Diavolo Rosso wrote:
I'm going tomorrow. Any RLFANS Top Tips welcome.
If you want steaks – there are plenty of decent South American steak houses down Korte Leidsedwarsstraat, which is just off the Leidseplein.
That takes you down to Leidekruisstraat. If you turn left, there are a couple of traditional Dutch restaurants if you fancy something along those lines. The Pantry has (or certainly used to have) great smoked eel, and there's also Kop van Jut, where I'd very happily recommend the Erwtensoep if it's not much warmer – that's a form of pea and ham soup, served with smoked bacon on dark bread. It's seriously warming. Their bitterballen are nice too.
Look out for poffertjes – a sort of Dutch Scotch pancake, but sweeter. You can get a nice plate as an alternative breakfast at a cafe on the Bloemenmarkt (can't remember its name, but it does English breakfasts etc).
Chips have to be consumed with mayo – Amsterdam is where I picked up this filthy habit.
And I have fond memories of getting a frank with sauerkraut from the stand outside the Westerkerk.
If you want a real 'brown cafe' – a traditional, working-class bar – then try Café Heuvel, which is on the Prinsengracht, just up from the Rijksmuseum. So central and yet remarkably untouristy.
Spent a wonderful New Year's Day night in there a few years ago.
