Amsterdam is full of upscale, hipster, fine dining and plenty of the latest trends. Looking for a restaurant built around avocados? An Argentinian steakhouse? Thai, Ramen, African, Chinese, Sushi? A restaurant with cats in the dining area? They're all here. Nothing wrong with any of that. I enjoy plenty of it myself from time to time. Heck, even the saddest of all current trendy foods, poke--typically grossly overpriced--has found its way here. Enjoy that one while you can because three years from now no one will remember what it is.
And yet, what I long for the most when I go home is the experience I had today. It's in fewer and fewer places around this city and much of Europe. I'm talking about the classic, traditional street cafe with seating in front, small round tables, maybe a bit of space indoors, but mostly outside under umbrellas or an awning. A place carved out where the idea is a place for you to truly relax. Where someone brings your coffee to you on a saucer accompanied by sugar, cream, a small chocolate or biscuit. Or maybe a fine glass of beer or wine. Where time is not important, and sometimes that means how long you wait to be served.
To each their own, but this is exactly what is missing in most dining in the U.S. where I hail from. Here, they are not looking to see how fast can they turn the table, how fast can they get you in and out so they can make more money. No one is pushing the bill on you. That's what I wanted, and that's exactly what I got here. Oh, and under nice shade trees next to a canal.
Simple dining, yet great salads, sandwiches, basics. A few key desserts, but mostly the fact that because you sat down and ordered something, that space is yours for as long as you want. This experience is more than a restaurant, it's a way to spend part of your day while really relaxing and enjoying those you're with, and a place like Café Marcella is just fine helping you do just that. And that, my friends, is priceless. For everything else there's MasterCard. read more