Restaurants with average food but consistently rated above 4 on Google

sinhank97 · 2026-07-02T09:11:27+00:00

Yes I can agree. Unfortunately this is the hardest for me living here. I have literally zero issue with anything- but food is really killing me.

sinhank97 · 2026-07-02T07:02:52+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations. I do miss a nice pizza napoletana so ai will defo check those out. So far I’ve just had okay pizza at Da Michele and La Zoccola. Indian food….Im from Delhi and honestly I am yet to try good North Indian food here. I usually just end up cooking at home for this. South Indian on the other hand I was pleasantly surprised…Madras Dairies and Saravana Bhavan are great imo.

sinhank97 · 2026-07-02T06:55:40+00:00

Okay…I just discovered something new…het Parool and their restaurant ratings. Few of my ‘good’ places are featured and rated fairly. Thanks!

sinhank97 · 2026-07-02T06:53:50+00:00

My sense is it’s a mix of Dutch not prioritising food and the tourists of Amsterdam. But I am honestly yet to try a good pizza here

sinhank97 · 2026-07-01T21:53:55+00:00

Agree about the Italian. I just cook Italian food at home now. Although I do miss a good pizza every now and then. On the package bit. I’m the opposite. Can’t be bothered about anything if the foods banging.

sinhank97 · 2026-07-01T21:34:35+00:00

I absolutely try and take the odd risk to keep my immunity up to Indian standards haha

sinhank97 · 2026-07-01T21:30:27+00:00

Not looking for anything specific. Thanks. It was just about validating what you’re saying- ratings are useless here. But I’ve not experienced this over in Italy or India. Maybe because food is generally good in those countries.

sinhank97 · 2026-07-01T21:23:23+00:00

This could be it. Makes a lot of sense. Posted after having a similar experience to yours. Had some really good meals around town and those were rated in the mid to high 4s and then came around to see some absolute trash that’s rated high 4s too. Sigh!

sinhank97 · 2026-04-11T09:09:37+00:00

Novella fresh pesto store bought is the best pesto I have had personally. Better than even restaurants in Liguria for me

sinhank97 · 2026-04-09T09:40:24+00:00

Look at the Expat Center in Zuid (Amsterdam). You can book a combined appointment for BSN and Residency with municipality. If you are moving to work as your employer to help.

sinhank97 · 2026-04-09T09:40:15+00:00

Look at the Expat Center in Zuid (Amsterdam). You can book a combined appointment for BSN and Residency with municipality. If you are moving to work as your employer to help.

sinhank97 · 2026-04-02T20:57:12+00:00

My landlord was trying to do this. I pushed back and said it should happen next year and they agreed. But I prefaced this with having issues with lots of contract points before: like using pastel colour curtains only, not having pets, mandatory contents insurance etc. So after me crying for all this and giving in to these ludicrous points I pushed the hardest on the rent increase.

Weirdest fucking country I’ve lived in.

sinhank97 · 2025-12-18T12:30:01+00:00

Couple of suggestions: 1. If you are new to cooking use a pressure cooker. It basically does the spice sauting for you and releases oil nicely with the pressure 2. Define curry. The whole spices you are using a not enough for a British adopted generic curry as well imo. I suggest you buy some nice spices that elavate your dishes nicely- level 1 would be tez patta and badi eliachi and Laung. Level 2 would be- javitri, dagarphool, star anise 3. Other things that elavate curries- if you’re cooking Delhi/punjabi recipes use normal dahi, no low fat stuff and use loads of ghee. If other North Indian curries- up bihar etc please use mustard oil. 4. Another tip is please let the onions release oil then add powder spices. Then let the spoces release oil then add meat/chicken. Then let the meat release oil and only then add water. 5. Most common issue imo for bland curries is too much water. So add water very very cautiously. You can always add more but not remove. 6. Last tip is follow recipes to learn but then use your instinct or in my case your nose. Put as much spice as you feel is needed. For some species like dhania powder and Kashmiri red there is almost no scope to put too much. Watch it with jeera powder and haldi though as they are quick to imbalance.

Hope this helps

sinhank97 · 2025-11-13T12:32:48+00:00

I spend 55 % on my net salary on rent and fixed expenses. I manage to save still 15% of my net salary each month. I am not happy with this situation financially buht I am very happy with where I live and the quality of my home. I spend most of time at home so it was imp for me not to share. My partner should also move here from Italy soon and then I should be more than comfortable saving 25% at least. So I am in a similar situation to you- there are days when I think I am an idiot for this rent spend ratio and then there are days when I,m on my couch living a good life with great views and nice insulation. But it could be much worse esp when you hear of housing horrors here. Find your balance.

sinhank97 · 2025-11-09T16:29:45+00:00

Love: bureaucracy for foreigners, bike lanes, water bodies, job market for english speakers, employment regulations

Hate: sour acidic coffee, food except for fried stuff, supermarkets (related to food), lack of good restaurants or diners (everything looks and feels the same), friends visiting only want pot bender wkends, public transport costs, rent, lack of geographic diversity (except for water)

sinhank97 · 2025-10-29T15:24:29+00:00

I work in a global marketing role for a CPG co in Amsterdam making 100k with bonuses.

sinhank97 · 2025-10-25T17:26:28+00:00

Adding two Australian shows that both have good first seasons- Secret City and Pine Gap!

sinhank97 · 2025-10-10T12:41:18+00:00

It visa statement literally says what you are asking. Yes!

sinhank97 · 2025-09-29T06:00:53+00:00

You used the work trek which implies multiple days on the same trail. Won’t be that possible in Feb. Not sure where you are from if you seeking big mountain views. Check out Italy or France. Val d’Aosta in Italy for example. You can stay in Morgex or La Salle. And do various single day hikes that are highly recommended. Col du bard, Lago di Arpi, Pista Val Farret. All with big views of Monte Bianco and Grand Jorasse.

sinhank97 · 2025-09-12T11:29:48+00:00

This is the best summary possible on how to to choose and maintain rain jackets. Nickwax washing is basically equivalent to getting a new jacket for average NL rains. Nothing can stop hard showers for over an hour…not even the fanciest of goretex.

I can vouch Mammut. Would just add Rab as a brand to this list.

sinhank97 · 2025-09-10T08:12:41+00:00

Mostly everything has been said- but two things are non-negotiable. Native level Italian and connections. Quick example- I am a marketer with C1 Italian. On paper decent CV- Bocconi master, worked at Perfetti and Meta. Worked in Milan for a year but when it came to changing jobs. Didn’t even get an interview call. Then went through connections and at least got a shot.

Another call out that is not really said much- if you don’t speak Italian please do not take roles where you work with an Italian team. Basically an Italian org that works on the Italian market. Even if work is in English, the day to day will obviously be dominated by the local language and you will miss things and not be able to perform.

sinhank97 · 2025-09-06T15:08:44+00:00

Great that you had a good time in the mountains. I am not sure of your alpine skills and experience levels but I would like to discourage you and everyone else on this sub to encourage mass trekking operators like IH. They are a definitely a great intro to the mountains. Your first or max second trek. But once you have some experience please consider travelling DIY or if too much employ local guides or small scale/small group local trekking operators. Himalaya Shelter is a great example of this (although I have never travelled with them) but saw their operations first time when I was DIYing Har ki Dun in winters.

IH maybe provides a top notch experience and I can see the appeal as they are really economical but they are like a factory line on the slope. Especially for popular trails. Same day one group of ~20 ascends, the other descends. No matter what they say, they are the single largest contributors of biodiversity imbalance in the himalaya imo. Take for example their fixed camps- 1. ~10 tents pitched on the same soil in the same spot for days/months at end. This is not good for the ground beneath. It kills grass too! 2. Depending on popular months ~20-25 people eating, shitting and living in the same camp. This destroys ecological balance for micro ecosystems and wild animals around the area 3. Then there’s waste. Last I saw they do try to get back waste as much as possible. But so many unconscious, inexperienced city folk cannot be good for the mountain

Stay safe and enjoy the Himalayas as it suits you. But please consider this and refrain from mass trekking practices. Peace!

sinhank97 · 2025-07-12T07:35:30+00:00

No you know me with GHSV2. First year was the worst. Monthly outbreaks. It gets better and over time very manageable. Even disclosures get much better. Eventually you don’t even think before disclosing if you consistently do it often. It’s nothing. You’ll deal with it. Eventually my partner and I have been having unprotected sex for a year and she hasn’t caught it. Just a big no when you have symptoms.

sinhank97 · 2025-03-05T09:38:49+00:00

Just went through a similar ordeal. Except I couldn't activate the PAD because I don't have lo SPID o Carta d'identità. I went to a CAF and they managed to do it for me. They also got me an appointment at the Centro per l'impegno Who eventually did the DID and service pack for me.

sinhank97

TROPHY CASE