Where to find Amsterdam’s best comfort food
With everything from Mexican tacos to cheese-filled Georgian khachapuri gracing the kitchens of new canal-side eateries, Amsterdam is in the grip of a world-food frenzy. But its native roster of old-school treats remains one of the most appealing, under-the-radar experiences of a visit to the Netherlands’ gorgeous capital.
If these eclectic Dutch dishes have one thing in common, it’s a certain… robustness. Safe to say that, with more bicycles than people, Amsterdam is not a city that fears the carbohydrate. From piping-hot bitterballen to the Indo-Dutch rijsttaffel, these scrumptious staples will keep your tastebuds amused from morning until midnight. Time to loosen your belt and get on your bike: here are five of the best.
Pancakes at Bakers & Roasters
Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 54, 1072 BHGranted, there’s no shortage of pancake purveyors in Amsterdam, but some risk leaving you feeling a little, well, flat. There are no such concerns at Bakers & Roasters, the New Zealand style café with Brazilian accents in De Pijp. The maple syrup-drenched pancakes at this local favourite come accessorised with bananas, blueberries and bacon – basically nice things beginning with ‘b’.
Cheese at 212
Amstel 212, 1017 AHA devotion to dairy produce is widely thought to be the reason for the Dutch population’s famously statuesque proportions. While it may be too late to kick-start your own growth spurt, you’ll certainly have fun trying at this intimate restaurant on the bank of the river Amstel. 212 boasts the most Instagrammable all-Dutch cheese ‘trolley’ in town, a veritable homage to local fromage.
Bitterballen at Eetsalon Van Dobben
Korte Reguliersdwarsstraat 5-7-9, 1017 BHWhen done right, the spherical Dutch pub snack of choice is a piping hot morsel of meaty, deep-fried goodness coated in breadcrumbs. Needless to say they do it right at Van Dobben, a pristine venerated canteen down a backstreet just shy of the bustling Rembrandtplein. Their veal bitterballen, served with a smear of mustard, are the perfect winter warmer. Consume with a side of pea and ham soup.
Stamppot at Moeders
Rozengracht 251, 1016 SXDutch cuisine often involves much enthusiastic mashing of tubers. Hence the beloved local delicacy of stamppot, which dates from the early 1600s. It’s a delicious pile of boiled and mashed vegetables, often served with a chopped sausage. Appropriately, Moeders – a restaurant devoted to the mothers of the staff and diners – excels at this homely comfort food.
Rijsttafel at Café AMOI
Kinkerstraat 53AIII, 1053 DETranslating as ‘rice table’, this Dutch take on a traditional West Sumatran banquet can incorporate anything from duck roasted in banana leaves to tofu omelette. Chicken in satay sauce is a familiar staple. Situated in the foodie Oud-West, Café Amoi is the funky younger sibling of now-closed Indonesian restaurant Sarang Mas – a great place to get to grips with Indo-Dutch cuisine.