We will be in Amsterdam in late May for a short trip (just 4 nights) to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We would love to get some restaurant recommendations. Both for casual lunches and for nicer dinners. We like good food and a nice atmosphere as well. In short, a lovely dinner experience! We live in NY and eat out in the city on a regular basis, so all types of cuisine are fine. The only caveat is that we intend to dress fairly casual on this trip (not bringing fancy clothes and no jackets for my husband). We prefer trendy to stodgy. That is not an issue in NYC, and I hope it is not in Amsterdam! Please give us some good recommendations. Thanks!

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In October 2004, our absolute favorite was a tiny restaurant we stumbled into by chance. If you're in the Concertgebouw area don't miss Concertge at Moreelsestraat 3. Tel: 020 6626436. I'd fly to Amsterdam just to eat there. The food is well-prepared by someone who really cares, ambience is nice, service is professional and friendly, prices are moderate.

If dining is one of your priorities while in Amsterdam, consider staying in the Leidesplein area. The side streets off the Leidsestraat seem to consist of virtually nothing but restaurants. Many of these are ethnic, such as Indonesian, Indian, Thai, Italian, etc.

Also, try a pancake house for lunch at least once. Dutch pancakes are nothing like the pancakes that most of us are familiar with. They are much lighter, sweeter and covered with a thin layer of pie-type filling (e.g., banana, strawberry, chocolate, and so on).

We just returned from AMS. Like Le Zinc a lot for a nice dinner; also had La Garage, Five Flies and Excelsior recommended to us - you're talking mega bucks for each and we basically ran out of time. You'd probably need a jacket at the last three- Le Zinc was more casual.

I've always like Le Garage (near the Museums); you would be fine without a jacket. The chef is a celebrity in Holland.
Tom Yam, Staalstraat, for Thai fusion food in a modern setting.
I've been meaning to try De Kas, but haven't been yet; it's in a greenhouse, with only the freshest ingredients (which they grow there) used in cooking. Kamerlingh Onnesstraat 3 (0031204624562)

If you want something different, I've heard that the Supper Club now do a dinner cruise on the canals.

De Kas supposedly is in a very nice setting, but it's outside of the city.

Did you check out "Amsterdam Hotspots"?
http://www.amsterdamhotspots.nl/eat.html
I will be dining at Bordewijk in 2 weeks myself.

Jamie Oliver opened a branch of his Fifteen Restaurant in Amsterdam.
http://www.fifteen.nl/

There is a quaint place called "Oud Holland" that we loved. If you face the window on a friday, the friday night skate crowd goes by on their roller blades. The food is beyond plentiful, service is excellent and the pea soup is heaven in a bowl. Bring a healthy appetite. It is on one of the main grachts and you can probably find it online. Across from the shopping mall and grocery store.....if you cant find it let me know.

I hadn't heard of a skate event in Amsterdam (have seen the one in Paris)... tell me more..?