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Turkiye
English may not work at this simple shop, but it doesn't matter: the dishes inside the glass case are plenty eloquent. Locals value Turkiye for its grilled mains and small plates like stuffed tomatoes and Turkish pizza. Eat-in or takeaway.
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Uliveto
In a capacious, spare atmosphere of understated luxury, this shop is lined with huge crocks of olive oil and splendid displays of Italian specialities. If you prefer to dine in, try the long white marble table when cooking demonstrations or classes are not being held there.
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Van Den Berg's Broodjesbar
Tiny, friendly, clean, family-run and utterly without pretension, you can linger over the newspaper and commune with local office people. Our favourite sandwich is the gehakt : thin slices of a giant meatball served warm and eaten with killer-hot mustard.
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Van Dobben
This diner with the hospital-tile décor has been supplying Amsterdam's best kroketten since 1945. Also much beloved for sandwiches, soups and omelettes, and a compulsory stop on a Rembrandtplein pub crawl.
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Van Vlaanderen
One of our favourite French restaurants in town, with lovely canal views from the raised deck. Owner Bas Verstift will come out to chat and advise on your wine, and the fine nuances of dishes is always surprising - eg tuna carpacaccio with avocado, chicken with bacon mousse or langoustines done three ways.
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Villa Zeezicht
Although you could try sandwiches and pastas here, half the patrons seem to be eating the famous apple pie. For around €6 you get a mountain of apples dusted in cinnamon, surrounded by warm pastry and fresh cream. In warm weather tables are set up on the bridge over the Singel.
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Village Bagels
The people who gave Amsterdam bagel-chic are going like gangbusters. You may feel like a New Yorker as you dive into a bagel with salmon, chive cream cheese and capers, especially if you grab the newspaper. But you'll remember where you are at the Stromarkt branch, which has a canalside terrace.
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Vlaams Friteshuis
This hole-in-the-wall takeaway has drawn the hordes for its monumental frites since 1887. The standard is smothered in mayonnaise, though you can ask for ketchup, peanut sauce or a variety of spicy mayos. If the queue's too long, consider Wil Graanstra Friteshuis on Westerkerk square.
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Voorbij Het Einde
It means 'beyond the end', and on your trek out here to Java Eiland you may begin to question your judgement. Don't. This place, with its super-mod architectural interior (frosted glass walls, lots of right angles), wins high praise for high French in high style - the menu changes every month or so.
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Waag Café
This former 15th-century weigh house (and later, gallows!) is now an impressive café-restaurant combining old-world accents (massive, circular wrought-iron candelabras) with new-world drinks and food, though it's rather expensive. It serves pretty good sandwiches (try the Club) and salads too, and there's so -not-medieval wireless Internet access.
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Wagamama
The long rows of rectangular tables, laid out cafeteria-style, are often filled with hipsters fortifying themselves for bike trips or nights on the town. Staples include chicken ramen, Japanese curries and fried noodles or rice.
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Waroeng Asje
This counter-service shop serves rijsttafel, but you can get some of the same food in human portions with the nasi rames special - a heaped plate of roasted meats, on skewers or in spicy stews, with stir-fried or pickled vegetables, and a deep-fried hard-boiled egg.
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Werck
Finally, a café that is worthy of the high-profile location between the Anne Frank Huis and Westerkerk. You can choose from sandwiches and snacks or steaks and more involved mains; think chicken with smoked bacon or black tagliatelle with morel sauce. Most people come to see and be seen on the crushed white-stone terrace.
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Wil Graanstra Friteshuis
This little stall near the Anne Frank Huis has been serving up crispy fries with delectable mayo since 1956. Legions of Amsterdammers swear by them. While you're there, ask Wil to do his impression of 'Terminator' Schwarzenegger - priceless.
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Winkel
This sprawling, indoor-outdoor space is great for people-watching, popular for coffees and small meals, and out-of-the-park for its tall, cakey apple pie. On market days (Mondays and Saturdays) there's almost always a queue out the door.
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Zagros
Never tried Kurdish food? Neither had we, but we're glad we did. Just as Kurdistan straddles Greece and Persia, so does the cuisine, with grills and stews (mostly lamb and chicken), salads of cucumber, tomato or onion, and starters like hummus and dumast (thick, dry yoghurt).
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Zen
Let's be frank: many Japanese restaurants are lovely, elegant poseurs. Zen, however, offers cooking like okāsan (mum) used to make: domburi (bowls of rice with various ingredients on top), sushi and tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) are just the start. Décor: minimalist Dutch-meets-Japanese. It's also popular for takeaway.
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Zushi
This conveyor-belt sushi shop features post-industrial chic décor (stainless steel, brick and blondwood), club tunes, lightning service, and new grilled dishes. Add up the colours of your plates to figure out the bill.
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