Eating and Drinking, Amsterdam

These fast food outlets, recognisable by their yellow signage, are all over Amsterdam but please if you value your health you will resist. All of FEBO's food is deep fried and made up of who knows what cuts of meat mixed with fat served in a vending machine.

The food is placed inside a clear window box the idea being you can view what you wish to purchase but it normally looks unappetising enough. Of course in English culture a kebab is the drunken food of choice for late night munchies so this must be the dutch choice.

The choices are various kroket, frikaddel, hamburger & chicken satay most costing around Euro 1.50 a snack.

Unique Suggestions: My advice is stay away rather buy a hot dog from a street vendor these are delicious or if you must buy kroket purchase them from a reputable place.

I don't like to do any "tourist trap" tips very often, as I feel it may be unfair, and I may have just had bad timing. But the more I think about it, if it is indeed a "trap" then maybe I can save someone a few Euros, so here goes.

I see Indrapura rated as one of the top rijsttaffels in town a lot on the web. I found it to be disappointing and the most expensive I have ever had.

The evening of 9/19/03 when I ate there, the food was bland (rice tables are supposed to be spicy imho).

The atmosphere was upscale, so that is probably what I was paying for. Nice fixtures and appointments, and a good view out the window at the Rembrandtplein.

But I would prefer Kantjil (see my restaurant tips) or some of the other lesser-appointed places I have been in the past and get a good, spicy rijsttaffel than get what I got, especially when it cost $82 Euros (almost $110 @ current xchange rate) for 2 people.

Just my experience on that particular day in 2003.
I hope it was just a fluke and if you goto Indrapura you have a great time

Unique Suggestions: Enjoy the view and order cheap.

Fun Alternatives: I have 3 other restaurants listed on my pages under restaurants tab:
Daves ADam restaurant recommendations

I've also heard Puri Mas is very good, but it's hard to get to them all.

Besides, upon reflection, I think your first Rijsttaffel is always your best if it is at a good place like Kantjil & de Tijger.

What a choice! Could you go in and NOT buy some? I couldn't!

I think this shop was called Puccini, but not sure now - it was tucked away in a backstreet alongside a canal somewhere!

Ok, I have to be honest here - they did actually look better than they tasted - but the choosing bit from the amazing display and the aroma inside the shop was very good!!

And don't expect much change from a few Euros for just a couple of chocs either!

Unique Suggestions: Don't let your eyes get bigger than your belly - just buy a couple - they are larger than usual chocs too!!

Fun Alternatives: These are a nice choccy fix if nothing else is around - but don't expect them to compare with Belgian chocs!!

If you are looking for a nice place to eat or to buy souvenirs, Damrak may be one of your first adresses. Anyway, most prices are expensive. And don't even think to buy a soft drink at one of the souvenir shops. You can pay for a can 2 € or even more.

Fun Alternatives: Try Leidsestraat and Leidesplein, there are also souvenir shops and cafés and the prices are less expensive. There's also an Albert Heijn supermarket where you can buy your drinks and groceries. A nice area for cafés is also Prinsengracht near Westerkerk. You can find even better and cheaper restaurants at the Jordaan district.

This is not recommended,I went to red light 3 times in my stay in Amsterdam and tried to eat there twice but didnt enjoy with the food taste.

its is not recommended to eat in the red light.

Fun Alternatives: you can eat either in Dam square or Damrak or Liedsplien

I prefer Damrak myself.
but coffee shops I prefer Liedsplien

Boom Chicago in the Leidseplein was a total bust. Its sad to see American actors talk crap about being American. If you are a PATRIOT avoid this place. You'll be disgusted at what the sellouts say to try to get a few laughs from the crowd.

Unique Suggestions: Order dinner and drinks and when the show starts and you start getting disgusted with it, wait till they ask for crowd suggestions, whistle and yell stuff until you are asked to leave, make sure you ask for your money back...we got our 30 euros back, so we ended up having dinner and drinks for free....maybe it wasn't a total bust after thinking about again LOL!

This show sucks! I couldn't believe how mediocre the comedians and their subjects were... Anyways, the food was atrocious. Basically, you should avoid this place b/c it's a rip-off.

Unique Suggestions: If you choose to go see Boom Chicago, don't order any of the food. But, get really wasted, maybe that will make it more bearable.

Well yeah ok all the numerous cafes on the squares look nice and inviting, and I'm not saying, don't go at all.... but be careful, cos most of them are tourist traps!! The food and yes, even drinks/coffees are reaallly expensive! It's like that wherever you go, so you probably already know all this crap........ :)

Unique Suggestions: Just have maybe one drink, to enjoy just sitting down and 'people watch' and if you're lucky, an entertainer will pop by and keep you amused for a good half hour!! You'll be surprised at what some people would get up to!! hehe.. but after he's done, he'll expect a tip.

Fun Alternatives: An alternative would be to just simply have a meal in one of the side streets, which serve just as good food and at a cheaper price!!