Inside the big store of Vroom & Dreesman near Muntplein, go to their restaurant (during shopping hours).
Big choice in meals, sandwiches, soups etc, fresh and very affordable.

If you really want to eat inexpensively, an even cheaper store restaurant is at HEMA. It's kind of a cross between Woolworth's and IKEA. They sell gobs and gobs of unusual items you never thought you'd need piled up in big bins or on large tables. Stuff like ergonomic can openers, neoprene winter gloves, wine bottle openers, plastic clogs, fondue forks, etc. In the HEMA on Nieuwendijk just off Damrak Square and headed in the direction of the Central Train Station, there is a nice cafeteria upstairs. Last summer I got a nice big ham and cheese on flatbread with chips and a Sprite for 4 Euro. They had soups and sausages plus beer and wine. They also have a take-out window downstairs with even cheaper stuff. I would eat one of these cheapo lunches then pig out at dinner.

Another idea might be to just buy bread and cheese (the Dutch know a wee bit about making some decent cheeses) at a supermarket then having a picnic in one of the many squares or parks.

In looking for a HEMA link I ran into this website which might help you in your culinary odyssey:

http://homepages.cwi.nl/~steven/amsterdam.html

Try the food from the street stands. It is usually very good and cheap. Falafel could be a good bet as well as herring stands if you like those things.

During our stay in Amsterdam last month, we ate at DE SALOON twice. It's a small pub near the Leidesplein (Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 102). The crouquettes were excellent.

The supermarket saved us a ton of cash, too! We shopped at the Albert Heijn (the one below the Museumplein) a few times. There are plenty of other supermarkets around town.

Next time we're in Amsterdam, we will AVOID the Satellite Cafe / Pancake Corner (also on the Leidseplein). The only negative experience we had during our two weeks in Europe was at this joint. Basically we were there for over an hour and never got our food. The servers were extremely rude.

hi Donnae_b,

Sorry I have no idea (where the Italian cafe is)... somewhere near to Hotel Kap and next to an internet cafe -lol!

I wish I'd taken a business card, like I often do from places because it really was a sweet deal. Excellent food and perfect for me traveling solo.

Another place I put together a nice picnic dinner was simply from a health food store. They had wonderful bread, cheese, tomatoes, etc.