Editor Pick
The Old College Try
- April 27, 2009
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Carmen from Fairfax, Virginia
We tried Dam Plaza for breakfast one morning, since it was right next door to our hotel, and their breakfast options were a lot cheaper than our hotel restaurant.
We were seated in the window, and I ordered one of the Dutch traditional items - a pancake. Now what I didn’t realize is that the Dutch don’t necessarily have pancakes for breakfast - they eat them for dinner, and not with syrup. They eat them with eggs and bacon, Mexican toppings, Italian sauce, etc. I learned later that pancakes are one of the lowest forms of Dutch foods - a workman’s diet. It’s also not a nice silver dollar pancake size, either. It’s one big dough patty that fills a large plate. I ordered mine with syrup, and the syrup was very thick and very savory - not sweet like American Syrup. I did, however, get used to it, so managed to eat most of the pancake. I think it was less the restaurant’s cooking and more my expectations that made my breakfast "eh." Handsome breakfast partner had a toasted ham and cheese, another staple in their breakfast. He enjoyed it. Breakfast cost us about 15 Euro for both of us, which included that wonderful Illy coffee that Europeans enjoy (as do we!)
The main reason I recommend Dam Plaza is that they’ll go out of their way to help you. We returned one evening with a strange request - could I please have a hot chocolate to go? They didn’t really have any "to-go" cups with lids, but I told them I was right next door at the hotel and didn’t need one. So then they jumped to it, and steamed some milk for my "dessert." Then, the bartender took great pleasure in adding whipped cream and then, aha!, some chocolate powder on top. I was almost flattered that they’d take the time for me. The waiter told his bartender to "take care of our neighbor!"
I know it was only a 2 Euro hot chocolate, but it was still special.
So if you’re in Dam Square, walk down Damrak just a bit and stop at Dam Plaza - at least for a hot chocolate. They’ll treat you right.
From journal Amster-DAM That Was Fun!