334262 Sun Oct 15 14:22:11 -0700 2006 9 26 International 0 1947018 Have reservations here next week. Any thoughts? Any other hidden gems (or not-so-hidden) in the city? Sun Oct 15 14:22:11 -0700 2006 45745 wittlejosh 1 1947038 I just came back from Amsterdam a month ago and thru the guidance of locals found some good places to eat. You must eat at Envy. Its expensive, but if you are going to Christophe, you should be ok. Try the Bleu de Termignon and the Jamon Iberico. www.envy.nl Another hidden Gem is Restaurant de Luwte (Leliegracht 26-28). Very nice place. outdoor tables if the weather is mild. If you crave Spanish Tapas, head to Paso Doble (westerstraat 86) www.paso-doble.nl The tortilla, the patatas bravas, the albondigas, lamb chaps, everything was great. A great pub around 5-8pm is De Drie Fleschjes (Gravenstraat 18). They have been there since 1650. Large casks line the wall. always a good spot to drink with the locals. Try the Corenwyn. the liverwurst is good to wash it down with. For Chinese, Head to Nam Kee (Zeedijk 111-113). Nothing pretty, but the Bami soep, the oysters with black bean sauce, really anything you order here is excellent. I've eaten at most of the chinese on the Zeedijk, and this one is my favorite. Tango (Warmoestraat 49) is great place for Lamb Chops. Order enough and they bring them to you on a comal. Argentenian steakhouse. Sun Oct 15 14:48:40 -0700 2006 1947018 46945 pjbarone 2 1954134 We're giving Envy a try for lunch---thanks for the suggestion! Wed Oct 18 09:26:52 -0700 2006 1947038 45745 wittlejosh 3 2033703 How was Envy? Did you find any other places worth noting in Amsterdam? Sun Nov 19 14:38:31 -0800 2006 1954134 46945 pjbarone 3 2291795 Just back from Amsterdam...Envy was soooo pretentious and way overpriced. AVOID. We love good food and were so disappointed. 100 euros for 4 mouthfuls and a bottle of wine. went to a supermarket for bread and dip due to hunger! Go to "Uyt" nearby for a wonderful meal at a great price! Wed Feb 14 08:45:06 -0800 2007 1954134 74415 choux 2 2527547 My husband and I just went to Envy last week, and yes it was expensive but we liked it a lot and every dish was spot on tasty and inventive. Its like fusion tapas. Plus the decor is cool. Skip the Indonesian "rice table" (however it is spelled in Dutch) restaurants which are just so-so and pale in comparison to real curries. Mon Apr 30 09:53:41 -0700 2007 1947038 95264 mymagoogle 1 1947089 Casa di David was a truly wonderful Italian place ... we ate there two nights while in Amsterdam because we liked it so much. Wonderful atmosphere and food. It was in what we considered walking distance from the cool, close part of town when staying at the centrally located Sofitel Grande Demeure hotel. www.casadidavid.com AMSTERDAM De originele Italiaanse keuken aan de Amsterdamse grachten Open van 17.00 - 23.30 Singel 426 1017 AV Amsterdam T 020 6245093 F 020 6384646 amsterdam@casadidavid.com Sun Oct 15 15:38:02 -0700 2006 1947018 40486 Cinnamon 1 2047977 I had a wonderful trip to Amsterdam but was very sad about the food, not having researched sufficiently in advance and not realizing it's unlike the rest of Europe...well, Italy, Spain and France, food-wise. After a series of sad dinners, we had a fantastically delicious meal in an Italian seafood restaurant (full of happily eating Italians) - Lucius - here's the web site. http://www.lucius.nl/ OMG - so good! Sun Nov 26 19:38:54 -0800 2006 1947018 54251 rcallner 2 2292827 I live here and concur. I wouldn't take a flyer on any "hidden gems" and would only go places well reviewed by someone whose taste you trust. Restaurants here are generally not very good. As rcallner hints, Amsterdam restaurants do not compare well to those elsewhere in Europe (or my hometown, Ft Wayne. I'm serious.) One hint: that a place is full of locals is not nec. a good sign. I went to a very popular "French bistro" on Singel the name of which I don't recall and had the nastiest steak I've ever had. It tasted like rotten liver. It was a work thing and I had to choke it down - not a pleasant memory. Wed Feb 14 12:34:50 -0800 2007 2047977 71951 borisdad 1 2376168 Just last month, we had a very good dinner at DINING ELEVEN (just off Prinsengracht, a few minutes' walk from the Anne Frank Huis). The food was fresh and beautifully prepared (a kind of "modern French"), the chef/proprietor very friendly, and the ambience modern but inviting. I'd highly recommend it. We also had a fairly good meal at DE WITTE UYL, near the Rijksmuseum. Both places are moderately priced. Dining Eleven Reestraat 11 020 620 7968 De Witte Uyl Frans Halsstraat 26 020 670 0458 Sun Mar 11 23:47:02 -0700 2007 1947018 71762 FataMagistra