incredibly smooth mouthfeel make this one go down very easily. At 7.5%, the Paas˙ is the brewmaster's special for Easter. Hazy amber in color it exudes a fruity, estery aroma while its flavor is malty sweet with hints of coriander. The Columbus comes in at 6.5% with dark amber hues, a creamy white head, medium body, very malty flavor, slightly alcoholic way and very clean finish. The other bottled product is the brewery's flagship beer, the Struis, meaning ostrich. A bold 9%, the dark amber color forewarns of the malty flavor, accompanying pleasant esters and a nice underlying hop presence. Bartenders are careful when pouring to leave behind the evidence of its bottle-conditioning. The result is a very nice experience.

Favorite Dish: Open 12 years in this relatively quiet neighborhood adjacent to a canal, 't IJ gives its customers just what they appreciate: friendly service, a relaxed atmosphere and good beer. For non-beer drinkers, popular "shooters" of orange juice and alcohol are available, as are peanuts and snack plates of cheese and sausage. Amsterdam is not an inexpensive city so beer prices of $1.75 to $2.50 USD for a 25cl glass, about 9 ounces, will cause no complaints. The stainless steel brewing system, visible through the door windows, is capable of 2000 hectoliters annually, over 1500 barrels. Given the limited hours of 3 to 8 pm Wednesday through Sunday production seems well matched to consumption, even with the bottled "take away" sales. Souvenir glasses, T-shirts and cigarettes at $2.75 USD per pack are also available. The restrooms are cramped behind barstools as well as down stairs so must be considered inaccessible. Arrive early to secure a place at the bar to chat with the friendly and knowledgeable bartender Ton. While there you'll see all sorts of customers come and go. Since city zoning seems to require every resident to own a dog you'll see lots of four-legged visitors as well. There's even a cat on security duty inside the brewhouse. When in Amsterdam make it a point to stop by the home of the ostrich and its egg, 't IJ.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Brouwerij 't IJ
Funenkade 7
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Restaurant Name: Albine

The ambience is simple but clean.
The food is very very nice and cheap. It is perfect after shopping in AlbertCuyp Market and then have here a quick or a complete meal.
Open 10.30am-10pm Tue-Sun.

Favorite Dish: I love soto soup, served small, normal or big, made of fresh vegetables and chicken pieces with a boiled egg inside, served with white rice. Roti kip is also great.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Albert Cuypstraat 69 (675 5135). Tram 16, 24, 25.
Directions: Just almost next to MacDonald (perfect challenge uh?;)

Restaurant Name: Coffee shops

A coffee shop can best be described as a café, which does not sell alcoholic beverages, and in which, under certain circumstances, soft drugs may be sold. Although the sale of soft drugs is an offence, low priority is given to the prosecution of coffee shop owners, provided they sell small quantities only and meet the following conditions:
no more than five grams per person may be sold in any one transaction;
no hard drugs may be sold;
drugs may not be advertised;
the coffee shop must not cause any nuisance;
no drugs may be sold to persons under the age of 18, nor may minors be admitted on the premises.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: least expensive

These are everywhere.
There is little distinction between a café and a bar in Amsterdam. Both sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, food and coffee. The kitchen in a bar or café usually closes at 21:00.
A very nice property of Amsterdam, that you certainly don't find everywhere, is that you pay the same price wherever you sit; it doesn't cost more to sit outside on the terrace.
Coffee is served Hollands with evaporated milk, espresso, cappuccino, and verkeerd ('reversed'), which is with lots of hot milk (the Dutch version of a Caffee Latte). Ten years ago it was impossible to get a bad coffee in Amsterdam. Modern times, and instant coffee, have now made their entrance, and the worst places have started to offer something called cappuccino that doesn't even taste like coffee, or offer only 'creemer' instead of milk. Let the buyer beware: check for the presence of a real coffee machine.
Beer-lovers should try a witbier (white beer) like Hoegaarden or Dentergems, with or without a slice of lemon.
You can drink beer and wine from age 16, and spirits from age 18.
Amsterdam is a paradise for beer drinkers, but alas the wine drinker is usually left with a 'choice' between red and white.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Coffeehouse
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Pizza Taxi

It`s a quite nice place, not so big as it does mainly catering, but with real genuine food.
The cook, Sebastiano, is from Sicily, and it combines the majesty of italian pizza with sicilian ingredients (eggplants, ricotta). You can order a formal pizza or choose the ingredients by yourself from a big desk and sometimes Sebastiano might will let you try and do yourself. (In the pic, David is trying his best)
He also makes a delicious tiramisu` as well as prepares wonderful antipasti (white pizza, marinated olives etc)

Favorite Dish: Pizza with spinaches, ricotta, mozzarella, ham and tomato.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Pizza
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: Tel (020) 662 03 92
Address: Van Woustraat 99h, De Pijp, Amsterdam
Directions: The area is de Pijp, the well-known cool gezellig site of Amsterdam best life.

Restaurant Name: Sushi time WTC

This place is inside the WTC, so you can mostly find businessmen having lunch.
I usually go on Tuesday lunch time, because in that day you pay Eur 15 and you can eat as many dishes as you want. (I made up to 12!)Same thing every friday evening for Eur 20.
It is so busy that sometime you have to wait to sit, but very worthy, believe me!

Favorite Dish: Everything, tuna, salmon herring, exept the egg roll.
By the way, in the special day price you don`t get sashimi.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 5753200
Address: Strawinskylaan 13, 1077 XW Amsterdam
Directions: Just inside the Wtc, tram 51 or 5 from the city centre, WTC stop.
Website: www.sushitime.nl

Restaurant Name: Humphrey`s

I went there for the first time for a VT dinner and I found it great. The ambience is fine, nice wooden tables, the place is big and not smoky at all.

Favorite Dish: The have a fixed menu that changes every month. It costs Eur 18.95 excl drinks, choosing from 4-5 antipasto, main courses and desserts.
It is really a lot of food!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 - 422 12 34
Address: Nieuwezijds Kolk 23
Directions: Close to central Station

Restaurant Name: Puri Mas

This is by far the best indonesian I ever tasted, in Amsterdam at least. The place is divided in two areas, smoking and not, atmosphere is very quiet even with lot of people around, and the service is excellent, as well as the quality of food, and the price is beyond the average and therefore reasonable.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: + 31 20 627 76 27
Address: Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 37-41 (first floor)
Directions: City centre, one of the paths from Leidsestraat.
Website: http://www.purimas.nl/
Other Contact: purimas@purimas.nl