Amstelveen Restaurants

NOTE THAT PRAQ MOVED TO AMSTERDAM!

IJdijk 8
1095KM Amsterdam
T 020 4961570
info@praq.nl

PRAQ is a trendy restaurant that takes kids into account:

Besides a special menu for kids up to 12 years old (served on unbreakable plates), there is a smoke-free playing room for kids where they can enjoy themselves while you are enjoying your excellent food. There even is a special room for babies, where you can change diapers or breast-feed in privacy. Especially in the weekends it is a good idea to make a reservation!

Located next to the river Amstel, they also have a terrace where you can eat with superb view.

This restaurant has a great format:

You can eat here for 2.5 hours, in 5 rounds.

During each round, you can select 4 items from the menu.

This is more than enough for even the biggest eaters, in fact after round 3 most of our group could not have too much more...

Price 2011: 22.95 euro during the week, 24.95 euro in the weekends. Kids up to 10 years pay 10 euros. Excluding drinks.

Vegetarian and/or non-fish dishes available.

It gets busy, so making a reservation is recommended!

Warning: Ordered dishes that remain untouched by those with bigger eyes than stomachs, are charged 1 or 2 euros. This in order not to waste food!

It's hard to describe this popular local restaurant as anything other than absolutely fantastic. We've lived in Amstelveen for 9 years and this is a regular favourite for us. We came from Los Angeles and this restaurant is right up there with California's best. The food is really first class - authentic, fresh, consistantly good. And, compared to the vast majority of Japanese restaurants, really great value. A minor point is that the menu is pretty static, although there are "specials". A typical meal for 4 costs EUR 25-30 per person, including drinks. Whilst appearing from the outside (and inside) to be a traditional Japanese restaurant, the atmosphere is very relaxed. (OK It's not Paradise Sushi in Hermosa Beach)

Amstelveen has the largest number of Japanese people of any city in The Netherlands - due to it having the huge Canon European headquarters with Sony and Nisson nearby. This is reflected in the patronage of this restaurant. Typically more than half of the diners are Japanese - clearly a very good sign. We've noticed that Japanese families quite regularly order "Patat" (Dutch French Fries/Chips)!

Best to go early when it opens at 6pm - it's full before 7pm. Also the earlier you are there, the faster the food arrives. If you want to sit at the sunken tables (which are the most fun for kids), you need to book in advance AND you need to have a party of at least 4. The biggest sunken table seats about 8-10.

Thouroughly recommended.

Favorite Dish: Tanuki Udon Soup (note that the Udon noodles are only available Thurs-Sun)
Wafu salad
Great sushi; the real thing with lukewarm rice and fresh fish - plus good handrolls.

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A pancake house in the Amsterdamse Bos, the Amsterdam Forest. A great place to have a break during any activity in the forest.

Especially very nice for children, there is a playground and a little animal farm, even with deers!

Have a look at their website (English and Dutch) for directions, menu and more pictures.

Can be reached by ferryboat in the weekends, see my other tips.

Favorite Dish: Pancakes!

A very cosy cafe/restaurant. Good food, big portions, very friendly personnel.

Every 2nd Friday of the month live bands and free entrance.

Open: Sunday-Thurday 12.00-02.00, Friday 12.00-03.00. CLOSED ON SATURDAYS!

The one and only cafe/restaurant of the student neighbourhood/campus Uilenstede.

Decent food for student prices. Cheap drinks compared to the prices in the center of Amsterdam!

Opens at 17.00, after 21.30 the kitchen closes but you can still order snacks.

It is possible to play darts, and sometimes there are special events such as karaoke, check the website.

In the summer there is a terrace outside.

Favorite Dish: Kipsate with fries is their all-time special.

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I had two dishes here, the all you can eat ribs, and the all you can eat mussels. Both were fabulous enough to get me back there a second time with my mouth watering. Beer is cheap and the all you can eats are like $15. Ideal for the Atkins diet. This is a local place but they seemed to be not the least set back by speaking English. At least one night. They also returned my wife's wallet to her absolutely intact to the last penny after she forgot it there for several hours. And of course this review can't be complete without saying the waitresses are the best looking, most gorgeous waitresses in the entire world.

Favorite Dish: I can't decide whether its the ribs or the mussels. Both are great.