Posted by Adam Kuban, February 21, 2006 at 11:09 AM
The first food item I smelled in Amsterdam was pizza, but the first honest-to-goodness Dutch treat I ate was a Febo burger.
I was told in earlier comments to skip the burger and try the "specialitje, little deep-fried meatloafs, or a kroketten," but I just couldn't pass up the burger. (How am I going to fill the pages of AHT otherwise?)
Febo (pronounced FAY-bo) is a chain of automats that serve low-priced prepared items behind columns and rows of plastic doors. You browse the selections, drop your euros in the slot, open the door, and Bob's yer uncle, you've got your grubby little handen on a warm, if not hot, food item. For longtime New Yorkers, Febo would conjure up the world of the Horn & Hardart automats of yore, the last of which closed in 1991.
I can't say that the Febo burger was good. Let's just say it hit the spot after a long flight, hotel check-in, neighborhood recon, and a boat tour of Amsterdam's canals. And I can't quite say that it actually tasted like a hamburger, though it did taste like something familiar. I'll leave it to future samplings to determine exactly what.
Febo doesn't appear to be the only one in the automat game, though. I observed two outposts of Smullers on the way from the city's Centraal Station to the hotel. Both had similar offerings, but on first impression, Smullers seemed a bit cleaner. (The Febo I stopped at was also patronized by several of our pigeon friends.)
What they also had in common was a confusing change machine. To operate the automats in both franchises, you need coins. If you only have euro notes, like me, you'd think you'd be able to zip them through one of the in-store changers for €1 coins. But the changers didn't appear to take notes, instead breaking your €1 coins into €0.20 coins for items that cost, say, €1.80. Tomorrow (or later tonight after a nap), I'll hit up the front desk here for a stash of coins and try some other Febo offerings.
After all, there's one just across the street from where I'm staying.
Yep the pigeons....mebbe theres pigeon food in the febo food...i dunno, but there seem to be pigeons at every febo :P Live 20 miles away from Amsterdam n same at the Febo store here n the ones i been to in Amsterdam. I think it;s the peeps throwing frites etc at them that keeps em commin :)
Same here in Hilversum; the pigeons ring the place, and they have to keep a tarp over the entrance so your fries don't get any "secret sauce". Can't wait for the bird flu to come...
The burger you want to try is a schwarma burger, fresh off the grill. Very important - it's excellent when you get munchies.
I think Vinne and Jim might be onto something about the pigeons and Febo.
BTW, in case you haven't gotten around to it yet a kipburger is a chicken burger (kip=chicken in Dutch) whether at Febo or McDonalds. I hope you do try the schwarma pita before you leave! From what I've seen as a visitor it's a common burger equivalent in the NL.
Broodjes are nice sandwiches too, and widely available during the daytime. Very basic combo of bread, meat, cheese and veggies but I've never had a broodje that didn't embarass Subway or Quiznos.
As am I obsessed with the "automat" and was too young to visit the ones in New York before they finally closed for good, this seems like the closest equivalent left in the world.
An intense motivation to visit Amsterdam. Other than the marijuana.
The best hamburger I have ever eaten was in Amsterdam at a place downtown called the Luxembourg cafe on Spooey (sp?). It was truly exquisite - I went back on my second visit a year later and it was even better than I remembered. The mayonnaise with the fries was perfect.
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The first food item I smelled in Amsterdam was pizza, but the first honest-to-goodness Dutch treat I ate was a Febo burger.
I can't say that the Febo burger was good. Let's just say it hit the spot after a long flight, hotel check-in, neighborhood recon, and a boat tour of Amsterdam's canals. And I can't quite say that it actually tasted like a hamburger, though it did taste like something familiar. I'll leave it to future samplings to determine exactly what.
6 Comments:
Haha :)
Yep the pigeons....mebbe theres pigeon food in the febo food...i dunno, but there seem to be pigeons at every febo :P Live 20 miles away from Amsterdam n same at the Febo store here n the ones i been to in Amsterdam. I think it;s the peeps throwing frites etc at them that keeps em commin :)
Hamburger Vinnie at 12:31PM on 02/21/06
Same here in Hilversum; the pigeons ring the place, and they have to keep a tarp over the entrance so your fries don't get any "secret sauce". Can't wait for the bird flu to come...
The burger you want to try is a schwarma burger, fresh off the grill. Very important - it's excellent when you get munchies.
Hamburger Jim at 1:54PM on 02/21/06
I think Vinne and Jim might be onto something about the pigeons and Febo.
BTW, in case you haven't gotten around to it yet a kipburger is a chicken burger (kip=chicken in Dutch) whether at Febo or McDonalds. I hope you do try the schwarma pita before you leave! From what I've seen as a visitor it's a common burger equivalent in the NL.
Broodjes are nice sandwiches too, and widely available during the daytime. Very basic combo of bread, meat, cheese and veggies but I've never had a broodje that didn't embarass Subway or Quiznos.
Toot ziens!
Hamburger DC at 2:37AM on 02/24/06
As am I obsessed with the "automat" and was too young to visit the ones in New York before they finally closed for good, this seems like the closest equivalent left in the world.
An intense motivation to visit Amsterdam. Other than the marijuana.
Hamburger Scott Mercer at 12:48PM on 03/01/06
The best hamburger I have ever eaten was in Amsterdam at a place downtown called the Luxembourg cafe on Spooey (sp?). It was truly exquisite - I went back on my second visit a year later and it was even better than I remembered. The mayonnaise with the fries was perfect.
Hamburger crumpetmonkey at 2:38AM on 03/29/06
I have been to Amsterdam 4 times and i love FEBO !!! I want to bring a franchise to NEW YORK i bet i would become a millionaire !!!!!!!!
Hamburger RICK at 7:04AM on 03/29/07