Eating in Amsterdam: The Places That Actually Deliver
It's easy to get Amsterdam wrong. I learned that the hard way on my first morning, when I marched into a tourist-trap café on Dam Square, ordered a "traditional" Dutch pancake, and got a sad, flat crepe that cost €12. I'd expected something more substantial, like the golden, buckwheat pancakes I'd heard about. Turns out, the real Dutch food isn't on the main squares—it's in the hidden corners of the city. My first real taste of Amsterdam came on a rainy Tuesday at a tiny spot called De Kas, tucked away on the corner of Kerkstraat and Oudezijds Voorburgwal. The place is a greenhouse turned restaurant, with a garden that spills into the dining area. I ordered the 'Stamppot met worst'—a hearty dish of mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, and a thick, smoky sausage. It cost €16, and it was the most comforting meal I've had in a long time. The owner, a woman named Els, told me it's a family recipe passed down for generations. I sat by the window, watc...