In de Waag

Description:

• This cafe-restaurant is called In de Waag because it's in the Waag (see, you can speak Dutch). And what is the Waag? In the 14th-century, this was the Sint-Antoniespoort Gate in the city walls; by the Golden Age, a couple of centuries later, it had become a public weigh house: De Waag, where large loads of produce and other foodstuff would be officially weighed. Dissections were once carried out on the top-floor Theatrum Anatomicum. Nowadays, any dissection that occurs is of a culinary nature; this castle-like structure holds one of Amsterdam's most stylish and social eateries, and it's in an area that's becoming hipper by the day. It's romantic, with long banquet-style tables that are, in the evenings, lit with hundreds of candles, and it serves organic food. The breast of Barbary duck with sesame-cracker and sherry dressing is quite good, as is the vegetarian Kashmir bread with braised vegetables and coriander-yogurt sauce. You can also just drop by for coffee or a drink and to peruse the international newspapers and magazines available.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2009
•  Recommended 2010