Descripción: This engaging, established restaurant attracts a diverse mix of people, and depending on when you visit, you'll encounter folks from the world over, including local concert-goers, business professionals, and well-to-do city denizens. The menu boasts a broad scope, pulling inspiration from Asia, the Continent, and the Mediterranean world. In fact, you're likely to see sauteed Dover sole, veal, venison, spring rolls, black pudding, and seafood lasagna among other standouts on the menu. Great outdoor dining and a fantastic Sunday brunch are other reasons to drop by.

 

Descripción: Eminently convenient for travelers to Amsterdam, this fantastic Italian restaurant lies in a hotel in the city center. Awarded for its fine cuisine, the delightful place harks back to the early part of the century with its decor and evokes the southern Mediterranean with its accomplished cuisine. Dishes are rife with flavor and fresh ingredients, from seafood to herbs, meats, and seasonal vegetables. Group functions are welcomed.

 

Descripción: Set on the tip of a pier overlooking the IJ river, this intimate restaurant is a well-kept secret, thanks to its location behind Central Station. Dating from the 1930s, the structure is small, comprised of two rooms, and boasts candlelight and great views. The menu features culinary styles from western Europe and tucks in a few Asian influences as well. The chef isn't afraid to expand horizons with ingredients and preparation, so take in the surprises (and the quality) with a smile and a ready appetite. Ask for the room overlooking the water for the best ambience.

 

Descripción: JORDAAN. The seductive curves of Art Nouveau style characterize this delightful restaurant, which gleams with soft lighting and polished surfaces. Outside, the juncture of two canals sets the scene for al fresco dining. To start a meal, you might consider ravioli stuffed with game mousse or rolled eggplant with Tallegio cheese. Main courses include grilled ox tongue, venison, steak, veal cutlet, pumpkin gnocchi, and suckling pig. Noisy at times, the much-frequented place also requests reservations.

 

Descripción: In the evenings, this small place will set you up with a bowl of pasta and a crisp salad, but during the day, folks clamor for substantial sandwiches, lush soups, and the like. All ingredients are inevitably top-notch and an added bonus is that many options are named for real and fictional personalities. As such, you can munch on Pavarotti, the opera singer sandwich, or maybe dig into Victoria Beckham, the onetime Spice Girl concoction. Bagels also have clever names, and fruity shakes are practically required.

 

Descripción: JORDAAN. A spacious dining room, punctuated by skylights and an open kitchen, adds character to this perennially popular restaurant. Frequented by locals and always crowded, Toscanini specializes in southern Italian cuisine and stays the mark with its homemade foods. Fresh breads and pastas, Italian wines, and authentic meat and seafood dishes convince patrons to return again and again. Fixed menus, along with daily specials, increase the options. Reservations are necessary, as you'll see.