Specific Amsterdam Question

[JeremyEG]

Hey Everyone,
My wife and I will be in Amsterdam for a couple nights. We have never had Dutch food (it's not so popular in NYC where we live) but we'd love to get a sense of what this cuisine is all about. We are big fans of cured fish and stuff like that and we'd love to be sent to the best of traditional/local cuisine on the lower end in terms of price.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we'd like to know what ethnic cuisines are best represented in Amsterdam and where you guys think we should go. In NYC, we have access to very good Japanese, Chinese, French and Italian so we'd like to stay away from those if at all possible. T

Thanks in advance for your help!
JeremyEG

[ridgeback]

My wife and I lived there for about 6 months back in '07. For a sit down meal, I'd recommend Van Dobben. You order across an old style lunch counter, which I recall as immaculately clean and sparkling white. They serve herring, sandwiches, smoked eel, croquettes, etc.

They're not as ubiquitous as New York hot dog carts but around town you'll see herring stands, or haringhuis, as they're called. Herring is fresh in the warm weather months and the stands make a great, quick lunch stop. Frommer's lists one as purportedly "the best" on their web site but I don't recall whether I've been there or not.

DO NOT MISS the frites sold by Vleminckx, literally just a hole in the wall. It's perfection in a french fry. They've been selling just frites in the same location for over 50 years. Just google the name + fries or frites.

As far as ethnic cuisines go, you might consider indonesian or surinamese. For indonesian, Tempo Doeloe on Spuistraat is very well-regarded. You'll almost certainly need reservations. The name of a good Surinamese place escapes me but if you see one, use the old chinese restaurant rule and if there are people from Suriname eating there, don't hesitate to join 'em.

Also, as far as inexpensive and truly Dutch meals go - there's the pancakes. They serve both sweet and savory so you can have one for lunch and one for dessert. A place called The Pancake Bakery near Ann Frank House on Prinsengracht is the most well-known but you might also enjoy trying Upstairs Pannenkoehenhuis on Grimburgwal - much less touristy but equally as good or better.

There's a ton of good places to eat in A'dam. It takes some hunting though.

[markemorse]

Hey there....you should definitely check out Surinamese food while you're here. The kind of restaurant you're looking for is called a "warung" or sometimes a "toko", but that's a more Indonesian term.

It would be helpful to know what neighborhood you're in...there are a few great ones around the Albert Cuypmarkt in de Pijp.

You should also try to get some Turkish food while you're here, again...it's everywhere, so if you can narrow down a neighborhood that's helpful.....

[JeremyEG]

Great. We are staying at the Hotel Pulitzer (Prinsengracht 315
1016 GZ Amsterdam) but we are able and willing to travel as far as is necessary for great food experiences. A lot of times, that's how we end up seeing more neighborhoods anyway so please go to it!
Thanks.
JeremyEG

[markemorse]

when exactly are you coming? there's a huge Surinamese festival that just started called Kwakoe....

pictures of 2007's festival here:
http://vegetarianduck.blogspot.com/20...

[markemorse]

OK...you're right around the corner from a take-away place that does some of my favorite Turkish snacks: Mercan Patisserie, Rozengracht 148. What you want is a "Turkish pizza with everything", this is a lahmacun. More detail here:

http://vegetarianduck.blogspot.com/2006/07/eating-in-amsterdam-duck-style-part-1.html

You might also try any of their savory or sweet pastries...I've never had anything bad there. Not worth a special trip, but in case you end up nearby at lunchtime: at Rozengracht 89 is Doner Palace: zero charm, nice cheapish lunch specials.

Just a bit northwest of the Rozengracht is one of the best sit-down Turkish places in town: Orontes West. http://www.iens.nl/restaurant/nederla...

OK, back to Surinamese food in a sec....

[markemorse]

Sorry, this is a tad confusing: Mercan is worth a special trip, Doner Palace not so much.

[markemorse]

There's a very good Indonesian takeaway in your neighborhood:
http://www.iens.nl/restaurant/amsterdam/restaurant.htms?r=6160

I'm trying to think of a sit-down Indonesian place that won't break the bank...

The nearest Surinamese counter to you is called De Lelie, I've never been there but reviews are good:
http://www.iens.nl/restaurant/amsterd...

Seems that the owners are Hindustani, so you should probably try the rotis.

Looks like I've run out of time today...I'll try and get back here to give you some more specific tips, but in case I don't, all of the Surinamese tips on my blog are still valid...

Good luck!

[ridgeback]

I don't recall the name but what do you think of the place on the other side of the street from the flower market, in the middle of the block? I was skeptical of it because of the touristy location but dined there a couple times and found it very good and very reasonably priced.

[markemorse]

if it's Sampurna (Singel 498), I've had takeaway from there twice and it's been good. it's a tiny bit expensive due to the location, but everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable about the food.

[rastan]

Dutch Food
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Very close to your hotel is a place called Struisvogel (Ostrich). They do a pretty good 3 course meal that shouldn't break the bank.

My favorite Dutch restaurant at the moment is Hap Hmm (note that they close early, details on the website: http://www.hap-hmm.nl/). Although, in my opinion the best Dutch food is generally served more during the winter (stamppot, pea soup, etc.

)

Speaking of Stamppot, De Blauwe Hollander could also work out, although it is in a more touristy place and can be more expensive.

Another place that is supposed to be good (but I haven't made it to yet) is Moeder's.

Pannenkoeken
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I second the Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis. Note that they keep odd hours - something like 12h to 17h only on Saturdays and Sundays. Sometimes they aren't even open at these times. Also - this place is very small, but my personal fave.

Indo / Surinaams
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Looks like you already got some good recommendations, but I would also suggest Bojo. Certainly not the best Indonesian out there, but it is more of a bang-for-your-buck kind of place.

Tibetan / Nepalese
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Sherpa is a nice place to try as well, if you have never had Tibetan or Nepalese before. Not typically Dutch, but a nice alternative nonetheless.

[dutchgrub]

Wow! Lots of great recommendations by ridgeback, markemorse, and rastan!

Since you mentioned cured fish, you might like Frank's Smoke House: http://www.smokehouse.nl/ It's not a restaurant, but a shop and traiteur. They have great smoked salmon, mackerel, herring and all sorts of other smoked stuff.

And I think Temo Doeloe is on Utrechtsestraat, not Spuistraat: http://www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl/

dutchgrub
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www.dutchgrub.com