Restaurants in Amsterdam

Not sure what type of food you are looking for, but if you would like to try Indonesian rijsttafel (which I highly recommend), I can tell you that we had a great experience at Desa, which is very near the De Pijp metro station. We looked at several options for the rijsttafel, and Desa was one of the more affordable options - and it was really, really tasty, with excellent service.

The Seafood Bar (multiple locations)
Restaurant 't Zwaantje

Does Rick's "one and two Euro range or exceptional three Euro range" change based on location? **I checked, and he uses the same boilerplate for his guides - "from $ budget to $$$$ splurge." **

To me, Paris, London, Amsterdam, much of Switzerland or Norway, and similar are quite a bit more expensive than many other places in Europe. Amsterdam is packed with great places to eat, but when we're there, we know we're paying a premium just because we are there.

I think it might be helpful to know YOUR desired range rather than the simply Rick's method. I have lots of restaurants we liked (and more to try), but I think they're all far from "budget" usually showing as 10-20Euro (on Google maps) for what I would visit for a lunch, and 30-40 Euros and way up (especially with alcohol) for a dinner.

What are you comfortable with as a lunch budget (per person) and dinner budget (and including alcohol or not)?

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. For lunch I like to get something where ever I am when I'm hungry. It usually works. Right now I'm looking for a dinner place in the Central Station/Dam Square area with entrees in the $20-$35 range. I leave next week and I realized I waited to long to make reservations. I don't like Thai and tend to skip seafood. I'm open to anything else that isn't too spicy.

Out by Dam Square is Café restaurant van Kerkwijk. We really have enjoyed meals we had there, and I think it was more a "show up and ask to be seated" with no reservations. It is small, and fills up quickly, but there is also turnover all evening, so it pays to pop in and see if there is a table free or one coming up soon.

Where is van Kerkwijk

Van Kerkwijk on the Nes 41 - just behind Dam Square with the famous department store De Bijenkorf - is a classic Amsterdam cafe and restaurant where you can eat and drink from early in the morning until late at night. An eatery with restaurant allures!
Van Kerkwijk is open from 11 am until late. Enjoy a coffee with warm pear pie. Lunch with a healthy salad or our famous Indonesian style meat loaf, or for dinner look forward to the Van Kerkwijk chicken or tender beef with goat cheese and strawberry sauce.

Go to the de Bijenkorf department store right in Dam Square for lunch or early dinner (kitchen closes at 6:30pm). On one of upper floors, they have food court with several food stations, such as soup, salad, sandwiches, pizza, Asian, etc. Everything is made right in front of you. Grab a tray, get your food, grab a drink, pay the cashier, and find a place to sit.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188590-d4573259-Reviews-De_Bijenkorf_Kitchen_Amsterdam-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html#/media/4573259/?type=ALL_INCLUDING_RESTRICTED&albumid=-183&category=-183

Another vote for Restaurant 't Zwaantje. Two other places that we had very good meals were The Pantry and Fulu Mandarin. You definitely need reservations at these last two.

Thank you everyone! My week is set.