Dutch Cuisine

Dutch Cuisine - an oxymoron or something to be explored? If you go for the last, here’s a list of pleasant Dutch restaurants that serve more than a kroket or bitterbal.

Greetje - a Dutch Delight.
Set in an old Amsterdam house, in the hidden corner of the old entranchment (oude schans) you’ll find Amsterdam gezelligheid as it must have been a century ago- it is almost as if you are moving back into time. Invite your foreign friends from abroad to introduce them to Dutch cuisine - not an oxymoron! I even took my Italian mother-in-law, who appreciated the dishes (but… naturalmente… it was not as good as cucina italiana). Restaurant Greetje, Peperstraat 23-25, Amsterdam Centre East (very east, that is), T. 77 97 450

Moeders - No one cooks better than Mama!
Moeders is Dutch for ‘Mothers’. The whole cozy restaurant is decorated with pictures of guests’ their mothers (see photo right). It is here that I realized that Dutch food is true comfort-food, eg suddervlees (braised steak), hotchpotch and bitterkoekjes ice cream (cannot explain this flavour, you just need to try it). Portions are good and pricing even better. Being at Moeders is always a pleasant experience. Moeders, Rozengracht 251, Amsterdam Centre, T. 020-6267957

Restaurant Spelt - we need to check it out.
This Dutch restaurant is on my to-go-visit list: the menu boasts authentic Dutch food as creamy mustard soup and Cruezes Zealand (- Zeeland is a Dutch province on the south of Rotterdam). The restaurant looks styling on pictures. Has anyone already dined here? If so, please reply! Restaurant Spelt, Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 5A, Amsterdam Centre, T. 420 70 22

Dorrius - not to be missed!
Dorrius was already a great success and now, after the refurbishment, the new Dorrius has become a place not to be missed for foreigners. Dorrius shows that traditional restaurants do not need to be dark and brown; at this styling and light restaurant typical Dutch cuisine is served with flair. The well-known herring is on the menu and, for real men, the popular Hunter’s hotpot. Eet smakelijk! Dorrius, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 5, Amsterdam Centre, T. 420 22 24

Eau de Vie - surprisingly (un)Dutch
Only since my visit to De Bokkerdoorns (see below) am I open to Dutch cuisine. Little did I know that I had already been enjoying Dutch food! At Eau de Vie - a classy, small restaurant in Amstedam South- Dutch food is served with such style that I had mixed it up with French cuisine. Sevice was also unDutch elegant. May be the restaurant should be renamed to Levenswater or Vreugde des Leven (Joy of Life), because The Netherlands must be proud of such a restaurant. Eau de Vie, Maasstraat 20, Rivierenbuurt Amsterdam, T. 662 95 88

Contrast - French cuisine goes Dutch
Contrast is a trendy restaurant with a trendy decor, trendy clientele and consequently trendy ambiance. As can be expected with trendy places, the menu is fusion: French cuisine with the usage of (seasonal) Dutch ingredients. Like many other trendy restaurants, the service is good (when it's not too busy, that is) and the food is of decent quality. My advice: visit Contrast on a weekday evening when it is not to busy and I trust you'll have a great, uhm, I mean, trendy eve! Contrast, Ferdinand Bolstraat 178, De Pijp Amsterdam, T. 471 55 44

De Bokkedoorns- Best Dutch restaurant in the “whole wide world”
Hidden in the dunes west of Haarlem, you’ll find De Bokkedoorns - a restaurant that deserves every bit of the two Michelin stars they are awarded each year. The menu and service are of such a high level, it cannot be described. You just need to trust me. De Bokkedoorns, Wethouder van Gelukpark, Zeeweg 53, Overveen, T. 023-526 36 00

rather disappointing:
De Vijff Vlieghen - poor price-quality, may be they are trapped by their own success?

Febo - great price-quality, service cannot be faster, and certainly a Dutch success story: an ATM for E1 food…