Rue la Bastille

You'll smell Rue la Bastille before you see it. There's no menu: the owner-chef cooks whatever vegetables came in that morning, you choose couscous or rice, chicken or the vegetarian route, and three sides — roasted carrots, aubergine, beets — before it's finished in a steaming oven, never a microwave. Spicing is warm and aromatic rather than hot, portions are enormous, and the bill stays firmly in budget territory. Closed Sundays, dinner ends early. One of the Haarlemmerdijk's most genuinely loved doorways.

At a glance

For African cooking in Haarlemmerbuurt, Rue la Bastille at Haarlemmerdijk 66H is one of the addresses in this guide. Closed on Sunday; the earliest opening time is 12:00. Check ruelabastille.nl for current opening times and the menu. It's about a 3-minute walk from Posthoornkerk.