Restaurant Blauw, Amstelveenseweg 158-160, 1075 XN Amsterdam, Netherlands
If you only had one night in Amsterdam I would absolutely point you in this direction for dinner. Blauw was one of the best culinary encounters I have had, hands down. Reservations are a must. The scene is trendy, yet comfortable and traditional. You’re eating Indonesian cuisine, and it’d be a sin to miss experiencing a rijsttafel or rice table. The very first bite of complimentary crackers and sauces was exquisite, this was going to be a good night.
We decided to share a the selera blauw rice table, an extra ten euro charge for sharing, but the right move because the amount of food that was about to come out was borderline absurd. A sea of tiny plates flooded out, almost comically, crowding our little table.
Chicken satay, goat satay, tumeric beef, spicy beef, sweet soy pork, fish curry, spicy fish, meat-potato pastry, fried banana, tofu soy sauce, egg in sambal sauce, roasted coconut, vegetables with peanut sauce, vegetables with coconut sauce, spicy fried potatoes, sweet-sour cucumber, white rice and fried rice. Holy mambo-jambo. For us it was perfect, because she’s more of a meat eater and I’m more a fish eater and there were so many different veggies to try out! So many unique flavors, every bite was righteous.
Bazar, Albert Cuypstraat 182, 1073 BL Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nestled right in with the Albert Cuyp Market there are a lot of options to choose from in this area, but Bazar is the way to go. You’ll find Middle Eastern cuisine in a big gorgeous building with a colorful conglomeration of decorations (even the bathroom is beautiful)!
I started with the mint tea, strong with fresh plentiful leaves, which was wonderful on a chilly afternoon. Since it was cold I thought, soup and a sandwich sounds good! I had no idea the feast that was coming my way, but when I saw it I said, bring it on! As we were walking all day I was famished.
The lentil soup and falafel pita were both quality, I especially loved the garlic dipping sauce.
Soup en Zo, Jodenbreestraat 94, 1011 NS Amsterdam, Netherlands
A little hole in the wall with some seriously fresh and scrumptious soups, with names that will take you all over the world. There are only a few on rotation per day, ranging from Tuscany tomato, Texan chili, North African split pea with mint, Thai black-eyed pea soup, and Brazilian bean soup. Ask for samples before you commit, on our visit the employees were more than happy to oblige. A simple and affordable lunch, perfect for another chilly day in Amsterdam!