If you like a good steak...

then your choice in Amsterdam should be easy. Yes the city is infested with Argentinean steakhouses, and why that I still do not know... and yes they are mostly OK, but nothing beats the steak at Loetjes. 


It lacks the kitch ambiance of your average steakhouse, it's a very simple cosy looking Dutch cafe, and your options are easy: steak and you can add on a salad or fries or both, or you can share either of those. There are some more items on the menu, I once had the schnitzel there which was also worth the visit, but  at the end of the day, when you see all those juicy steaks being served at every table you just cannot find the courage to order anything else. Besides, you can smell the steaks from a few hundred meters away, so your body is already calling for one before you even enter. This is why I usually avoid biking too close to it on my way home in the evening...


Food:*****
Drinks:***

Service:****

Ambiance: *****

Location: ****

I heart Edamame

And I must get my fix at least a couple of times a month. So far I've discovered three good Japanese places, and here they are, in order of preference: 


Akitsu, it even has two low Japanese tables for the ones with good blood circulation that are able to bare a whole dinner with your legs crossed. Good food, decent ambiance, good service  and larger than the other ones.  The menu is extensive, just the way I like it, even if I then always end up ordering the same.


Tomo Sushi, a quiet little gem in the heart od city centre madness. Sushi to die for that melts in your mouth, so fresh that it's prepared right in front of you. It's a modern looking place, the menu is not that extensive and I would go there primarily for the sushi, not the warm dishes. A little on the pricey side though.


Otaru, my favorite. Really good food and great variety. The interior is slightly kitch, just the way I like it!  Prices are ok, even better is that from Sunday to Wednesday you can have combo menus and the second menu is half price. Service is good and the location is excellent (for me at least). I also love that they serve you a small portion of pickled vegetables before your dinner.Yum yum yum. And this is the one I will rate...
Food:*****

Drinks:****
Service:*****

Ambiance: *****

Location: *****

But most importantly... they all serve Edamame! 

Sometimes it's more about the atmosphere

I've only been once to Brasserie Witteveen in the Pijp, but I'm already looking forward to going back. Not so much for the food, but more for the whole atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, the menu is nothing out of the ordinary, but the food is actually really good, we had the veal burger and it was delish, fries included!

But what I love is the relaxed atmosphere, trendy interior and the bright and spacious feel to the place. I am am actually super eager to have breakfast there as I think it could easily become a morning weekend favorite! I can already picture myself slowly sipping on my cappuccino...

Food:****
Drinks:****
Service:****

Ambiance: *****

Location: ***
www.brasseriewitteveen.nl

Dutch treats

I feel like Amsterdam is full of little treats, sometimes all you gotta do is just be outside...

Going Local

One evening I thought: ' That's it! Freddie's gotta try some real Dutch food' and not pancakes which are an easy option (I don't actually think I know anyone who doesn't like pancakes). I'm talking about hard core stamppot with rookworst! So we headed to Bij Ons, near the Rozengracht.

Perhaps it's due  to my lack of love for Dutch cuisine, perhaps we didn't order the best options on the menu (Freddie got stamppot with sauerkraut which can be pretty tiring after a few bites) but I would not go there again unless I had visitors who are keen on trying Dutch food.

The interior is simple but I find it lacks Dutch gezelligheid, the service was a bit all over the place and the place is really very small. Having said that, ratings on other sites are great and I would still recommend this to anyone who comes to visit, it just wouldn't be one of my 'regulars'.

Food:***
Drinks:**
Service:*** 

Ambiance: **

Location: *****
www.bistrobijons.nl

No Nachos No Glory

I did it, I found my corner of Mexican joy. And what's even better is that I get to choose from 2 locations!

Los Pilones is my kind of Mexican, very laid back, great food and excellent cocktails. And last but not least, you can choose from chicken, beef, vegetarian and shrimp! Funnily enough I have never been to Mexico but my time in San Diego has taught me to love any mexican food that comes with shrimp.

The restaurants are in the city centre (Kerkstraat 63)  and in the Jordaan (1ste Anjelierssdwarstraat 6), I can't say which I prefer as they are both nice, the former feels more like a dark mexican bar where you can also eat at the counter, whereas the latter feels more like a restaurant, but with a cheerful and still very relaxed atmosphere.

The margaritas are great but so are the other cocktails, as for food my safe bet is the soft shell taco with shrimp, cheese, peppers and onions. If that just scares you, trust me the beef or chicken options are also delish!

Food:*****
Drinks:*****
Service:**** 

Ambiance: *****

Location: *****
www.lospilones.com

PS: Some say Rosa's Canina is good but my time there was a big disappointment.

Serious about pizza

It's cliché but pizza is one of my favorite things of all and  even though my stomach can handle pretty much any pizza, from frozen to tacky wanna-be-Italian restaurant, I still spend a serious fraction of my time in a new city finding THE pizza place. 

So far I haven't tried enough places to say that Le 4 Stagioni is THE pizza place in Amsterdam, but it sure feels like a good runner up.  The location is great (Oud Zuid), far enough to not be a tourist location and yet very central, the place is a former butcher and kept its antique wall tiles, and when the sun is shining it's lovely to sit outside on the quiet residential square where you feel like a true local. And last but not least, the pizza is really good! 

My favorite time to go is on a sunny Sunday evening, it just feels like the perfect way to end a weekend. Just be aware that you cannot book a table unless you are 4 or more and the place is often busy!

I still have a couple of pizza places to discover before I can make my final verdict, but this sure is a good starting point.

Food:*****
Drinks:***
Service:*** (can vary a lot)

Ambiance: *****

Location: *****
http://www.le4stagioni.nl/

Tough time choosing

It was hard for me to pick which place to talk about first, an equally difficult pick is deciding when to go to Bazar. Will it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner? The choice is difficult as all of the above are good and the menu has a lot to offer. In Amsterdam, Bazar is located in an old synagogue on the Albert Cuyp and serves North African and Middle-Eastern food. The place is big and incredibly loud, so I definitely wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for a quiet intimate dinner. Service can also be quite slow and table bookings aren't 100% error proof, but despite all of that, if you are looking for a special setting with a casual feeling to it with generous and tasty portions, then this is your place!

As I mentioned the menu is vast but my obsession is the Tavuk Sis Kebab, which comes with a curry mayo that is delish!  The mornings are far more quiet and relaxed and you won't be able to eat for the rest of the day.

Here's me having a tough time choosing....

Ambiance: ****
Food:****
Drinks:**
Service:**
Location: *****
http://www.bazaramsterdam.nl/