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De Vliegende Schotel

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Mr. Wonka
Mr. Wonka
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4 out of 5
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De Vliegende Schotel

  • November 17, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Mr. Wonka from Brooklyn, New York
De Vliegende Schotel

My misguided attempts to correctly pronounce "De Vliegende Schotel" twisted my Yankee tongue in pretzel knots, but fortunately, the grub at this top-notch vegetarian haunt is far easier to digest than its name. Tucked away down a quiet, narrow alleyway off Prinsengracht, this no-frills Dutch diner—the kind of diner that’s perfectly comfortable rocking yellow-topped tables, blue-and-yellow paper placemats, and vases of fake flowers—is just as satisfying on a cold, rainy night in the ‘Dam as a bottle of mulled red wine and a book by the fireplace.

I strolled in around 7pm on a damp Thursday evening, and headed towards the front counter, unsure whether to wait and be seated or just sit down. The affable staff explained in their best English to survey the big menu board near the front, order right at the counter, then grab a table wherever I’d like. The chalkboard menu is in Dutch, so unless you’re fluent, request a paper takeaway for English translations.

Main dishes range in price from 9–13 euros, and believe me, there are plenty of tantalizing options to choose from. Pumpkin tempura, spicy marinated seitan with black olives, and portobello mushrooms with seasoned vegetables and goat cheese were all tempting, but I picked the Soyaballs with peanut sauce, rice, vegetables, and atjarsalad (€9). Soyaballs must be a popular dish, because though there were only a few other diners present, the cook was visibly dismayed as he told me they were fresh out.

No worries—I "settled" for the Ricetable instead, a heaping mound of leeks, beans, tofu, sprouts, carrots, sweet peppers, omelet, and other vegetables covered in a delicious peanut sauce and served over fluffy brown rice with a side salad (€9,50). Um, yeah, it was amazing… and despite the Maryland mountain man-like proportions, I managed to polish off most of the plate with the ravenous vigor of Chet Ripley tackling the Old 96er.

All the food is prepared fresh on the spot at De Vliegende Schotel, so be ready for a little wait. There’s a nice library of magazines to thumb through in the meantime, or just sit back and relax with a glass (or two or three) of wine; there’s plenty on offer. It’s always difficult to stray from my Amsterdam staples—smoked Gouda, fresh bread, and a kiwi fruit drink from Albert Heijn—but was glad I did that night.

For opening hours, contact information, and the full menu, please visit De Vliegende Schotel website.

From journal The Wheels Go Around and Around in Amsterdam

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