O'Reillys - Amsterdam

On our last day in Amsterdam, we had been walking around with Jeff and Kyaw trying to decide where to eat. You know how that can be sometimes, 4 people with 4 opinions and low blood sugar. We came across this Irish pub and decided to give it a go. They were very busy on this Sunday afternoon with soccer and rugby playing on the many televisions. We found a table and were promptly greeted by our server, Rashelle. Dan and I ordered paninis (5.90 euro) with a side of fries (5.50) and the boys shared a Sunday roast beef (14.90).  Everyone but me drank water, I ordered a coke (2.20) and it was so good I ordered another for 2.20. The prices were a little high, but the food was good and fast. We were, after all, close to the big city square and that probably drove the prices.
I have no idea what happened to the pictures of the food, I always take them, but I might have filed them incorrectly.
They are located at Paleisstraat 103 1012 ZL Amsterdam   www.oreillys.com

Sampurna - Amsterdam

From the early 1600's until 1945, Indonesia was a Dutch colony. Because of that, there are numerous Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam serving Rijsttafel or Rice Table. Simply put, it's a buffet of many small plates that are brought to your table, pretty much all at once. The table becomes so crowded that you almost feel like setting a few dishes on your lap. There are so many things served with each different rijsttafel, so I just copied from the menu to share here.. Dan and I had the Kuning, while Jeff and Kyaw had the Celebes. I did not want the Celebes because there were multiple fish dishes that I knew I would not be able to bring myself to try. We drank Indonesian beer and wine with the meal.  The total bill came to 183.20 euros, so not cheap! The food was good, just a bit too much and some of it was way too spicy. They are located right next to the flower market, so the location is good.
Singel 498 Amsterdam C  +3(0) 20 625 32 64

 

   KUNING RIJSTTAFEL
    2 persons € 28,50 p.p.

 

 

NASI KUNING - yellow saffron rice

SAYUR LODEH

vegetables in coconut milk

RENDANG

tender braised spicy beef

AYAM GORENG KERING

dry fried crispy chicken with chili sauce a side

AYAM RUYAK

delicious fresh chicken in chili lemon leaves

SATE SAPI

tender beef on a skewer with soy sauce

SAMBAL GORENG TELOR

egg in spicy coconut sauce

SAMBAL GORENG BUNCIS

beans in chili tomato sauce

TAHU TEMPEH BLADO

tofu, soybean cheese in gravy chili sauce

SALAT MANGA

young mango in light peanut dressing

ACAR KETIMUN - cucumber pickles

SERUNDENG - spiced coconut

EMPING - nut crackers

CELEBES RIJSTTAFEL
    2 persons - € 34.50 p.p.

LUMPIA IKAN PEDIS

spiced springrolls with sauces or

LEMPAH UDANG

spicy seasoned soup with tomato, shrimps and spring onions

---------------------------------

NASI PUTIH - steamed rice

NASI GORENG - fried rice

DAGING BLADO

tender braissed beef in spicy chili sauce

AYAM SETAN

grilled chicken in green pepper sauce

SATE LILIT

fish on a skewer of lemongrass

SATE AYAM - skewer of chicken

SATE KAMBING - skewer of goat

IKAN BALI

fish of the day in spicy balinese sauce

SAMBAL GORENG BUNCIS

beans in chili tomato sauce

SAMBAL GORENG TEMPEH

fried soybean cheese

ACAR KETIMUN - cucumber pickles

SALAT MANGA

young mango in light peanut dressing

SERUNDENG - spiced coconut

EMPING - nut crackers

Koffiehuis de Hoek - Amsterdam

 

 

On Sunday morning in Amsterdam, Dan wanted to go to a little place we saw the day before. He noticed they had pancakes and he was craving them. The Koffiehuis de Hoek is a small place with about 10 tables and we just happened to walk in when they had one open. We sat and looked at the menu, Dan asked the waitress about the pancakes and she told him they were not as thin as crepes and not as fluffy as American. He ordered the Pannekoeken Natural for 5.75 euros and I chose the Ham and Cheese Omelet for 6.75 euros. We both had orange juice, me a large for 4.30 euros and Dan had a small at 2.40 euros. The oranges were freshly juiced at the counter and the juice was very good. The pancake was another story. It was like a cross between a custard and a pancake. It was served with powdered sugar and maple syrup and neither of us cared for it. The omelet was good, it was full of sliced tomatoes, which cooled it down and they weren't ripe so I just pulled them out. Not a bad place, just not the greatest.

 

They are located at Prinsengracht 341 1016 HK Amsterdam  020-6253872

 



Lindengracht Markt - Amsterdam

I love coming across local street markets when I'm out of town. It's so much fun seeing what the vendors are selling and what the locals are buying. The Lindengracht Markt is in the Jordaan, just a short walk from the Noordermarkt on Lindengracht. This very busy market, that is open only on Saturdays, had all sorts of items up for sale. You could get a fresh fruit smoothie, which both Dan and I did or choose from hundreds of other items. Fish, meat, fruit, veggies, shoes, clothes, toys, flowers.... the list just goes on. If you make it to Amsterdam, check this place out for some local flavor.

Mamma Rosetta - Amsterdam

While walking through the neighborhoods and wandering the markets, a nice little coffee shop is always a welcome sight. Mamma Rosetta was just what we needed on our Saturday in Amsterdam. The little café had a friendly staff and tables inside and out. We chose to sit outside and people watch. Dan had a latte and I had a double espresso and we ate our caramel cheese cake from Kaashuis Tromp - Amsterdam . The little amaretto cookies are also a nice touch.  Just what we needed to reboot!
They are located at Lindengracht 158 1015 KK Amsterdam  020-7520603.

 

Scenes From Amsterdam Unrelated to Food...

The Lobby - Amsterdam

On our Saturday night in Amsterdam, we had dinner with Jeff and Kyaw in our hotel's lobby restaurant, named simply, The Lobby. We had reservations, which are recommended at this busy place. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, great service and wonderful food.

They brought a bread basket to start, with some amazing Dutch butter and these incredibly tasty pickled onions. I could have eaten nothing but the onions, they were so good on the buttered bread! We also had  Wehenstephan Klein,a Dutch beer, to go along with the meal at 3.70 euros a pint.

Dan started with Puy Linzensalade met Buffelricotta en Hummus van Witte Bonen en Munt, which is puy lentil salad with buffalo ricotta and white bean hummus with fresh mint at 11euros.  I started with  Zuurkoolsoep met Bitterbal van Gestoofd Sucadevlees which was a creamy sauerkraut soup with a stewed meat bitterbal also at 11euros. Both starters were very good, I never realized that sauerkraut could taste so good, but at 11 Euros, the price was a little steep.

For dinner , both Dan and I ordered their famous Flammkuchen, traditioneel, flinterdun pizzagerecht uit de Elzas, waarbij de basis van brooddeeg wordt ingesmeerd met de beste kwaliteit creme fraiche en vervolgens wordt belegd met een van de volgende opties, simply put  that means a traditional, thin-crusted pizza dish from the Alsace region of which the basis of bread dough base has a spread of the finest possible creme fraiche and one of the following options:
spek, ui, gruyere, peterselie  or bacon, onion, gruyere cheese, parsley and pompoen, brie de meaux,  gerookte amandel or pumpkin, brie de meaux, smoked almond. I ordered the first one and Dan had the second. They were very good, with a crispy crust and wonderful fresh toppings. The perfect pizzas. I cannot remember Jeff and Kyaw's food, only that they loved it!

A wonderful place to eat in a wonderful place to stay, either way you will not be disappointed.
They are located at Nes 49 Amsterdam 1012 KD  (31) 20-7585275
www.hotlevnesplein.nl

Le Perron Noordermarkt - Amsterdam

 

 

One of my favorite things to do in a European city is shopping in the markets. In the western canal section of the Jordann, there is the small, but very active, Noordermarkt. Here you can find cheese, bread, cakes, vegetables, dairy products, honey, clothing, hand made hats, books and more. We came across a bakery called Le Perron, that was selling their breads as fast as they came out of the ovens. I saw this beautiful black olive baguette that had my name written all over it. We purchased it and when the friendly clerk gave me the bag, the bread was still warm. Needless to say, I ate 1/2 of the bread before we made it to the next market. The rest would have to be eaten later.

 

The Noordermarkt is located just a short walk from the Anne Frank House along the Prinsengracht at 1095 MV Amsterdam.

 



Small Talk Eating House - Amsterdam

 

 We had timed tickets to the van Gogh Museum on Friday and Jeff wanted to find the place before we ate lunch. It rained on us the entire time and it was a very long walk. We could have eaten at many places along the way, but Jeff insisted we find the museum first. When we arrived at the museum, we asked if we could go in and eat at their restaurant. They said no, we could only enter on our ticket time. It's hard to believe that a not for profit would refuse paying customers, but things are different in Europe from America.
The only option within site was the Small Talk Eating House. All I'm going to say is the hot chocolate was good, the pizza was horrible, the service was indifferent and the prices are too high. If you should decide to dine there the address is van Baerlestaat 52 1071 Amsterdam. If I were you I would choose something different.

The museum on the other hand is wonderful! 4 floors of van Gogh, including the above middle picture which is a new discovery. Make sure you get your tickets ahead of time to avoid the lines and eat before you get there.