Should I just "wing it" in Amsterdam and Bruges restaurants?
 

I have been doing some major research for restos in Amsterdam and Bruges. Should I just" wing it" instead? I am getting a bit TMI for restaurants, and I am leary.

We got really weary of investigating restaurants in Amsterdam last year on our way back from Kenya last year and just asked at our hotel and got great advice. We had some printouts from Fodors too, but ended up at places out hotel recommended, and they were great.

I think if you tell your hotel you are a foodie and want to experience the real thing, they get kind of charged up and send you where they'd send their siblings. Ask them to do that and see what they say.

I forgot to include my restaurant research in our travel papers on our last trip - so we winged it in Bruges and Amsterdam last month. We had some great meals and some ok ones, but it was fine.

<i>I am getting a bit TMI</i> What the heck is TMI?

In Amsterdam try the Luden near the Spui for dinner and the Cafe Luxembourg at the Spui for lunch. Those are my favorites.

Do a day trip to Haarlem and have lunch at the Cafe Brinkmann on the Grote Markt. The fish stand at the Boter Markt is another of my favorites, for stand up raw herring. I think I'll have to go back soon.

Dutch menus depend on the time of the year. When are you going? Snert season is coming.

Hmmm... in general I'm a fan of winging it on most days however booking a 1 or 2 special nights out. I lived 4 years in Amsterdam and if I were to only recommend 1 restro it would be Restaurant & Nursery De Kas, a restaurant whose concept is they either grow their own food, or buy locally, only cook what's in season and keep no freezers full of food. The menu is limited, but sensational. Book the Chef's Table and sit in the kitchen watching them cook, chatting with the chef with an unlimited amount of wine and it will be an experience of a lifetime. I've done lots of chef's tables and this is the best, bar none. In a country not known for it's quality food, De Kas is an institution! Book it!

Just wander and see what takes your fancy.....much nicer than an eating itinerary......

TMI = too much information, Sparrne. thanks for the info I was reading waaaay too many restaurant reviews. StCirq, I may just do that. Aniquesdiva, I have read great reviews about DeKas. I will see how it goes. alihutch, I like the "what takes your fancy" :-).

You've got the right idea, alihutch.

We had a memorable monkfish in Amsterdam, mussels in Brugges, Osso Bucco in the 14th in Paris, veal kidneys on a side street between Palais Royal and Opera, Chinese off Kensington High Street in London, something or other in a middle European restaurant just north of Notting Hill Gate, fish on the harbor in Bergen.

For us, it's just so much more fun to peruse the menus, consider the neighborhood and watch for a while. Yes, you do get a poor meal sometimes but it's my poor meal.

In general, I take a list of restaurants that have been recommended, divided by town or neighborhood - then we have the list to choose from or we can wing it as the mood hits us. And sometimes we have some must-eats on the list. No eating itinerary or anything like that. It works pretty well. Last trip was different though - when I first realized I had forgotten to include my list, I was really mad at myself, but it worked out well in the end :)

If you're fine with casuale places you won;t need reservations. If you want upscale, well-known and well-regarded places you probably will. But if you do;t get them in advance your hotel's concierge should be able to do it for you.

Thanks all. November moon, maybe I will "forget" my list too. I did an eating intinerary in London once...was great food, but a had frenetic pace..not too relaxing.

TheAntiquesDiva,
I was all excited when i read your post. I went to the Restaurant & Nursery De Kas website, BUMMER... it is 125 euros Per Person... that blows that idea...

jetsetj - you can have a three course meal at de Kas for €49,50pp if you don't want to pay for the chef's table - or go there for lunch and just have a light meal in the evening. Of course wine will add to the bill.

spanne, what are snerts? We are going next Thursday. How is the weather there hetismi?

My husband still talks about a meal we had at La Scarpetta in Amsterdam a year ago. I thought he was going to lick the plate.

Have a wonderful trip!

Bookmarking for spring '10. Looking forward to your trip report!

Judyrem - snert is a name for Ewrtensoep - the thick pea soup which is served in winter here. It is made from split peas and ham bones and served with smoked sausage. Not for the faint hearted, it is a warming and usually delicious meal in itself.

Today was cool and showery. You can look up the weather forecast at http://www.buienradar.nl/. It gives the actual radar picture, but you can click on 2weken or 5 dagen on the left for a forecast. 5 dagen is obviously more reliable than 2 weken, but you can choose your town on the 2weken forecast.
Remember the temps are in centigrade.

I didn't have the greatest luck winging it with restaurants in Amsterdam (no research just walking around the area I was staying). Next time I would go in with a list and asking for local recommendations both.

Thanks Hetismij, I had to get out my handy Celsius converter :-) Also I think it may be a little warm this week, yes? sfergo, thanks for the recommendation for La Scarpetta. I will put in on my list...if I don't forget it ;-). I think maybe I will take a few recs and ask people, like Suze said.

BTW, the "snerts" sound fabulous. I love thick pea soup....yummmmmmmm.