Summary
My inaugural meal in (despite it being my second visit to) Amsterdam consisted of a KFC. While I experienced a sense of guilt afterwards, I rationalized, “I have already visited Amsterdam, and there is a KFC branch immediately nearby… and I am quite hungry.” Ultimately, I justified my decision, and after 30 minutes—sated and content yet perhaps regretting my (questionable) dining choice—I found myself feeling remorseful. 😣
I hold no particular animosity towards fast food; rather, I find it can be quite enjoyable in moderation. However, I harbor reservations about indulging in fast food while abroad. It is a personal choice, yet if I were in Paris, opting for McDonald’s for dinner would feel akin to depriving myself of a genuine Parisian experience (not to mention the culinary offerings in Paris are exceptional!).
Ultimately, the entire experience was behind me, and with a full stomach, it was easy to move on!
The following day, while I was roaming the city, I decided to explore de Bijenkorf. Although I know it primarily as a large department store, in a moment of inspiration, I decided to check out the restaurant located on the top floor (which also marked my first encounter with Zwarte Piet, though that is a story for another occasion).
The dining experience on the top floor was remarkable! The variety of options available was extensive, and the capability to have meals prepared fresh before my eyes was delightful. It was gratifying to discover such a selection of meals and beverages at a significantly lower price than my previous KFC meal. Therefore, if you find yourself in Amsterdam, I highly recommend visiting this location for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner… or whichever meal you are about to enjoy! 🙂
Amsterdam also features various overpriced dining establishments focused primarily on capitalizing on tourist spending; thus, the existence of this hidden gem in such an unexpected location (one does not typically anticipate affordable dining within one of the nation’s priciest stores) is commendable. Hence, should you visit Amsterdam (or plan to), make it a point to experience de Bijenkorf for a meal and share your thoughts on how it compares to other dining experiences in terms of both quality and cost! 🙂
And naturally, I would not conclude this article without including some photos! Here they are.
