Happy & Healthy
THE 11 RESTAURANTS WHERE YOU (HOPEFULLY) CAN ALWAYS GO
Last Friday night I thought: yaassss, I really want to eat at a nice new place in Amsterdam. So I put on my nicest outfit and jumped on my bike. On the way, I would call ahead to a nice restaurant. So said, so done. I called Choux. I called Kaagman & Kortekaas. I called Gin Neo Bistro. I called Breda. I called Toscanini. But everything was completely full. And then I didn't know what to do anymore and it almost went black before my eyes.
Read here how May-Britt also came up with a solution for this Amsterdam dining problem.
Okay. After this rather naïve action, I was completely blocked on the street, of course in the pouring rain again. Of course, at that moment I could have cycled straight to the nearest brown café for bitterballen and toasties, but – and maybe this is just me – when I want to eat out at something NICE, well, then I really want to eat out at something NICE. Then I don't feel like burning my mouth on six scalding hot bitterballen in some pub.
THERE! THAT'S IT!
Fortunately, it all turned out well in the end, because at the Hoxton (restaurant Lotti’s) I was hallelujah on the waiting list. At 9:00 PM I was enjoying a pretty decent rib-eye. At a table with a snow-white tablecloth and nicely polished glasses.
Moreover, that evening I decided as a grand finale that no one ever has to experience this again, and therefore I present to you a great list of saving culinary angels – in random order. Twelve places in the capital where you (with a bit of luck, it must be said) can still unexpectedly go. Always try to call ahead, though. And please don't hit me if the restaurant of your choice is still full. It remains Amsterdam, right.
1. Little Saigon on the Zeedijk or Haarlemmerdijk: for delicious Vietnamese street food. Really good food and there is usually always space. Note: the decor is a bit tight.
2. Baut Zuid. Really not always (!) full, and yet it has delicious food and is a great place to hang out. Think: raw, warm, and arty. Seriously, you really want to go.
3. The Pool in the former club Trouw building. With fabulous Miami vibe: pink tiles, flamingos, neon lights, and flashy bistro chairs in yellow, green, blue, and white. The cuisine is Mediterranean, and you mainly find dishes to share, such as pizettes, souvlaki, and baba ganoush. Oh, and there are nice cocktails and sherry (!).
4. The Foodhallen in Amsterdam-West are of course also an option: in this beautiful hall with various top-notch eateries, there are usually two seats free. In the worst case, you might have to wait twenty minutes, but that's not so bad with a first glass in hand.
5. The Hoxton. In my experience, there is usually always space for two in the hotel bar. Order wine, beer, or a cocktail and meanwhile put yourself on the waiting list at restaurant Lotti’s (also in the hotel). Before you know it, you're sitting there enjoying a nice meal.
6. Spaghetteria. A wonderfully relaxed place where you eat excellent spaghetti at large tables with each other. Sometimes you have to wait a bit, but you always end up with a delicious spaghetti in front of you. And man, it's so cozy there.
7. Daalder. The chefs have since moved to restaurant Breda (and they are really ruling the place there, my god, the food is so good). Anyway, the food at Daalder is still very good. And lately, they occasionally still have a spot free.
8. Mana Mana is a super cool vegetarian restaurant with the best hummus in the city. It's really fun there.
9. De Japanner. Note: you cannot make reservations here (until 7:00 PM you can). A wildly cozy place and very nice Japanese snacks. A great and popular happening.
10. Castell is also a great choice. You can order very nice steaks from the charcoal grill. Plus: the location is nice and central (Leidseplein) and they have a fireplace.
11. Bar Brå is a seriously nice living room café with attractive pop-up menus. Think: top-notch tacos, Korean food, or curries. Really nice.
Thanks to the incredibly handsome colleagues from FavorFlav.
