What comes to mind when you think of Dutch food? For me, it’s Gouda cheese and stroopwafels. But surely a culture of explorers and spice traders must have more to offer. With one full week in Amsterdam, I had plenty of time to sample the national dishes. This Amsterdam restaurant guide features my best meals of the week. Do you have a favorite Amsterdam restaurant? Share it in the comments!
Café Loetje
My first meal at Café Loetje was so delicious I went back a second time later in the week. The house specialty is a thick filet of tender steak slathered in buttery gravy. My mouth waters looking at the photo! You can get the steak topped with extras like sautéed liver and onions, but sometimes plain is best.
For something a little “lighter,” I recommend the pork schnitzel. Side salads are large enough for two to share, but you might want your own order of crispy fries.
Loetje is a good place to sample Dutch bitterballen, though I preferred the more delicate flavor of the shrimp kroketten. Bitterballen are deep-fried veal meatballs with a texture reminiscent of Spanish croquettes. These tasty little nougats are best served with grainy mustard and icy beer. Loetje’s apple pie is also excellent, should you manage to save any room.
Moeders Restaurant
It’s hard to imagine a more charming restaurant than Moeders, which is Dutch for Mothers. The walls are plastered with photos of smiling, happy women – mothers of people who have dined there over the years. Tables are set with mismatched china, also given to the restaurant by generous patrons. The end result is a comforting, homey atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease.
Moeders’ cooking is equally satisfying, featuring an assortment of Dutch classics and comfort food. I opted for “Mother’s spare-ribs,” a half portion of delectable barbecue ribs served with fries and a cabbage salad. Those with bigger appetites should order the “Father” sized portion. Reservations are essential.
The Pantry
Another cozy spot is The Pantry. This restaurant specializes in Dutch home cooking with a focus on quality over quantity. And the service here can’t be beat. When we showed up without a reservation, I mentioned to the waiter that we had just arrived in town. He was so tickled that we chose his restaurant for our first meal, that he made room for us even though they were fully booked. His warm hospitality set the tone for the entire trip!
The Pantry’s limited number of dishes are divided into four set menus with three courses each. My set began with crunchy, gooey goat cheese croquettes. Next came stamppot, a hearty casserole of mashed potato, cauliflower, curried ground beef, and Dutch cheese. My meal ended with a plate of fluffy poffertjes, or mini pancakes dusted with powdered sugar. The photos do not do the flavors justice!
Long Pura
Dutch food is delicious, but it’s too heavy to eat every day for a week. To mix things up, I checked out Amsterdam’s Indonesian food scene. The Dutch East India Company was established in what is now Indonesia in the early 17th century. A booming spice trade was soon underway, introducing the exotic flavors of Southeast Asia to Northern Europe. Dutch colonists also introduced the rijsttafel, or rice table, as a means of tasting many Indonesian dishes in one sitting.
We enjoyed our rijsttafel at Restaurant Long Pura, which recreates the ambiance of a Balinese temple in the middle of Amsterdam. We were each served a generously-sized appetizer, then given a total of 12 dishes to share. The chicken satay, egg in a spicy chili sauce, sautéed green beans with tofu, and chicken stewed in coconut milk were especially memorable.
La Oliva
While the Dutch Republic was dominating the eastern spice trade, the surrounding Low Countries were under the thumb of the Spanish Empire. Today, Spanish culture can be enjoyed in Amsterdam with tapas bars all over the city.
At La Oliva, beautiful little pintxos line the bar, each more tempting than the last. My friends and I made our selections after having them all described by the waitstaff, and toasted a successful day of sightseeing with glasses of Rioja.
Winkel 43
Winkel 43 is an Amsterdam institution, famous for its apple pie. Each towering slice is crammed with tender slices of cinnamon apples and topped with fresh cream. You will absolutely want your own piece!
Pancakes Amsterdam
Pancakes Amsterdam is a great place to try another Dutch treat, pancakes. (They are like crepes, not American-style pancakes.) The traditional flavor combination is bacon, cheese, and apple, but I mixed things up with goat cheese, spinach, and pine nuts. It was out of this world! Pancakes Amsterdam uses a buckwheat flour batter for its dinner plate-sized creations, though you can request gluten-free if needed.
B&B Keizers Canal
My days in Amsterdam began with a lovely breakfast prepared by Paulo, the wonderful host of our B&B. He provided us with assorted cheeses and cured meats, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, fresh fruit and orange juice, and eggs cooked however we wanted. While we ate, Paulo provided helpful advice about our day’s agenda and kept our coffee cups full.
The B&B’s two basement rooms are surprisingly large and bright, and the central location makes it a great base for sightseeing. Since my friends and I rented both rooms, it was like we had our own private house for the week.
Planning a trip to Amsterdam and wondering where to eat?
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