I'm not giving any tips here. Self interest. Its almost impossible just to turn up at a popular Amsterdam restaurant on the spur of the moment anyway. Yes, booking is advised, especially at the weekend.

The best restaurant guide is iens independent index which has comprehensive reviews in English. It's never let me down.

Amsterdam's most notorious restaurant critic is Johannes van Dam, a very large bearded gentleman with a penchant for leather waistcoats. His reviews are published weekly in Het Parool newspaper.

(Dutch only, but you can read the marks out of 10)