Page 405 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  403

Travellers with
Disabilities
Many restaurants are accessible
for wheelchairs, but even if they
are, toilet facilities may still pose
a problem, as they are often
reached via stairs and therefore
not easily accessible.

Drinks
All but the most informal
restaurants will have a wine list
offering a range of fine wines
to accompany your meal.
Vibrant interiors at Eetbar Dit (see p415) in ‘s-Hertogenbosch Although French wines are still
the staple, New World wines
majority of restaurants open Etiquette have become increasingly
at 6pm and the kitchens usually The atmosphere at many Dutch popular. Upmarket restaurants
close around 10pm. An increasing restaurants is fairly informal, and will have a sommelier to help
number of restaurants stay open you can generally wear what you with your choice, and many
all day, serving breakfast, lunch you like; smart casual dress is offer a wine package, serving a
and dinner and light meals or suitable almost everywhere. In glass of carefully paired wine
snacks in between. upmarket restaurants, however, with your meal.
In the cities, night restaurants dressing smartly is appropriate. Typically Dutch brown cafés
are on the rise, with kitchens Smoking is banned in all are making way for airy grand
staying open until midnight restaurants. It is considered cafés and sleek cocktail bars,
or later, allowing you to round impolite to use your mobile offering a long list of exotic
off a visit to the theatre or phone while at the table. aperitifs. However, for most
movies with a late dinner. Dutch, beer is still the tipple of
Traditionally, many restaurants choice, with Heineken or any
do not open on Mondays, though Prices other Dutch lager on tap
this is also changing. Restaurants are legally obliged everywhere.
to display their menu outside,
with prices, inclusive of VAT
Reservations Recommended
Restaurants
Anybody wishing to eat in
one of the country’s more The restaurants listed on pages
renowned restaurants would 406–415 have been selected not
do well to book, and sometimes only for the quality of food served,
booking a few days in advance but also on the basis of value for
– or weeks for the most money, atmosphere, location
acclaimed restaurants – is and service. Obviously, some
advisable. Eetcafés and other restaurants are better than
informal eateries can get crowded others and a few stand out for
in the evenings, but reservations a particular reason, such as
are usually accepted only for their innovative chef, pleasant
large groups, if at all. A snack bar, ideal for a quick but satisfying waterside terrace or romantic
bite to eat atmosphere. For each region
we have have handpicked
Tipping (“BTW”) and service. Prices can one such exceptional restaurant,
It is customary to leave a vary markedly, and a restaurant ranging from a year­round
tip of roughly 10 per cent by can be found in each price class: beach club at the quiet end of
rounding up the amount. If you can find many establish­ Zandvoort beach, via a tiny Italian
you pay by credit card, you can ments where you can eat for trattoria dishing out fantastic king
either add the tip to the bill less than €25; in top restaurants, crab cannelloni, to a Michelin­
or leave change on the table. however, you should not be starred restaurant in a fairytale
Leaving no tip at all is usually surprised if your bill exceeds castle, with a terrace that seems
done only when you are €70, excluding wine. The cost to float in the moat. Here you
particularly dissatisfied with of drinks is invariably extra will not only be guaranteed a
the service provided. At and the mark­up levied by a decent meal, but also gain a
very informal places, such restaurant, especially on house memorable experience. Our
as takeaways or snack bars, wine and table water, can highly recommended restaurants
tipping is not expected. be high. are marked as “DK Choice”.

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