Amsterdam - Amsterdam Bruges and Brussels - page 187

Three helpful, central locations are: Dam Square (Nieuwezijds
Voorburgwal 226), Mint Tower (Koningsplein 4), and Central
Station (far end of passage under the tracks).
IN wEST AmSTERdAm
Near the Anne Frank House and in the
Jordaan District
Nearly all of these places are within a few scenic blocks of the Anne
Frank House, providing handy lunches and atmospheric dinners in
Amsterdam's most characteristic neighborhood. For locations, see
the map on page 170.
Restaurant de Luwte is romantic, located on a picturesque
street overlooking a canal. It has lots of candles, a muted but fresh
modern interior, spacious seating, a few cool outdoor canalside
tables, and French Mediterranean cuisine (€19.50 entrées, €29.50
three-course fixed-price meal, big dinner salads for €17.50, daily
18:00-22:00, Leliegracht 26-28, tel. [phone], manager
Marko Depender). Ask about their specials.
De Bolhoed has serious vegetarian and vegan food in a color-
ful setting that Buddha would dig, with a clientele that appears
to dig Buddha (big splittable portions, €15 dinners, light lunches,
daily 12:00-22:00, dinner starts at 17:00, Prinsengracht 60, tel.
020/626-1803).
Café Restaurant de Reiger must offer the best cooking of
any eetcafé in the Jordaan. Famous for its fresh ingredients and
delightful bistro ambience, it's part of the classic Jordaan scene. In
addition to an English menu, ask for a translation of the €17.50-20
daily specials on the chalkboard. They're proud of their fresh fish
and French-Dutch cuisine. The café, which is crowded late and
on weekends, takes no reservations, but you're welcome to have
a drink (€3 house wine and fun little bar munchies menu) at the
bar while you wait (daily 18:00-24:00, veggie options, Nieuwe
Leliestraat 34, tel. [phone]).
Café 't Smalle is extremely charming, with three zones where
you can enjoy a light lunch or a drink: canalside, inside around
the bar, and up some steep stairs in a quaint little back room. The
café is open daily until midnight, and simple meals (salads, soup,
and fresh sandwiches) are served 11:00-17:30 (plenty of fine €2-3
Belgian beers on tap and interesting wines by the glass, at Egelan-
tiersgracht 12 where it hits Prinsengracht, tel. [phone]).
Restaurant V liegende Schotel, which may have new owner-
ship in 2009, is a folksy, unvarnished little Jordaan eatery with
a cheap, fun menu featuring fish and vegetarian fare. Nothing
trendy about this place—just locals who like healthful food and
don't want to cook. he €8 Vliegende Schotel salad is a vegetarian