All articles by Maarten-Jan Meyer zu Schlochtern (41)

this is one of the most talked about Italians in Amsterdam. It’s located near the Entrepotdok, a small residential area. In this small Italian restaurant the staff knows the clients, and they serve mostly the daily specials.

We were definitely not their regular customers, so we had to wait, and to wait, and wait. The food was lovely, they were nice and friendly, but for me this isn’t the restaurant which will be on my top 10 list.

But when it comes to Italian restaurants, it’s definitely one of the small and charming Italian’s in town. It’s close to the NEMO museum, and pretty close to Artis Zoo… and in an utterly charming part of Amsterdam, so worth looking around.

Ask the staff to inform you about their daily dishes and take something of their specialties, which makes this restaurant different from the most known Italians.

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A Tavola | Restaurants (Italian) | Average menu price € 31.50
Kadijksplein 9 | Plantage/Oost | +31206254994
18:00 – 22:30 daily

Altmann is a stylish up market restaurant on the outskirts of “The Pijp”, the famous quarter where also our Albert Cuyp Market is located. Altmann has had a change in the kitchen, which changed the menu in a positive way. The menu is original and the dishes are nice.

The staff is extremely well mannered, the wine list is good and large. They have valet parking, which is an extreme asset in the area. But overall I think the restaurant is a bit stiff, and a little bit too pretentious.

What probably didn’t help was the fact, that we were almost the only guests in the restaurant. I have had dinners there twice before when it was packed with guests, which made the ambiance much more loose and happening. For business travelers, it’s a recommendation!

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Altmann | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (French) | 4 course menu € 50.00
Amsteldijk 25 | De Pijp | +31206627777
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 00:00 (Bar Fri – Sat till 03.00)

If it wasn’t for the modern environment you would expect “la mama” in this restaurant annex Wine bar, with great dishes, and nice open bottles of great Italian Wines for reasonable prices.

No Pizza, but antipasti, primi and secondi, I love it! To start with a dish Assagi…ami, a lovers dish, with small bites like, grilled zucchini, vitello tomato, bresaola with parmigiano, mozzarella di buffalo. Served with delicious home made tomato bread.

Afterwards classic pasta, “pappardelle primavera, “Tomato Sauce”, like it should be. I have been practising at home for years, and I’ll never manage to get it like this. To finish off steamed Sea bass with herbs: absolutely Yummy.

The Staff speaks Italian by heart, and they make a great effort to speak English, but Dutch is apparently too much to ask.

It’s part of the Show, and it is a great Show. This is quite an insider tip, but I need to share it, because it’s a worth the visit. Bueno Appetito!

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Assaggi | Restaurants (Italian) | Main course € 21.50
Tweede Egelantiersdwarsstraat 6 | Jordaan | +31204205589
17:30 – 23:00 daily & lunch on Saturday

This former blacksmiths workshop is now Balthazar’s Keuken, a contemporary place, with open kitchen.

I experience the absence of a menu card as the best choice ever made. De 3-course dinner menu exists of a platter with small tasty bites, tapas and mezzos (very international).

Karin and Alain are the passionate chefs of this very Amsterdam place. The place for foodies and lovers. In the summer with nice weather there is a small terrace on the pavement in front of the Balthazar Kitchen. And continuously keeping up their level of good cooking and nice service!!!

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Balthazar’s Keuken | Restaurants (Mediterranean) | Three courses € 27.50
Elandsgracht 108 | Jordaan | +31204202114
Wed – Fri 18:00 – 01:00 (Other days by request for 25-35 persons)

Bordewijk has for many, many years, been one of the best restaurants in Amsterdam. Although never honored with a Michelin star, they do cook on star level.

The restaurant is fashionable and at the same time totally unfashionable. The design of the restaurant is absolutely 70’s. Sometimes when you enter the restaurant, it can catch you by surprise as a little “chilly”. But the warm staff of Chef Wil Demandt and his excellent food, made with passion, and served in a professional way, makes up for everything else.

Bordewijk serves traditional French cuisine. It’s rich, with great flavour, and lots of young and fresh herbs and vegetables. If you are a cheese lover, you will definitely love this place. They have the best cheese trolley in Amsterdam.

The restaurant is located on one of the most beautiful spots in the city, just in the back light of the Noorder church on the Noordermarkt.

Bordewijk is a nice evening out in charming Amsterdam. I advise you to make a reservation before you want to go!

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Bordewijk | Restaurants (French traditional) | 3 courses € 42,50
Noordermarkt 6-8 | Jordaan | +31206243899
Tue – Sat 18:30 – 22:30

Black lacquer work, rooms where you have something to look, great art, nice and warm staff. You feel welcome in this hip and trendy restaurant in Amsterdam-Zuid, just behind the Concert Gebouw. The restaurant is part of an little-known hotel.

The interior decoration is done by Eric Kuster Design. Eric has quite a recognizable signature; he also designed our famous night club the Jimmy Woo. He likes Asian influences and mixes modern design with tradition. This is also the keyword for the menu. The menu has influences from all over Asia but the main inspiration is from China. The red country, where they have so many cuisines, that you hardly ever will be bored by the variations they offer you.

I have been at Chang-I four times in quite a short period. Every time I was surprised by the nice and delicious and tasteful dishes as well as by the way they make you feel comfortable. So put on a nice dress, because this is an elegant way of fine China dining!

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Chang-I | Restaurants (Innovative Chinese) | 3 courses € 42.50
Jan-Willem Brouwersstraat 7 | Oud-Zuid | +31204701700
Mon – Sat 17:30 – 23:00

Great place to loosen the aching muscles! In this wet country, it is a treat to give yourself this present, the Corpus Rub.

In this cozy and warm studio in Oud-Zuid you can enjoy a relaxing massage. They offer a width range of massages from Classic Therapeutic Massage to Hot Stone Massage and even a pregnancy massage.

I enjoy the place very much and afterwards I am always mentally refreshed and physical relaxed and a bit tired. The couple that runs this Corpus Rub, recently opened a second place at the Leliegracht in the old centre.

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Corpus Rub Massage Studio | Relaxing | Per hour € 62.50
Van Breestraat 72 hs | Oud-Zuid | +31204165055
Mon 09:00 – 17:00, Tue – Sun 11:00 – 22:00

Envy is stylish and designed by the successful Concrete Design Group, like their baby sister the wine bar Vyne (check the bar Vyne article; Nice wordplay). It’s slick, elegant and the atmosphere is nice.

Whether you are here on a romantic trip or for business, this place fits everyone. Except those who like bright restaurants… they will moan that it is so dark… Like my father in law did (”I can not see what is on my plate……”). And that is definitely not true, because of the subtle and very effective light above the tables as well as above the long communal bar, where you have dinner as well.

The food is served in small and shareable portions, so you share and dare. The dishes are very original; however they do serve also quite a few classic dishes.

You can start of your evening with Envy bread and dipping and nice small plate with pata negra

. I would recommend ordering 3 or 4 plates per person to share. They change the menu quite often, which makes it a place that won’t bore you. Envy has been keeping up her performance for 3 years in a row; well done!

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Envy | Restaurants (Fusion) | Dish € 7.00
Prinsengracht 381 | Canals | +31203446407
Dinner 18:00 – 01:00 daily | Lunch Fri – Sun 12:00 – 15:00

Gartine is one of my favorites for an unique breakfast, excellent lunch and English high tea. I visited the place several times and mostly for breakfast. All raw products come from the owner’s vegetable garden. I experienced the dishes always as super fresh and of good quality!

The atmosphere is easy and pleasant. Recently I tried to get a grab there, but the place is always packed with people, well that means the business goes very well. Maybe they have to think of a bigger place?

The dishes are served on antique chinaware, which is collected by the owners with tender loving care during the past years. If you like antique chinaware only this is a reason to visit the place!

On top of that Gartine adopted 58 chickens at the foundation ‘Adopt a Chicken’ and these chickens provide the farm fresh eggs. Next to that the staff works with products of the ‘Ark van Smaak’ from Slow Food Netherlands. So when you eat there, you eat ‘eco and green’!

Gartine is in a small alley called ‘Takstee

g’ in the old centre of Amsterdam, between Rokin and Spui.

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Gartine | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Big breakfast € 10.95
Taksteeg 7 | Old center | +31203204132
Tue – Sun 08:00 – 18:00

Opposite the landmark Hotel de L’Europe and the Munt Tower, on the first floor on the Amstel you can find this nice and cosy restaurant with a breathtaking view: Italian nouvelle cuisine, on the first floor in central Amsterdam.

The first time I had dinner at this place they were painting the surface: a disappointment. But the nice and friendly scenery made it a great experience.

No pizza´s, no pasta, but real Italian food, with antipasti, primi and secondi, served with contorno (known as vegetables or side dishes in general).

They have an interesting wine list with really famous & expensive wines like Amarone, but also unknown wines from small vineyards, where they have met the landlady (70 years old). After a sizzling glass of Prosecco, served with an amuse and great home made bread with olive oil, it is up to you.

They serve a tasting and inspirational menu daily. But also the daily changing risotto is extremely recommendable. The warm melting chocolate cake and the original Zabaglione as dessert, makes a dinner remarkable, and something to remember.

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Incanto | Restaurants (Italian) | Fixed menu from € 41.00
Amstel 2 | Canals | +31204233681
11:00 – 23:00 daily

Segugio Italian restaurant is a hidden Gem for many.

The chef and his staff work only with the freshest ingredients, on a daily base. What at first seems te be very expensive, is after the first tasting and bites very worthwhile.

My favourite this time was the Seafood Rissotto and so very well prepared! The menu changes every month and the service staff is not only professional but also very nice and elegant. Worthwhile your visit!

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Italian Restaurant Segugio | Restaurants (Italian) | 3 course menu € 48.50
Utrechtsestraat 96a | Canals | +310203301503
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 23:00

A Kantjil is a small deer, and the Tiger, yeah that’s the tiger, but the fairytale tells about this small but extremely smart deer, which remains alive after all.

This Indonesian restaurant is located on a busy spot in heart of the city. They serve traditional good Indonesian food. Recommendable is the “Rijsttafel” Kantjil, with several small dishes. Rijsttafel is actually a Dutch phenomenon: we introduced this way of having & sharing dinner during the time Indonesia was a Dutch colony.

They serve great Lumpia Semarang. The Kredok, which is salad but than Indonesian style & the Peteh Oedang are among my favourite dishes in this busy and popular restaurant. Just around the corner, they opened an easy take away for one plate mixed rice or mie dishes. Good food & value for money.

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Kantjil & de Tijger | Restaurants (Indonesian) | Rijsttafel + drinks p.p. € 35.00
Spuistraat 291-293 | Old center | +31206200994
Mon – Fri 16:30 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 23:00

In one of our up & coming neighborhoods, The Pijp, where restaurants come & go, one is still going strong for many many years.

Tucked away at the end of the Pijp. You´ll find an authentic Italian trattoria with honest & good food: no fancy stuff. The owner and cook has his days and has his moods, but ignore that and you will enjoy the place.

A tip: ask for the dishes of the day, and what they serve besides what’s on the menu. They are quite famous for their Salsiches: small hotdogs Italian style served with fresh spaghetti, alio/oglio and some vegetables. But also the antipasti della casa and the grilled spada, are delicious.

The Red Housewine from the tap, is OK, and dinner for 2 including two pichets of red wine is around € 85.00, which is a nice bonus in Amsterdam.

So don´t tell everybody about this little gem, keep it to yourself, and enjoy!

(Minor detail, the ventilator doesn’t work that good, so you have to wear a different outfit the day after…)

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L’Angoletto | Restaurants (Italian) | Dinner & wine for two € 37.50
Hemonystraat 18 | De Pijp | +31206764182
Sun – Fri 18:00 – 23:30

On the top level in Amsterdam rated with Michelin stars, and a room with a view!

In the Okura Hotel, there are two famous restaurants, with stars! Japanese and French with a twist. The service and staff is good, attentive and well trained but not to formal.

Although the Japanese girl who had to explain the cheese trolley was hardly understandable (due to her Japanenglish J). The wine list is for lovers, but as to be expected, mostly very expensive. We took a menu, which was reasonably priced and looked great. The price was 55 euro, which is ususally the price of a main course…..

The maitre suggested a small appetizer in between, spaghetti with truffle, (of course with a small supplement, as he called it) The spaghetti was GREAT! And the rest of the food also, it was really food for thought. But a

t the end of the evening we received our bill, and were surprised by the fact that the supplementary appetizer with truffle was more expensive than the menu we ordered. Just a little detail, but shoot for the moon and you land among the stars.

We enjoyed the evening, although we both think you have to inform your guests about the prices accordingly, which is just something to remember for a following visit! JUST ASK.

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Le Ciel Bleu | Restaurants (French) | Main Course € 75.00
Ferdinand Bolstraat 333 | Oud-Zuid | +31206787450
18:30 – 22:30 daily

Great supermarket with health and eco food, and much more! They have a lot of take away goodies! Nice spot!

The “Overtoom”, the name of the street, is getting more attractive. It used to be a traffic – jammed road. Now you can go there for fun, food and shopping.

A real good new Marqt for Amsterdam.

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Marqt | Shopping, Snacks
Overtoom 21 – 25 | Oud-West | +31204226311
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 21:00

MOMO brings the mystic from the far East and the sophisticated West together, from a bento box for lunch to a Seared Mabel Beef for dinner. It is an experience!

The bar serves a wide range of cocktails and mixes, classical, traditional to new, not yet discovered, taste explosions.

A trendy, new hot spot to be seen and to have been!

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MOMO | Bars, Restaurants (Asian-Western fusion) | Main course € 32.50
Hobbemastraat 1 | Oud-Zuid | +31206717474
Bar & Lounge: 10:30 – 01:00 | Restaurant 12:30 – 14:30 & 18:00 – 22:30

‘Organic Food for You’ is a nice small supermarket. You find it half way the Cornelis Schuytstraat in the Old South area. It offers a wide range of eco and biologic products and articles. I found a nice selection of biologic dynamic vegetables and fruits. The shop is offering a broad selection of Dutch and foreign cheeses. All kind of groceries, f.e. gluten free flour and much more.

There is also a selection of pre-packed ecological meats and meat-cuts. Fish and fish products. I personally love the selection of breads, rolls and loafs they offer. These are not house-made but are supplied by the in Holland famous ‘Vlaamsche Broodhuys‘ a bakery that is specialized in organic and natural baking of bread. And yes, they have wonderful and very tasty fruit juices, fresh daily. I love the place for those special, healthy products.

The third Organic has opened outside Amsterdam in the village of Laren (30 km.), so Organic Food is really growing!

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Organic Food for You | Shopping
Cornelis Schuytstraat 26-28 | Oud-Zuid | +31203795195
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 18:30

Saturday and Sunday you are standing in line, and get a number. You will be called when a table is ready. But stay put: No time to go to the Bijenkorf in the meantime.

Oriental City is one of my favorites in Chinese place. Usually I go there on Sunday mornings for dim sum, and we just order every dim sum they have and extra the broccoli, which is delicious.

Pots of Jasmine tea accompany the spectacle of good food in great surroundings, on the first and second floor in the old heart of Amsterdam, corner Damstraat and Oude Hoogstraat.

It’s having lunch or dinner with a view. But also on Saturday for lunch you have to stand in line, actually the line is having fun, with all the Chinese fans.

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Oriental City | Restaurants (Dim Sum) | Dim Sum from € 4,00
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 177 – 179 | Old center | +31206268352
12:00 – 00:00 daily

This is a nice little shop, with beautiful, original and refreshing bijouterie and innovative gadgets, small stuff and other things.

They also have beautiful linen bedsheets, wool pleads and special lamps. A feast to wander around, however they have very little stock.

They currently have a great new collection of lamps and spotlights.

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Outras Coisas | Shopping
Herenstraat 31 | Canals | +31206257281
Mon 12:00 – 8:30, Tue – Fri 10:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 17:30

In my opinion this is one of the best and most authentic Spanish tapas places in Amsterdam.

They have have Boquerones (anchovies), Jambon Iberico Pata Negra, Albondigas, Croquetes, and Escalibad, and they are all delicious!

The atmosphere is simple: wooden tables, running waiters, sharing tables. In short a real eclectic, Spanish treat.

The service is quick and good. Last time I had to wait 15 minutes for my table, I was told by the waiter, but within 7 minutes my table was ready and I was ready to order. I love it!

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Pata Negra | Restaurants (Tapas) | Tapas from € 4.00
Utrechtsestraat 124 | Canals | +31204226250
Sun – Thu 12:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat. 12:00 – 01:00

This is the ultimate place for lovers of excellent and fine patisserie. This price winning place is worth the détour. Fine strawberry tarts with creamy underlay is one of their best. A great selection of home baked cookies and chocolates is also part of their assortment.

It is an experience to have a cup of coffee or tea and to choose one of the nice tarts or cakes.

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Patisserie Kuyt | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Coffee or teatime from € 5.00
Utrechtsestraat 109a | Canals | +31206234833
Mon 08:00 – 17:00, Tue – Sat 08:00 – 17:30

The Maasstraat in the south part of Amsterdam is originally a very local street with a bakery, grocery shop and florist for the neighbourhood. But this suddenly changed when Patisserie Tout opened: a fashionable shop with gorgeous cakes & cookies.

They organize small tasting & courses to make desserts or to try out cakes. Herman den Blijker, one of our famous TV chefs, loves the place and passes it on his way from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, to buy his beloved macaroons. And I must admit, the macaroons are worth a detour. Especially the raspberry flavour.

They make a small but attractive apple pie & the red fruit tartlets look divine. So if you are a sweet loving taster, don’t miss on patisserie Tout.

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Patisserie Tout | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Cakes from € 8.00
Maasstraat 105 | Oud-Zuid | +31206762620
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 18:00, Sat 09:30 – 17:30

The beautiful & delicious cakes invite you to be obeyed.

Pompadour has a great location on the corner with the famous Spiegelstraat. It is modern and clean and quite large: a good spot for lunch with delicious lunch dishes.

They became famous thanks to their chocolates & cake. They have great éclairs and lovely apple & apricot tarts. But the famous raspberry a la neige with white chocolate is also tasteworthy.

Pompadour also has a branch in the 9 streets (Huidenstraat 12), with a romantic and Marie Antoinette style.

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Pompadour | Coffee & tea | Cake & drinks p.p. € 12.00
Kerkstraat 148 | Canals | +31203300981
10:00 – 18:00 daily

Pompstation a new place in town, New York industrial style, great food and wines. Fridays and Saturdays after dinner dance. Live music of young up coming jazzy performers and bands. I had a excellent food and wine experience on a casual Tuesday evening.

I choose the salad of green aspargus, confit of tomatoes and smoked sliced eggplant with a great vinaigrette. My main course was a ‘aged’ ribeye from the Creekstone Prime Black Angus USA Corn Fed. Very tasty and tender, this can becoming their best seller.

The winelist has a width range of beautiful offerings, from easy and nice prices up to the the famous and starred, and from France to the New World. For everybody there’s something to choose.

The interior is industrial, with the use of pure and original materials, impressive. Service is very nice, helpful and professional but still has to get used to their own restaurant setting, it has only to be fine-tuned!

The only thing is the location, which is a bit out of centre, but with tram 14 (stop at  ’Borneostraat 1 – terras’) you will overcome that problem. I say have fun and enjoy!

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Pompstation Bar & Grill | Bars, Music, Restaurants (BBQ & grill) | Main course € 28.50
Zeeburgerdijk 52 | Plantage/Oost | +31020692288
Restaurant Tue – Thu 18:00 – 22:30, Fri – Sat 18:00 – 22:30
Bar Tue – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 16:00 – 03:00

THIS IS A SECRET, and you are not allowed to tell everybody!

You can have take away, but not order by phone; you have to go there yourself. You can sit on a small and simple table, where you get your own plates and glasses, and than when it is ready, you get your ultimate thin crusted pizza!!!!!!!

They are heaven and more, they are all good and delicious, simple choices with good and fresh ingredients, for the fish, veggie, meet and hot and spicy lover, this is really FINE DINING for little money!

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Portare Via | Snacks, Restaurants (Pizza) | Pizza € 5.50
Leliegracht 34 | Canals
17:00 – 22:00 daily

The name is Italian, the food is a mix of Mediterranean influences: French, Italian, Greek and Spanish. The dishes are fresh, light and tasteful.

The restaurant is casual; the Prego lovers are mostly locals from the neighbourhood, which makes a nice mix & match of the guests.

Prego is one these places that is easily accessible when you are staying downtown, and every walk is a nice one. I love the great grilled lamb racks with nicely roasted vegetables and oven roast potatoes in rosemary and sea salt. MMMM, very tasty!

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Prego | Restaurants (Mediterranean) | 3 course menu € 37.50
Herenstraat 25 | Canals | +31206380148
18:00 – 00:00 daily

A restaurant with a concept and therefore still going strong! With limited options, and chairs to stay in for a long, long time. The location is great. The restaurant is stylish and the food is good. RED, is one of those upcoming Amsterdam restaurants. After opening in 2007, it became an instant hit!

They serve just two dishes, no appetizers, a few desserts, and a great French cheese trolley. Lobster or Steak, or for the die hard, “surf & turf”, with great French fries, home made mayonnaise and a salad.

The wine list is entertaining and promising, but the staff is focused on selling champagne. Chilled and sizzling, looks nice, and fits RED. One of my monthly favourites!

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RED Tournedos en Kreeft | Restaurants (International) | Tournedos € 16.50
Keizersgracht 594 | Canals | +31203201824
18:00 – 00:00 daily

The first time I visited AS was last summer for lunch and we ordered a big wooden plate with French and Italian cold cuts and sausages, with Dutch cheeses and pickled vegetables. A big piece of ‘Bauer’ bread was there to go with it. One word: delicious!

The second time was for dinner in the winter time. I was surprised by the simpleness and the tastiness of the dishes. Most of the products are biological and from fare trade. AS is a beautiful place with many seats outside.

The kitchen is situated in an outside tent, due to the fact the place is a designers venue. Amazing to see the activities in that kitchen.

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Restaurant AS | Art & culture, Restaurants (Ecofood) | Charcuterie plate € 12.00
Prinses Irenestraat 19 | Oud-Zuid | +31206440100
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 23:00

A small and hidden diamond, known by the families and locals from Amsterdam South. A stunning and modern design is what I experienced the first time I visited Spring.

Chef Ralph Woerde has a broad experience cooking in top restaurants. In Spring he cooks with what is available ’selon le marché’ (season bound products). What I like the most in the menu is the fusion combination of the products used for the cooking of the dishes. I had had the pheasant with a slice of goose liver and a game sauce: again it was delicious!

I always make a reservation before I decide to lunch or dine out in Spring. It is a very busy place!

Spring is an average priced restaurant, with a superb wine list. Spring was the winner in a competition of house wines in 2008. I found the service informal – informal and extremely friendly.

Chef Ralph changes his menu just very regular and he changed it just again, it is a winner!

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Restaurant Spring | Restaurants (International) | 3 courses € 35.00
Willemsparkweg 177 | Oud-Zuid | +31206754421
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 14:00, Mon – Sat 18:00 – 22:00

D’Antica, just newly renovated, with a modern twist, intimate & stylish. It’s a landmark Italian restaurant in Down Town Amsterdam, located in the gay district of Amsterdam, just a few steps away from the busy Rembrandtplein.

The restaurant serves classic Italian food, served with a smile and charm. The owner is the ultimately attractive Cami D’Antuono. He also owns the much more modest and less intimate Cinema Paradiso in the Westerstraat (Jordaan area). The staff is Italian, they speak Italian, and they behave Italian. You need a reservation! This is not a restaurant to go to spontaneously J.

On Friday night the restaurant is packed with regulars which gives the restaurant a bit of an intimate touch. The food is great, and one of my personal favorites is the “Pasta Parmigiano”, it’s a spinach spaghetti with tomato sauce and mushrooms, a veggie delight! As a starter, their Antipasto D’Antica is great and sumptuous. But one of the more subtle delights is the Sauté Vongolé. Vongolé is known as an Aphrodisiac, so be prepared J J J.

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Ristorante d’Antica | Restaurants (Italian) | Mains € 28.50
Reguliersdwarsstraat 80-82 | Canals | +31206233862
Mon – Thu 18:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 18:00 – 00:00

Sir Max has expanded – twice as big and three times more choice. I love it!

A jewel in shoes-land! It’s located in the 9 streets (check the 9 streets article).

This is the the ultimate for shoe fetisjhists. Brands of hand made shoes like Crockett & Jones, Santoni, Alden, Saint Crispin’s and Edward Green are here to be bought by willing customers.

Not cheap off course, so really for the freaks, dandies and lovers of good shoes!

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Sir Max | Shopping
Hartenstraat 2 | Canals | +31207076588
Mon 13:00 – 18:30, Tue – Wed & Fri – Sat 10:00 – 18:30, Thu 10:00 – 20:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

“Here you buy a dishcloth, trousers or a nice roll”, says Maaike, one of the saleswoman of Sissy-Boy Homeland.

The furniture is partly new and partly ‘brocante’. The department ‘Daily’ has fresh biological bread and cheeses. There is Brandmeesters coffee (famous old Dutch brand) and various olive oils of Amsterdam known olive oil supplier Meeuwig (His slogan: Check your oil levels!). Last but not least you find clothing of Sissy Boy. I love the shop and her attitude to today’s lifestyle.

It is a visit worthwhile, also to see the this rapidly developing area of Amsterdam with modern architecture on the water-shores of Amsterdam.

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Sissy-Boy Homeland | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Espressso € 1.70
KNSM-laan 19 | Waterfront/North | +31204181559
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 19:00, Sun 11:00 – 18:00

Not the place for everybody, but a place for every Burgundian! What a selection of meat (Waguy), cold cuts, pâtés (home made), salads and sausages of all kind… They have professional and very friendly staff helps to make your choice(s). All the goodies and nice food is beautiful displayed, and brings the water in your mouth.

My choice is the Iberian pork and truffle sausages and the French Limoges Côte du Boeuf. This shop is a beauty for the eye and tongue.

They have the French and Italian fresh truffles, some as big as a tennis ball. Worth the detour.

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Slagerij Fred de Leeuw | Shopping | From € 10.00
Utrechtsestraat 92 | Canals | +31206230235
Tue – Fri 08:00 – 18:00, Sat 08:00 – 17:00

Sophia is part of a very ambitious small Restaurant Group. They own restaurant Ron Blaauw in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel as well – a two Michelin star restaurant. And Ron Blaauw is advising the Chef at Sophia!

Sophia has a sharing concept, you order about 4 to 5 dishes per person, and you share them all, which is great for all your taste-buds. The interior is slick and high profile. The staff is over-educated and well mannered.

Sophia is back on the food track! It’s entertaining, with Sunday brunches with live music. The food is delicious and by that I really mean delicious.

They change the menu extremely often, which makes it difficult to recommend dishes, but actually everything I have tasted in the 6 times I had dinner, was great. When you are having drinks at the bar and can’t wait, order the black plate to start and share, and you’ll smile immediately.

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Sophia | Bars, Restaurants (Fushion) | Evening menu € 55.00
Sophialaan 55 | Oud-Zuid | +31203052760
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri 12:00 – 02:00, Sat 15:00 – 01:00

STOUT = Naughty! Because rules are there to be broken. Because risky business, the sin and sense go frequently nicely together. Giving meaning to enjoyment, is what restaurant STOUT does! Therefore every guest is a welcome challenge, every product, selected carefully by the Chef, prepared in a stimulating way, every wine a sunny holiday and every employee an individual with a refined feeling for your wishes. Thus it is the challenge, which seduces us and seduction, which we defy.

The kitchen staff is inspired by the international kitchens and trends and is very familiar with the metropolitan and most recent developments, tendencies and developments of high-quality food & beverage products, concepts and formulas. Purely to keep informed; Naughty! He does not obey to fashionable one day trends. We are naughty! , a little bit wrong, a source, to enjoy!
© Website Stout, free translation by author of this article.

Stout is one of my favourites for lunch and I love to go there for a coffee when I finished my shopping in the Haarlemmerstraat.

I like the ‘broodje ½ OM’ in particular, a nice roll with thinly sliced pastrami and cooked calfs liver slices: very Amsterdam! The fresh fruit juices are also very good. The focaccio STOUT, is a cheese melted tuna sandwich is also very good! Coffee’s and espresso’s are of very good quality and delicious.

The service I experienced as personal and friendly, and they changed chefs I will see what happens in the future?

They now have a menu for autum en winter!

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Stout | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (international) | Broodje ½ OM € 7.00
Haarlemmerstraat 73 | Canals | +31206163664
11:00 – 01:00 daily

A stylish spacious restaurant with great light, and a lot to see. Attentive staff, and nice appetizers to feel welcomed. Italian Food, which is very tasteful and original Italian.

I love this place, I could easily eat there every week. The menu has great variety, they have good specialties and it’s a bit hassle and dazzle which makes it also an entertaining place.

An extra reason to visit: it is on the Lindengracht, just around the corner from the Noordermarkt, in a nice and cosy area, with lots of nice bars around to have a drink before or afterwards (Papeneiland, Finch, de Kat en de Wijngaard).

Go to Toscanini, but you have to make reservations, because it is packed every night.

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Toscanini | Restaurants (Italian) | Main € 22.50
Lindengracht 75 | Jordaan | +31206232813
Mon – Fri 18:00 – 22:30

There are certain periods in your life, when you just fancy a restaurant!

A small Indonesian restaurant in the Utrechtsestraat (check the Utrechtsestraat article), it’s next door to the famous Tempo Doeloe, so actually, I walked by many, many times, and didn’t find it “appealing”. But after trying it on a credit crunch budget, I was lost!

Lost at Tujuh Maret, since I have visited the place almost every week, and try to eat as many different dishes as possible. The small eaters plate called Makanan Kecil is really a delight, (Martabak, Lumpia, Sateh, Lumpur and other small bites).

But the Gado Gado, and the Ikan Pepesan are also a delight!

It’s small, the staff is friendly, it’s an all in the family place, hot spot and really great food with exquisite taste for a friendly budget. Th simple red, rosé and white wine are a good deal and are going nice with the Indonesian dishes.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tujuh Maret, “Makanan Kencil” | Restaurants (Indonesian) | Soto Ajam € 4.50
Utrechtsestraat 73 | Canals | +31204279865
12:00 – 15:30 & 16:30 – 22:00 daily

Approximately 50 meters from the “Nederlandsche Bank” and the attractive “Utrechtsestraat” (check the Utrechtsestraat article) you will find the Weteringschans, where also the just newly opened Hotel V is located. This place is located in a bit of a deserted location, as far as you can talk about a deserted location in energetic Amsterdam…

Here you’ll find a very charming spot called Uliveto. It’s an Italian franchise concept, which is hardly known. Fresh ingredients & good looking food is the credo here. Recently two staff members took over the place from the first owner Conny. It is even better than before, opening times changed and longer.

For lunch I would recommend to ask her to make your choice: probably a great plate with antipasti and a nice salad, and maybe just a small warm dish on the side for mouth-watering moments. Served with nice wine or delicious water, a very healthy utterly light sparkling water from the Uliveto brand.

Her pasta with Ragu, is also not to miss. The place is nice, clean & in a way industrial. A real fat cat to accessorize and take care of the mice ? Enjoy Uliveto! Great place!

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Uliveto | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Italian panini´s, meals and take away) | Italian panini € 5,00
Weteringschans 118 | Canals | +31204230099
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 20:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 18:00

Small and elegant at the corner of the Banstraat and Valeriusstraat; that’s Valerius.

A place to go to for breakfast, lunch and after work drinks. If you have something to celebrate, small parties are welcome, but please call a little in advance.

The interior is modern and elegant. Beautiful photos decorate the walls.

Breakfast is a feast with many choices. Lunch offers a range of nice salads, tosti’s, egg-dishes, slices of bread sandwiches with delicious fillings and toppings and interesting finishing sweets.

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Valerius Eten & Drinken | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Breakfast € 8.00
Banstraat 14 | Oud-Zuid | +31204713976
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:00

Walem is the place to be, when you are in the mood for great drinks, sandwiches on the canalside with a great terrace. They serve smoothies, but also a good white house wine. The famous dutch bitterballs and the tuna sandwich are also good.

To kick off after a hangover, start the morning with their nice and tasting croques. But best of all is the location and the gorgeous staff. Cute waiters in black, serving with a smile.

In summertime they have a nice terrace next to the canal, so waiters have to cross the road and sometimes that causes a traffic …!

It’s next to the Famous Metz & Co on the corner of the Leidsestraat and the Keizersgracht: hard to miss!

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Walem | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (International) | Lunch € 25.00
Keizersgracht 449 | Canals | +31206253544
10:00 – 17:00 & 18:00 – 22:30 daily

New interior, with extremely good food. Nice staff, and although a little bit out of the way in the western part of Amsterdam, it´s worth the detour.

The pizza´s are great. One of my favourites is the Pizza YamYam: a thin crusted pizza, with a truffle paste and after baking decorated with fresh ingredients like rocket, tomato, Prosciuto, Artichokes, Mozzarella di Buffalo & Parmigiano.

If you start with some small appetizers, don´t forget the Melanzane, and the fennel salami. But actually all the antipasti are great. Nice part of this dinner is the casual price. So including taxi fare, it´s still a bargain for a nice evening in a Local Amsterdam Trattoria.

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YAM YAM | Restaurants (Italian) | Bottle wine € 12.50
Frederik Hendrikstraat 88-90 | Westerpark | +31206815097
Tue – Sun 18:00 – 23:30