Latest reviews for Restaurants in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Café Stof - Great outdoor eating! by George1977

George1977 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:45:23 +0000

Review by George1977

Rating: 5.00

Phone: +31203640354

Tags: good value, gastro pub, lively

Just around the corner from our hotel we found a lovely square with a great little restaurant.
The food was great and the service very friendly. This place was both the cheapest and the best we visited in our week in Amsterdam.Just around the corner from our hotel we found a lovely square with a great little restaurant.
The food was great and the service very friendly. This place was both the cheapest and the best we visited in our week in Amsterdam.

Restaurant Caramba - Fun place, but bad food by florence22

florence22 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:33:01 +0000

Review by florence22

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 0206271188

Tags: lively, good value, cheap eat

The peope working in this place are friendly and helpful, the ambience is great, but unfortunately... the food was truly horrible. We had fajitas, which seemed more like a chinese stir-fried chicken dish (not very nice in combination with guacemole) than real fajitas. The portions were small and pricy, given the poos quality. The only great thing: terrific ice cream just two blocks from this restaurant, to ensure you have a pleasant desert!!The peope working in this place are friendly and helpful, the ambience is great, but unfortunately... the food was truly horrible. We had fajitas, which seemed more like a chinese stir-fried chicken dish (not very nice in combination with guacemole) than real fajitas. The portions were small and pricy, given the poos quality. The only great thing: terrific ice cream just two blocks from this restaurant, to ensure you have a pleasant desert!!

Wing Kee - Great Chinese - good value by rigilbert

rigilbert — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:58:45 +0000

Review by rigilbert

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 6235683

Tags: lively, good service, cafe

Great Chinese - good value. That's always a good start to a restaurant review, but what's it like in reality. Let's see...

China Town in Amsterdam is less of a 'town' and more of a street. That street is Zeedijk (pronounced Zay-dyke), just a chopstick's throw from the Red Light District.

The Wing Kee falls into the category of what are known in the Netherlands as 'eet cafe's', which generally means that, as the name suggests, it's more of a cafe than a restaurant. The distinction is usually reflected in the prices and that's very much the case here.

From the outside the place looks rather unappealing. There are the usual crispy ducks hanging in the window and beyond that there's not much else to see. It was on a search to satisfy our craving for take away crispy duck that we first 'discovered' the Wing Kee. The quality of the duck and the friendliness of the staff encouraged us to go back and sample the fare inside.

It was worth it.

The decor is fairly sparse, but then this is a cafe, not a restaurant. The place was busy on our visit, and had a good buzz about it. Locals mixed with tourists; Chinese mixed with Westerners - always good signs.

The menu is extensive and offers everything from won ton soup (large or small) to fried tripe (intestines). No alcohol is served here, just soft drinks and jasmine tea.

We each ordered won ton soup as a starter (one with pork, the other with prawns) and followed up with crispy chicken cooked with chilli and salt, and sweet and sour chicken. We chose plain boiled rice instead of noodles to accompany our dishes.

Service was fast and efficient. That's something of a treat in the Netherlands where the laid back attitude of the Dutch can get you really frustrated at having to wait so long for your food, and the bill. Not so here: the Chinese understand, and we've experienced this in other Chinese restaurants, that efficiency of service is good for the customers and the business.

Our won ton soups were good and wholesome - and filling. We were sort of sorry that we'd ordered soup when the main courses were dished up - the portions were larger than expected. Likewise with the rice, which came as a mountain in a big bowl. Enough for three or even four, we thought.

Good food, simply presented and efficiently served. Better still, good prices. Our total bill, which also included two cans of cola, came to 34 euros. Great value in a city (indeed, country) where eating out is generally quite expensive.

We'll be back...

Great Chinese - good value. That's always a good start to a restaurant review, but what's it like in reality. Let's see...

China Town in Amsterdam is less of a 'town' and more of a street. That street is Zeedijk (pronounced Zay-dyke), just a chopstick's throw from the Red Light District.

The Wing Kee falls into the category of what are known in the Netherlands as 'eet cafe's', which generally means that, as the name suggests, it's more of a cafe than a restaurant. The distinction is usually reflected in the prices and that's very much the case here.

From the outside the place looks rather unappealing. There are the usual crispy ducks hanging in the window and beyond that there's not much else to see. It was on a search to satisfy our craving for take away crispy duck that we first 'discovered' the Wing Kee. The quality of the duck and the friendliness of the staff encouraged us to go back and sample the fare inside.

It was worth it.

The decor is fairly sparse, but then this is a cafe, not a restaurant. The place was busy on our visit, and had a good buzz about it. Locals mixed with tourists; Chinese mixed with Westerners - always good signs.

The menu is extensive and offers everything from won ton soup (large or small) to fried tripe (intestines). No alcohol is served here, just soft drinks and jasmine tea.

We each ordered won ton soup as a starter (one with pork, the other with prawns) and followed up with crispy chicken cooked with chilli and salt, and sweet and sour chicken. We chose plain boiled rice instead of noodles to accompany our dishes.

Service was fast and efficient. That's something of a treat in the Netherlands where the laid back attitude of the Dutch can get you really frustrated at having to wait so long for your food, and the bill. Not so here: the Chinese understand, and we've experienced this in other Chinese restaurants, that efficiency of service is good for the customers and the business.

Our won ton soups were good and wholesome - and filling. We were sort of sorry that we'd ordered soup when the main courses were dished up - the portions were larger than expected. Likewise with the rice, which came as a mountain in a big bowl. Enough for three or even four, we thought.

Good food, simply presented and efficiently served. Better still, good prices. Our total bill, which also included two cans of cola, came to 34 euros. Great value in a city (indeed, country) where eating out is generally quite expensive.

We'll be back...

Cafe Graves - Stylish, good quality cuisine by rigilbert

rigilbert — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:52:29 +0000

Review by rigilbert

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 420 77 41

Website: www.cafegraves.nl

Tags: lively, french, crowded

Want to impress your partner with dinner? This could be just the place.

Although to be found just a couple of minutes away from the main tourist highway of Damrak, Cafe Graves is located on the quiet and characterful street known as Gravenstraat.

The decor and setting is cosy; the lighting is subdued, but not so low that you can't see what you're eating. The atmosphere is lively, but not raucous. You could quite equally enjoy a cosy meal for two or a more animated dinner with a friends.

My partner and I went here during the Dutch national event known as Restaurant Week. During this week in March, hundreds of restaurants across the country offer set menu's at the bargain prices of 25 or 30 euros per head. Great value and an excellent opportunity to try more expensive places at just a fraction of the cost.

Cafe Graves offered a 30 euro three course set menu, but also gave you the option of one or two 'upgrades' - alternative, or extra menu choices - for a modest extra fee. Here's what we got:

1st course: fillets of monkfish with an oyster vinaigrette and a hint of coriander. (Very tasty; very fresh)

2nd course: lobster bisque with Dutch shrimps. (House speciality, apparently. Creamy, frothy, but didn't quite live up to its billing. This was an 'upgrade' for which we paid an extra 5 euros. Good value!)

3rd course: entrecote of Aberdeen Angus in a truffle-flavoured sauce and served with a skewered medley of vegetables (one piece of each veg comprising turnip, new potato, sweet potato, courgette and cherry tomato).

Superb beef, possibly poached or stewed lightly first and then seared for a short time? We did ask, but no one could tell us. Regardless, the end result was a hunk of beef you could cut with the proverbial knife-through-butter effect).

Dessert: ice cream with a small, rich chocolate brownie (Nice and light, just what you don't want from a rich chocolate brownie if you're a dessert junkie. Otherwise, a portion size that's enough to satiate but not stuff).

The menu also came with a couple of 'drinks arrangements' - a different glass of wine for every course: each chosen to show off the qualities of both the wine and the food. Cost: 19 euros.

The restaurant had brought in a sommelier for this - a young, enthusiastic and knowledgeable chap by the name of Bart - who explained the relative merits of each wine as it was served to you. The wine was very well chosen and each glass impressed us with its flavourful qualities, bouquet and balance that perfectly complimented the dish for which it was matched. A very, very nice touch that added an extra dimension to the whole experience.

In summary: good food made from quality ingredients, well presented in a comfortable and friendly environment. This place likes its food and it shows.

Total cost for the set menu, two aperitifs, an additional course (the lobster bisque), one bottle of mineral water, and one glass of top quality wine with each course: 105 euros.

Price is relative, of course, and the key questions are 'was it worth it?' and 'would you go back?'

The answer to both is a very definite 'yes!'

Want to impress your partner with dinner? This could be just the place.

Although to be found just a couple of minutes away from the main tourist highway of Damrak, Cafe Graves is located on the quiet and characterful street known as Gravenstraat.

The decor and setting is cosy; the lighting is subdued, but not so low that you can't see what you're eating. The atmosphere is lively, but not raucous. You could quite equally enjoy a cosy meal for two or a more animated dinner with a friends.

My partner and I went here during the Dutch national event known as Restaurant Week. During this week in March, hundreds of restaurants across the country offer set menu's at the bargain prices of 25 or 30 euros per head. Great value and an excellent opportunity to try more expensive places at just a fraction of the cost.

Cafe Graves offered a 30 euro three course set menu, but also gave you the option of one or two 'upgrades' - alternative, or extra menu choices - for a modest extra fee. Here's what we got:

1st course: fillets of monkfish with an oyster vinaigrette and a hint of coriander. (Very tasty; very fresh)

2nd course: lobster bisque with Dutch shrimps. (House speciality, apparently. Creamy, frothy, but didn't quite live up to its billing. This was an 'upgrade' for which we paid an extra 5 euros. Good value!)

3rd course: entrecote of Aberdeen Angus in a truffle-flavoured sauce and served with a skewered medley of vegetables (one piece of each veg comprising turnip, new potato, sweet potato, courgette and cherry tomato).

Superb beef, possibly poached or stewed lightly first and then seared for a short time? We did ask, but no one could tell us. Regardless, the end result was a hunk of beef you could cut with the proverbial knife-through-butter effect).

Dessert: ice cream with a small, rich chocolate brownie (Nice and light, just what you don't want from a rich chocolate brownie if you're a dessert junkie. Otherwise, a portion size that's enough to satiate but not stuff).

The menu also came with a couple of 'drinks arrangements' - a different glass of wine for every course: each chosen to show off the qualities of both the wine and the food. Cost: 19 euros.

The restaurant had brought in a sommelier for this - a young, enthusiastic and knowledgeable chap by the name of Bart - who explained the relative merits of each wine as it was served to you. The wine was very well chosen and each glass impressed us with its flavourful qualities, bouquet and balance that perfectly complimented the dish for which it was matched. A very, very nice touch that added an extra dimension to the whole experience.

In summary: good food made from quality ingredients, well presented in a comfortable and friendly environment. This place likes its food and it shows.

Total cost for the set menu, two aperitifs, an additional course (the lobster bisque), one bottle of mineral water, and one glass of top quality wine with each course: 105 euros.

Price is relative, of course, and the key questions are 'was it worth it?' and 'would you go back?'

The answer to both is a very definite 'yes!'

Upstairs Pancake House (Pannekoekenhuis) - My Favorite Place in Amsterdam! by doomcomplex

doomcomplex — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:07:49 +0000

Review by doomcomplex

Rating: 5.00

Tags: good value, family & home feel, pancakes

My friends and I went to this pancake house every weekend while we were in Amsterdam this summer.

Like the previous poster said, this place keeps really strange hours. When I was there, they were onyl open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and they opened around noon.

The pankakes are giant and delicious. They aren't like american pankakes at all. The texture is different, more like athick crepe, and the ingredients are often cooked into the pankake itself. My favorite is bacon and pineapple!

The service is good and friendly, and the atmosphere is very small and quiant. I'm pretty sure the owner runs the restauraunt out of his home.

Don't miss this delicious food, and interesting Dutch cultural experience!My friends and I went to this pancake house every weekend while we were in Amsterdam this summer.

Like the previous poster said, this place keeps really strange hours. When I was there, they were onyl open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and they opened around noon.

The pankakes are giant and delicious. They aren't like american pankakes at all. The texture is different, more like athick crepe, and the ingredients are often cooked into the pankake itself. My favorite is bacon and pineapple!

The service is good and friendly, and the atmosphere is very small and quiant. I'm pretty sure the owner runs the restauraunt out of his home.

Don't miss this delicious food, and interesting Dutch cultural experience!

Fierro - Good steaks - good value by rigilbert

rigilbert — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:05:42 +0000

Review by rigilbert

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 0206454881

Website: www.fierro.nl/

Tags: good value, steak, family & home feel

Tucked away in Bovenkerk, a sleepy suburb on the edges of Amstelveen, about 15km from the centre of Amsterdam and backing on to Het Amsterdamse Bos (the Amsterdam woods) is Fierro, an Argentine grill restaurant.

You could easily pass this place by and not give it a second glance as, instead, your eyes are drawn to the imposing steeple of St Urbanus, the nearby church designed and built by P.J.H. Cuypers, which was eventually finished in 1889 (work started in 1873, but had to stop after the building started to sag; it's foundations being too weak).

If you did see Fierro's and maybe even stopped to go in, you would be in for a treat. In a land where 'Argentijnse' steak houses are ubiquitous, finding a good one is not as easy as you might think. Happily for us, Fierro is just a 10 minute cycle ride away (through the Bos). The only tourists to make it here are those staying at the nearby Amsterdamse Bos camping site, but only if they have been intrepid enough to ignore the familiar attractions of Amsterdam for an evening and have decided to explore the immediate locale. Beyond the stray tourist the clientele is made up very much of local people.

On to the restaurant... If you've been to London's Goucho Grill, the cow hide-clad seating will be familiar to you, as will the darkness. Unlike the Goucho Grill, it isn't so dark that you can't see what you're eating.

The restaurant seating is in booths, which provides a feeling of intimacy and helps create an air of cosiness. In the middle of the place is an open grill upon which your food is cooked. The sights and smells of sizzling steaks are very much apparent as are the flames that leap high from the grill every now and again and colour the walls with their orange hues.

The steaks are well priced and available in the usual cuts. As an example, a 250g fillet steak is â¬22 (for UK readers that's around Â£18 at the time of writing), a 500g T-bone, â¬26 (approx Â£21.50). My favourite, a combination of ribs and lamb cutlets is just â¬17.50 (Â£14.50). With this comes half a rack of marinated ribs and two or three lamb cutlets depending on size.

Typically, the cutlets are hot, crispy and savoury on the outside and soft and melting on the inside. As for the ribs, the deal here is that if you have room enough left inside to take on the other half of the rack, you can - free!

All dishes come with a selection of sauces. A salad bar is the source of side dishes, although the menu has the usual French fries, onion rings, etc.

Also on the main course menu are gambas (king prawns), grilled chicken and everything else you would expect in a steak house. The starters offer some interesting choices including very tasty Argentine sausages (think juicy British banger, but with a piquant flavour) and traditional Argentine meat patties.

As for drinks, the house red wine is splendid. Not only is it remarkably good and immensely drinkable (!), it's also exceptional value for money; a litre carafe is just â¬14 (under Â£12)! Cocktails are also available and have a decidedly home-made feel to them. This being a good thing, not a bad thing.

The staff here are very friendly and always eager to oblige. Your evening will be unhurried and relaxed. So, should you want to get far from the madding crowds of central Amsterdam and decide to explore the wonderful Amsterdamse Bos, do try and make time for a detour to Bovenkerk and the Fierro Argentijnse Grill. It won't change your life, but you will eat well and at a good price.

As confirmed regulars ourselves, we just might see you in there. Cheers!Tucked away in Bovenkerk, a sleepy suburb on the edges of Amstelveen, about 15km from the centre of Amsterdam and backing on to Het Amsterdamse Bos (the Amsterdam woods) is Fierro, an Argentine grill restaurant.

You could easily pass this place by and not give it a second glance as, instead, your eyes are drawn to the imposing steeple of St Urbanus, the nearby church designed and built by P.J.H. Cuypers, which was eventually finished in 1889 (work started in 1873, but had to stop after the building started to sag; it's foundations being too weak).

If you did see Fierro's and maybe even stopped to go in, you would be in for a treat. In a land where 'Argentijnse' steak houses are ubiquitous, finding a good one is not as easy as you might think. Happily for us, Fierro is just a 10 minute cycle ride away (through the Bos). The only tourists to make it here are those staying at the nearby Amsterdamse Bos camping site, but only if they have been intrepid enough to ignore the familiar attractions of Amsterdam for an evening and have decided to explore the immediate locale. Beyond the stray tourist the clientele is made up very much of local people.

On to the restaurant... If you've been to London's Goucho Grill, the cow hide-clad seating will be familiar to you, as will the darkness. Unlike the Goucho Grill, it isn't so dark that you can't see what you're eating.

The restaurant seating is in booths, which provides a feeling of intimacy and helps create an air of cosiness. In the middle of the place is an open grill upon which your food is cooked. The sights and smells of sizzling steaks are very much apparent as are the flames that leap high from the grill every now and again and colour the walls with their orange hues.

The steaks are well priced and available in the usual cuts. As an example, a 250g fillet steak is â¬22 (for UK readers that's around Â£18 at the time of writing), a 500g T-bone, â¬26 (approx Â£21.50). My favourite, a combination of ribs and lamb cutlets is just â¬17.50 (Â£14.50). With this comes half a rack of marinated ribs and two or three lamb cutlets depending on size.

Typically, the cutlets are hot, crispy and savoury on the outside and soft and melting on the inside. As for the ribs, the deal here is that if you have room enough left inside to take on the other half of the rack, you can - free!

All dishes come with a selection of sauces. A salad bar is the source of side dishes, although the menu has the usual French fries, onion rings, etc.

Also on the main course menu are gambas (king prawns), grilled chicken and everything else you would expect in a steak house. The starters offer some interesting choices including very tasty Argentine sausages (think juicy British banger, but with a piquant flavour) and traditional Argentine meat patties.

As for drinks, the house red wine is splendid. Not only is it remarkably good and immensely drinkable (!), it's also exceptional value for money; a litre carafe is just â¬14 (under Â£12)! Cocktails are also available and have a decidedly home-made feel to them. This being a good thing, not a bad thing.

The staff here are very friendly and always eager to oblige. Your evening will be unhurried and relaxed. So, should you want to get far from the madding crowds of central Amsterdam and decide to explore the wonderful Amsterdamse Bos, do try and make time for a detour to Bovenkerk and the Fierro Argentijnse Grill. It won't change your life, but you will eat well and at a good price.

As confirmed regulars ourselves, we just might see you in there. Cheers!

Supperclub Amsterdam - Different by anaisby

anaisby — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:38:37 +0000

Review by anaisby

Rating: 3.00Very different, very groovy place. re-vamped often so that it looks different pretty much each time you go. Last time I was there you layed down on beds to eat. Food good, atmosphere cool. Mostly locals and ex pats know about it. Good place to take a group of friends or to meet new people. Try it, you might even like it.Very different, very groovy place. re-vamped often so that it looks different pretty much each time you go. Last time I was there you layed down on beds to eat. Food good, atmosphere cool. Mostly locals and ex pats know about it. Good place to take a group of friends or to meet new people. Try it, you might even like it.

La Cantina - Tapas? This isn't tapas! by rigilbert

rigilbert — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:44:48 +0000

Review by rigilbert

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 345 3366

Website: www.tapaslacantina.nl

Tags: expensive, pretentious, spanish

What terrible food! We enjoy tapas and are working our way around the Spanish bars and restaurants in the Amsterdam area one by one. Never have we felt the need to ward off people from visiting a restaurant, but having been to La Cantina, we feel it an obligation.

From the outside it looks like a welcoming and cosy little tapas bar/restaurant that you think just might turn out to be a secret find. On the inside, with its ambient lighting and intimate feel you start to think that you were right. Sigh - how disappointed we were.

The fact that the place shares premises (and reception) with a beauty parlour and sauna - thus a building of two halves - made us feel from the start that the approach, certainly to the food part of the equation, was half-hearted.

We ordered the "La Cantina de luxe menu" - which offers a selection of eight tapas dishes & dessert/coffee. I mean, it said "de luxe", so we had high-ish expectations. Sorry to say that it can only be presumed that the "de luxe" part referred to the price, around â¬56: the first round of four dishes were okay - just average - but the second round of dishes took us into the realms of the unknown, for we have no idea what they were actually supposed to be. What they lacked in visual appeal they also lacked in taste. Four rather sickly-looking chicken drumsticks put us off - and bear in mind it takes a lot to make something as simple as chicken drumsticks seem unappetising! Having found the first lot uninspiring, this tipped the balance and neither of us wanted to carry on eating.

Sangria: the Sangria comes at a hefty â¬16 per HALF litre - that's two small glasses each, thus â¬4 per small glass. It's more cost effective to buy a bottle from their wine list and make your own!

In wondering if there is actually any genuine Spanish influence behind this place, I suspect not. The feeling is of a tapas bar/restaurant set up by some people who had a good time eating out in Spain once and thought they could replicate the feel and food back home. Sorry, it doesn't work and La Cantina fails to succeed in all regards.What terrible food! We enjoy tapas and are working our way around the Spanish bars and restaurants in the Amsterdam area one by one. Never have we felt the need to ward off people from visiting a restaurant, but having been to La Cantina, we feel it an obligation.

From the outside it looks like a welcoming and cosy little tapas bar/restaurant that you think just might turn out to be a secret find. On the inside, with its ambient lighting and intimate feel you start to think that you were right. Sigh - how disappointed we were.

The fact that the place shares premises (and reception) with a beauty parlour and sauna - thus a building of two halves - made us feel from the start that the approach, certainly to the food part of the equation, was half-hearted.

We ordered the "La Cantina de luxe menu" - which offers a selection of eight tapas dishes & dessert/coffee. I mean, it said "de luxe", so we had high-ish expectations. Sorry to say that it can only be presumed that the "de luxe" part referred to the price, around â¬56: the first round of four dishes were okay - just average - but the second round of dishes took us into the realms of the unknown, for we have no idea what they were actually supposed to be. What they lacked in visual appeal they also lacked in taste. Four rather sickly-looking chicken drumsticks put us off - and bear in mind it takes a lot to make something as simple as chicken drumsticks seem unappetising! Having found the first lot uninspiring, this tipped the balance and neither of us wanted to carry on eating.

Sangria: the Sangria comes at a hefty â¬16 per HALF litre - that's two small glasses each, thus â¬4 per small glass. It's more cost effective to buy a bottle from their wine list and make your own!

In wondering if there is actually any genuine Spanish influence behind this place, I suspect not. The feeling is of a tapas bar/restaurant set up by some people who had a good time eating out in Spain once and thought they could replicate the feel and food back home. Sorry, it doesn't work and La Cantina fails to succeed in all regards.

Mykonos - Good value Greek food by rigilbert

rigilbert — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:02:09 +0000

Review by rigilbert

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 622 3759

Tags: crowded, mediterranean, good value

I must confess to having a soft spot for the Mykonos, even though I've had better Greek food. My partner and I have eaten here four or five times now (see, we like it that much) and find the place to have a relaxed atmosphere, one that is enhanced by being sat at one of the raised tables that have big comfy seats and provide an almost intimate private booth-like quality.

I've read a number of poor reviews on other sites about the Mykonos, all from diners complaining about the gyros. Is there such a thing as a good gyros?

Greek food is, of course, much more than gyros/doner kebab, and Mykonos offers a good and varied selection of traditional dishes worthy of exploration. Whilst not in the gourmet class, it does offer a home-cooked approach to food - go on, try something different, even if it's a kebab variant!.

The Kleftiko, for example, served straight from the oven "en papillotte" was, when we tried it, beautifully tender, generous in size and is to be recommended. Fish dishes, too, have been well received, as has the mezedes for two people.

For drinks, go for the traditional beers and spirits or order Greek wine (Boutaris) by the bottle (the house wine, on the one occasion we tried it, left a lot to be desired). All told, the place is okay and worth trying, even if it is in the heart of touristville. It's worth noting that more than once we've seen customers being warmly welcomed with a friendly handshake, a big smile and a pat on the back: a sure sign that "old friends" have returned to eat there once again.

All in all: nice atmosphere; pretty good food; friendly service and prices that are within the bracket of "reasonable". Certainly worth a try, especially for a relaxed and unhurried meal.

I must confess to having a soft spot for the Mykonos, even though I've had better Greek food. My partner and I have eaten here four or five times now (see, we like it that much) and find the place to have a relaxed atmosphere, one that is enhanced by being sat at one of the raised tables that have big comfy seats and provide an almost intimate private booth-like quality.

I've read a number of poor reviews on other sites about the Mykonos, all from diners complaining about the gyros. Is there such a thing as a good gyros?

Greek food is, of course, much more than gyros/doner kebab, and Mykonos offers a good and varied selection of traditional dishes worthy of exploration. Whilst not in the gourmet class, it does offer a home-cooked approach to food - go on, try something different, even if it's a kebab variant!.

The Kleftiko, for example, served straight from the oven "en papillotte" was, when we tried it, beautifully tender, generous in size and is to be recommended. Fish dishes, too, have been well received, as has the mezedes for two people.

For drinks, go for the traditional beers and spirits or order Greek wine (Boutaris) by the bottle (the house wine, on the one occasion we tried it, left a lot to be desired). All told, the place is okay and worth trying, even if it is in the heart of touristville. It's worth noting that more than once we've seen customers being warmly welcomed with a friendly handshake, a big smile and a pat on the back: a sure sign that "old friends" have returned to eat there once again.

All in all: nice atmosphere; pretty good food; friendly service and prices that are within the bracket of "reasonable". Certainly worth a try, especially for a relaxed and unhurried meal.

Candlelight Canal Cruise Dinner - Canals by candlelight by jennipenni

jennipenni — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:33:37 +0000

Review by jennipenni

Rating: 3.00

Website: http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterdam/Old-Amsterdam-by-Candlelight-Cruise/d525-2550LIN9

Tags: romantic, expensive, crowded

We went on a romantic midnight cruise on the canal in Amsterdam.

It wasn't good value for money at all. All they offered us were a couple of different cheeses and grapes. Not anything that a restaurant would offer us.

What they offered tasted good, but quantity and assortment were short.

They gave us a bottle of red and a bottle of white to share with the couple we were sitting opposite (and touching their knees as the table was like an ironing board!) The wine was not great wine but not plonk either. Pretty mediocre.

The food itself wasn't what cost a lot I am sure, it was the actual cruise itself, and the commentary. I would not personally recommend this cruise to anyone, the cruise itself is lovely, lapping the canal by night, but we were left hungry, squashed and dissatisfied.We went on a romantic midnight cruise on the canal in Amsterdam.

It wasn't good value for money at all. All they offered us were a couple of different cheeses and grapes. Not anything that a restaurant would offer us.

What they offered tasted good, but quantity and assortment were short.

They gave us a bottle of red and a bottle of white to share with the couple we were sitting opposite (and touching their knees as the table was like an ironing board!) The wine was not great wine but not plonk either. Pretty mediocre.

The food itself wasn't what cost a lot I am sure, it was the actual cruise itself, and the commentary. I would not personally recommend this cruise to anyone, the cruise itself is lovely, lapping the canal by night, but we were left hungry, squashed and dissatisfied.

In de Waag - De Waag Restaurant by jennipenni

jennipenni — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:20:45 +0000

Review by jennipenni

Rating: 4.00

Website: http://www.indewaag.nl/

Tags: romantic, expensive, vegetarian

The ambiance here is delightful!

Candleabras with real candles, high ceilings and stone floors and walls! Candles, low lighting and wood lend a calm and romantic feel to the place.

The restaurant itself is located in a fabulous 15th century monument, and is preserved well.

The menu is not that varied to be honest, but what is on offer should suit a variety of palates. We were more than satisified!

I had a garden salad, which had fresh fennel leaves and baby tomatoes, and Lance had a sirloin steak, which he said was tender and well marinated, with a side of vegetables of the day.

It's open from 10.00am until about midnight. They have a nice lunch menu too it seems, although we never ate lunch there.

For dinner though? Highly recommended!The ambiance here is delightful!

Candleabras with real candles, high ceilings and stone floors and walls! Candles, low lighting and wood lend a calm and romantic feel to the place.

The restaurant itself is located in a fabulous 15th century monument, and is preserved well.

The menu is not that varied to be honest, but what is on offer should suit a variety of palates. We were more than satisified!

I had a garden salad, which had fresh fennel leaves and baby tomatoes, and Lance had a sirloin steak, which he said was tender and well marinated, with a side of vegetables of the day.

It's open from 10.00am until about midnight. They have a nice lunch menu too it seems, although we never ate lunch there.

For dinner though? Highly recommended!

De Zagerij - Fancy tapas or turkish styled food by jo104

jo104 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:58:31 +0000

Review by jo104

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 42 11 155

Website: http://www.eetcafe-de-zagerij.nl/

Tags: good value, middle eastern, family & home feel

In Amsterdam lunch is normally just a small bite to eat like a sandwich so it can be hard to find somewhere that will serve a reasonable sized hot meal at lunchtime.

This restaurant has been transformed from an old brown cafe into a cosy space with a turkish / greek sort of theme, it felt warm & inviting with very capable friendly staff. I liked the fact it is an open kitchen so you can see it is kept clean.

We ordered the Turkish style homemade burger & the Pork sate which came with a huge plate of chips (big enough to share). Both dishes were tasty and very reasonably priced.
We saw on the menu you can also enjoy tapas here & there is a special groups menu. In Amsterdam lunch is normally just a small bite to eat like a sandwich so it can be hard to find somewhere that will serve a reasonable sized hot meal at lunchtime.

This restaurant has been transformed from an old brown cafe into a cosy space with a turkish / greek sort of theme, it felt warm & inviting with very capable friendly staff. I liked the fact it is an open kitchen so you can see it is kept clean.

We ordered the Turkish style homemade burger & the Pork sate which came with a huge plate of chips (big enough to share). Both dishes were tasty and very reasonably priced.
We saw on the menu you can also enjoy tapas here & there is a special groups menu.

1e Klas - Oasis of calm at a crazy train station by TipAtkins

TipAtkins — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:53:02 +0000

Review by TipAtkins

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020-6250131

Website: http://www.restaurant1eklas.nl/

Tags: lively, romantic, good value

This is a really lovely place to meet for a coffee or snack in a crazy central station where the alternative options are burger king or similar! The staff and service are professional and polite and the atmosphere is definitely reminiscent of what I imagine the first class waiting room would have been in years gone by...I wouldn't call it a cheap eat but it's certainly worth it!This is a really lovely place to meet for a coffee or snack in a crazy central station where the alternative options are burger king or similar! The staff and service are professional and polite and the atmosphere is definitely reminiscent of what I imagine the first class waiting room would have been in years gone by...I wouldn't call it a cheap eat but it's certainly worth it!

The Movies - Dine in Art Deco style by jo104

jo104 — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:17:54 +0000

Review by jo104

Rating: 3.00

Tags: lively, romantic, cinema

The restaurant, attached to the movie house, is done in an art deco style and the food is delicious. I enjoyed a stuffed onion on vanilla rissotto with spring vegetables. Han chose hake fillet which came with lovely chips. The service was very professional, as well as beautifully presented and I can highly recommend a meal here even if you are not going to the movies.

This movie house shows art movies as well as the best of the box office hits although you will not find distasteful shows here.

Mon - Thurs you can get a 2 course meal for Euro26 incl a movie ticket (Euro 8) or Euro for 3 courses. There is always a fish menu of the day as well as a meat special.

The movie I saw was The Last King of Scotland (Dutch sub titles - a great way to learn Dutch)
The restaurant, attached to the movie house, is done in an art deco style and the food is delicious. I enjoyed a stuffed onion on vanilla rissotto with spring vegetables. Han chose hake fillet which came with lovely chips. The service was very professional, as well as beautifully presented and I can highly recommend a meal here even if you are not going to the movies.

This movie house shows art movies as well as the best of the box office hits although you will not find distasteful shows here.

Mon - Thurs you can get a 2 course meal for Euro26 incl a movie ticket (Euro 8) or Euro for 3 courses. There is always a fish menu of the day as well as a meat special.

The movie I saw was The Last King of Scotland (Dutch sub titles - a great way to learn Dutch)

De Eetkamer van de Jordaan - A touch of elegance in the Jordaan by jo104

jo104 — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:20:24 +0000

Review by jo104

Rating: 4.00

Phone: (020) 6250746

Website: http://www.diningcity.nl/eetkamer/

Tags: romantic, expensive, fine dining

I enjoyed a meeting here with some local friends on one of my numerous visits to Amsterdam. The ambience of the restaurant is warm and inviting with a very personable feel. The term shabby shick has been used to describe the dining area and if you are planning a romantic evening you will not be dissapointed either.

The food was equisite and very well presented. Each week the menu changes offering a choice of 10 starters 15 mains & 10 desserts. For starters melon & parma ham with shavings of lovely dutch cheese this in itself was a big portion - very yummy. For mains I enjoyed the chicken with a lovely stuffing served with potato croquettes, asparagus & vegetables. Then desert was a delectable chocolate mousse with whipped cream. Do be aware that cream in Holland is usually sweetened

The house wine was good & Swanet & myself certainly got stuck in :-) They charge Euro 2 for ciabatta & herb butter something we managed to overlook on our bill. This restaraunt is fairly expensive at starters between Eur 5.50 - 12.50 and mains between Euro 14.50 - 23.50, but I did feel for an occasion it was well worth the price.

Please note booking in advance is advisable
I enjoyed a meeting here with some local friends on one of my numerous visits to Amsterdam. The ambience of the restaurant is warm and inviting with a very personable feel. The term shabby shick has been used to describe the dining area and if you are planning a romantic evening you will not be dissapointed either.

The food was equisite and very well presented. Each week the menu changes offering a choice of 10 starters 15 mains & 10 desserts. For starters melon & parma ham with shavings of lovely dutch cheese this in itself was a big portion - very yummy. For mains I enjoyed the chicken with a lovely stuffing served with potato croquettes, asparagus & vegetables. Then desert was a delectable chocolate mousse with whipped cream. Do be aware that cream in Holland is usually sweetened

The house wine was good & Swanet & myself certainly got stuck in :-) They charge Euro 2 for ciabatta & herb butter something we managed to overlook on our bill. This restaraunt is fairly expensive at starters between Eur 5.50 - 12.50 and mains between Euro 14.50 - 23.50, but I did feel for an occasion it was well worth the price.

Please note booking in advance is advisable

Cafe t'Gasthuys - by MaliniJames

MaliniJames — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:37:55 +0000

Review by MaliniJames

Rating: 3.00

Tags: lively, good value, cheap eat

Student hangout. Cheap, good food (don't expect a gourmet meal). Great for a quick bite before a movie @ the TuchinskyStudent hangout. Cheap, good food (don't expect a gourmet meal). Great for a quick bite before a movie @ the Tuchinsky

Envy - Gluttony would've been a better name... by reenie

reenie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:24:07 +0000

Review by reenie

Rating: 4.00

Website: http://www.envy.nl/

Tags: restaurant, food, trendy

Envy: http://www.envy.nl/

*Phwoar* This place is owned by the same people who started Supperclub. For EU$50, we stuffed ourselves silly with the Chef's Choice menu - 3 kinds of deli meats (YUMBO), 4 cold dishes, 4 warm dishes, 3 kinds of cheeses and 4 mini desserts. Gaaawd, I was in heaven with the asparagus and truffle soup. Nothing like the waft of truffle to make me forget my date :P Definitely value for money, and the food was definitely above average. Better than anything you'd find in London for the same price.

What I loved most about the restaurant, was how the produce was displayed in fridges along the wall. Everything looked fresh and delish, and apparently a lot of it is flown in from Italy.Envy: http://www.envy.nl/

*Phwoar* This place is owned by the same people who started Supperclub. For EU$50, we stuffed ourselves silly with the Chef's Choice menu - 3 kinds of deli meats (YUMBO), 4 cold dishes, 4 warm dishes, 3 kinds of cheeses and 4 mini desserts. Gaaawd, I was in heaven with the asparagus and truffle soup. Nothing like the waft of truffle to make me forget my date :P Definitely value for money, and the food was definitely above average. Better than anything you'd find in London for the same price.

What I loved most about the restaurant, was how the produce was displayed in fridges along the wall. Everything looked fresh and delish, and apparently a lot of it is flown in from Italy.

Tempo Doeloe - Incredible Indonesian food in a superb restaurant by JulesHolmwood

JulesHolmwood — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:19:31 +0000

Review by JulesHolmwood

Rating: 5.00

Tags: romantic, intimate, small

This was one of my luckiest of finds! A fabulous Indonesian restaurant, out of the main tourist areas of Amsterdam this is a restaurant you have to book and when you arrive you will have to ring the doorbell to gain entry.

The food is authentic Indonesian with a modern twist and is absolutely superb. The Ikan Pepesan is wonderful and if you like spicy food is to be tried to be believed. Steamed mackerel in a hot chilli pepper sauce I was the only one on our table that was able to eat much of it because it is +++ (their hottest dish(es)). However, the flavour of the mackerel really came through and I thought it was fabulous!

Have eaten here on two trips to Amsterdam and have recommended it to others who have also had an amazing experience.

The restaurant is small, cosy and friendly. Perfect for a date or to spend quality time with friends.This was one of my luckiest of finds! A fabulous Indonesian restaurant, out of the main tourist areas of Amsterdam this is a restaurant you have to book and when you arrive you will have to ring the doorbell to gain entry.

The food is authentic Indonesian with a modern twist and is absolutely superb. The Ikan Pepesan is wonderful and if you like spicy food is to be tried to be believed. Steamed mackerel in a hot chilli pepper sauce I was the only one on our table that was able to eat much of it because it is +++ (their hottest dish(es)). However, the flavour of the mackerel really came through and I thought it was fabulous!

Have eaten here on two trips to Amsterdam and have recommended it to others who have also had an amazing experience.

The restaurant is small, cosy and friendly. Perfect for a date or to spend quality time with friends.