aMStERdaM - In Your Pocket

De Pont (The Ferry) N-2, Buiksloterweg 3 - 5, tel.
(+31) 206 36 33 88, www.cafedepont.nl. For years the
staff at this place on the river has been its biggest stumbling
block to success, but the brilliant location, the large terrace
and the great view of the IJ still ensures that this organic
eatery draws large crowds. The undisputed smash hit of
the overpriced menu are the home-smoked oysters which
are even better with a dark Struis beer. Although the words
'value-for-money' won't cross our lips anytime soon when
speaking of De Pont, there are few better outdoor terraces
in Amsterdam-Noord to enjoy a cold beer. QOpen 09:00
- 22:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 22:00. (€20). PTA6LG�
BKXW
De Proeverij N-4, Schellingwouderdijk 339. You can buy
fresh organic bread, creamy cheese, tender meat, fresh fish
and seasonal vegetables at the market or, if these ingredients
make your mouth water but you don't feel like cooking, you
could have a meal at De Proeverij that's located in the same
building. There are four daily specials that change depending
on what's fresh and in stock, but the set menu also
offers plenty of tasty choices. The chef, however, could use
some more spices and the staff are so friendly it's almost
annoying. That said, the servings are quite large and a BBQ
is available on Sundays. QOpen 12:00 - 22:00. (€5 - 12).
TALGBKX
Eetcafé Het Dijkhuis L-3, Kanaaldijk 119, Watergang,
tel. (+31) 204 03 13 86, www.eetcafedijkhuis.nl. Just a
few kilometres from the busy A10 motorway, you'll find a completely
different world. More than a century ago the horses
used by stage coaches received a well-deserved rest here. As
their owners also fancied some food and a drink, the Dijkhuis
was set up as a tavern. The view of the canal and the fields
from the enormous terrace or the spacious conservatory is
simply fabulous and the disinterested staff serve an assortment
of international dishes. QOpen 17:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun
14:00 - 22:00. Closed Mon. (€18 - 22). TALGBKX
Eten aan de Dijk L-2, Oostzanerdijk 28, tel. (+31) 204
93 27 00, www.etenaandedijk.nl. Fusion cooking has
been remarkably popular in the Netherlands for a number of
years now and this is more or less what the Egyptian owner
of the Restaurant Het Dijkje must have had in mind before
he hopelessly lost the plot somewhere along the way. The
large portions are almost embarrassingly cheap so why not
give it a shot? Q (€6 - 11). TK
EYE Bar-Restaurant N-2, IJpromenade 1, tel. (+31)
205 89 14 02, www.eyebarrestaurant.nl. This restaurant
is located inside the impressive EYE film institute. The terrace
provides incredible views of the River IJ and the wait staff are
attentive, but the food isn't as impressive as the building in
which this establishment is housed. The EYE Bar-Restaurant
is in fact more of a restaurant than a bar, although we'd feel
more comfortable recommending it as a good place to have
a beer or a cocktail. In any case, even if you're not planning
to eat or drink here, the modern building in the shape of an
eye is worth a visit. QOpen 10:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 -
22:30. (€10 - 15). GBKX
Febo M-3, Buikslotermeerplein 54, tel. (+31) 204 94
21 20, www.febo.nl. Looking for something cheap, fast
and a small step above the stuff you'd get at typical fast
food joint? With more than 25 outlets in Amsterdam, Febo
is the undisputed king of snacks in town. We recommend
the unbeatable satekroket made with a substance which
is hard to describe. You'll just have to take our word for it.
QOpen 11:00 - 20:00, Sun 12:00 - 20:00. Also at Vuurwerkerweg
15. KS
www.amsterdam.inyourpocket.com
noord: Food & drink
Haring Naatje N-3, Purmerplein. If you're brave enough
to try Dutch raw herring for the first time, there's no better
place lose your virginity than at this authentic local fish stall.
It's traditional, not only due to its Dutch flag decorations, but
also because all of the seafood sold here is fresh and caught
in the North Sea. Authentic in this case also means that you
shouldn't expect anything more than tasty takeaway snacks.
If the thought of raw herring seems to stimulate your gag
reflex, but you'd still like to try some typically Dutch seafood,
you could order the kibbeling (deep fried cod) or smoked
mackerel. QOpen Wed, Thu, Fri 10:00 - 17:30, Sat 10:00 -
16:30. Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. (€2 - 3). T6S
Het Tolhuis N-2, Buiksloterweg 7, tel. (+31) 206 36
02 70, www.tolhuis.nl. By the time you enter this historic
building, you'll have basically already had a mini holiday. Right
across from the entrance you'll see a tangle of foreign tourist
groups obediently following their travel guides and hundreds
of commuters rushing to the ferry on foot or by bike. The cosy
furnishings and the location of Het Tolhuis are excellent, but
the prices are too steep and the portions too small. That said,
the fried lemon sole is better than the one you'll get at many
specialised seafood restaurants. QOpen 09:30 - 19:30.
Closed Sat, Sun. (€20 - 25). TALGBKX
Hotel de Goudfazant N-3, Aambeeldstraat 10 H, tel.
(+31) 206 36 51 70, www.hoteldegoudfazant.nl. First of
all, the Golden Pheasant Hotel isn't actually a hotel, but rather
a restaurant named after a line of Jacques Brel's chanson Les
Bourgeois. Secondly, it's not an ordinary eatery, but an enormous
top-quality restaurant located in a former garage. The
interior hasn't changed much since those days, so you should
prepare yourself for the peculiar experience of eating in an industrial
setting. Although the menu can be a bit hard to decipher
and it usually takes a while before the friendly staff serves your
meal, the food is simply superb. The hemelse modder (heavenly
mud) dessert in particular is worth the extra half hour you'll need
to spend on the treadmill. Finding the restaurant isn't easy but
just ignore the parking barrier and keep walking. QOpen 18:00
- 22:00. Closed Mon. (€18). TAULKX
IJ Kantine M-2, Mt. Ondinaweg 15 - 17, tel. (+31) 206
33 71 62, www.ijkantine.nl. You can enjoy the overwhelming
view of the boats on the ever-busy River IJ through the immense
windows of this industrial building, which has an excellent location,
especially in summer. Inside you're plunged into a warm
mix of nostalgic industrial elements, poetic announcements
on the wall, one of the best stocked bars in Amsterdam and
the latest design architecture which is so colourful it almost
hurts the eyes. As far as food is concerned, there are better
restaurants around, but this trendy and sophisticated location
shouldn't be overlooked for a romantic night out. QOpen
09:00 - 22:00. (€15 - 20). PTA6ULGBX
Windmill in Noord Theo Leerintveld
Summer 2012
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