One very cold winter's evening in Amsterdam... I had a couple of hours to kill (seems to be a recurring theme for my work...) between a rehearsal and a concert. So, I went out looking for a decent place to hole up that wasn't too busy with rowdy tourists and looked like it served up something warm....

In the central area of Amsterdam, it can be difficult to find places that aren't overrun by tourists... and absolutely worst tourists which are the ones that are visiting Amsterdam for the drugs and the Red Light... bachelor parties and big groups of obnoxious drunks.

Anyway, I did manage to find an empty looking cafe... it's a bit of a mixed blessing, as the fact that it is empty in an otherwise busy area (Nieuwmarkt) could mean that it just serves terrible food....

The Space

Well... let's just say that the decor reminds me of an episode of Happy Days. It's cute... but I wouldn't do my house like this!

Anyway, the tables are well spaced and there is outdoor seating if that is more your sort of thing... the lighting is a bit on the red and dim side of things, however, that is great if you just want a bit of privacy... but it makes for terrible photos!

The Food

Unfortunately, when I had arrived, the main kitchen hadn't opened up yet... so, I was just taking snacks for dinner. Sigh....

The Dutch have meatballs as part of their national dishes. Our butcher makes some really awesome ones that get served with a great sauce... or just to have in sandwiches!

When I saw that there was the option for the Dutch meatballs on the menu, I thought that would be a good option.... sadly for me, these were not the meatballs that I was thinking of...

These ones were served lukewarm (probably heated in a microwave) and they were slimy and vinegary. Served with a healthy helping of mustard, they reminded me of a time in my Netherlands life when there was much less choice for decent food in the low lands. Honestly, it was a struggle to get it down...

I really should have opted for something else, perhaps a nice Dutch appeltaart or eaten the napkins... Bleah!

Well, at least I had a Coke to wash down the taste... silver lining....

The Experience

Perhaps this would have been a nice place to sit down for a beer or a drink with friends. However, I arrived before the kitchen was properly open, and so it was a bit of an ordinary experience for me.

I did enjoy the dim lighting and the fact that you were just left to your own devices after ordering... Also the fact that it was quite quiet during my time there was also a plus...

Unfortunately, due to the fact that I didn't quite visit at a good time to have a proper dining experience means that I can't really form a solid view one way or another... it's decent for a bit of a quiet sit down away from the tourist crowd... but avoid the meatballs!

Opening Times

Monday 9am–1am
Tuesday 9am–1am
Wednesday 9am–1am
Thursday 9am–3am
Friday 9am–3am
Saturday 9am–1am
Sunday 9am–1am

Contact Details

Address: Nieuwmarkt 28, 1012 CS Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
Phone: +31 (0) 20 624 1373
Website: https://www.cafedelmondo.nl/

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