Grilled Cheese Pastrami Sandwich @ New York Sandwiches
With a menu that includes burgers, bagel sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks, old-school letter boards hanging above the counter listing what’s on offer, and pictures of New York on the walls, the restaurant works hard to bring a bit of America to the heart of Athens The American Sunday brunch at this casual modern venue is famous. However, of the New York-style snacks, the sandwiches are the highlight. My favorite is the grilled cheese pastrami sandwich, showcasing a pile of pastrami, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles cradled between two pieces of lightly toasted rye bread.

Pan Seared Tuna @ Four Square Restaurant
Four Squares serves up American contemporary cuisine with a slightly Southern twist in a charming Victorian mansion. The Bartlett Mangum House, named after the original owner, was built in 1908, and is considered a prime example of the Neoclassical Revival style of Victorian architecture. Diners can opt to eat on the screened wraparound porch with ceiling fans and a view of the perennial garden. Inside, intimate dining rooms have original coal burning fireplaces with tiled, carved wood and mirrored mantelpieces. The menu features such choices as a Caesar salad with artichokes, perfectly cooked tuna on a bed of shallot polenta with field peas and grilled beef tenderloin with spicy collard greens.

Bahn Mi @ Juju Asian Tapas + Bar
This chic Pan-Asian eatery specializes in delicious small plates with an Asian mix of flavors from Thai to Korean. They offer a variety of dishes meant to be shared with bold, bright ingredients such as lemongrass, chilies and kimchi. A nod to the South is included in dishes such as pork belly steamed buns and chicken fried oysters. Consider ordering their bánh mi and Kung Pao chicken, and plan on sharing a number of dishes if you arrive with an appetite.

Greek Burger @ Only Burger
When it comes to hamburgers, Only Burger has the best burger in town, hands down. Originally a food truck, it is now a casual joint where you can eat in or take the food to go, we enjoyed an outdoor table on a sunny warm day. The burgers are cooked perfectly with crisp, salty, thin French fries. There are a variety of made-to-order hamburger choices, from Greek to Texan. A highlight is the Greek lamb burger with feta, olive tapenade and tzatziki. Pair it with a side of fresh-cut fries.

Rijsttafel @ Sampurna
This restaurant is centrally located – on the flower market at the bottom end of the Singel – Sampurna has been around for decades. Despite its ultra-touristy location (which by definition means that its customer base is largely tourists), Sampurna doesn’t compromise on the quality of its food and service. The décor is relaxed but intimate, with low lighting and small tables. If you don’t fancy a full rijsttafel, you can also order satay skewers for an affordable price. Sampurna offers great value for its location.

Rijsttafels @ Tempo Doeloe
Handily located on the Utrechtsestraat, close to the buzzing Rembrandtplein, Tempo Doeloe is as busy and full of atmosphere as you’d expect from its location. Because of that, reservations are essential – although even if you’ve booked well in advance, don’t expect to get seated on time. Despite things being a little chaotic, they do one of the best rijsttafels in town. The dishes come in three spice levels – starting with the mildest and working their way up. Even for a die-hard chilli-addict, the dishes at level three can sometimes be eye-wateringly hot.

The rijsttafel @ Restaurant Blauw
A little out of town on the Amstelveenseweg, Blauw is well worth the trek – especially as you get to walk or bike through the Vondelpark to get there. Its split-level interior is tastefully decorated, and it feels like a real night out for a group of friends. The rijsttafel is enormous (I challenge you to finish all the dishes in one evening!) but if you do have room for dessert, those are tasty, too. I’m not sure if he’s still there, but they used to have a resident photographer who would take a photo of your group with all your dishes laid out on the table in front of you – a nice souvenir of a delightful evening!

‘All In’ Sunday Roast @ Blacklock
Roast-loving Londoners are packing the rafters at Blacklock, which launched in early 2015 in a former basement brothel in Soho. The subterranean chop house specializes in high quality, expertly chargrilled beef, lamb and pork chops. Now it’s extended its offering with the launch of an epic Sunday roast. Order the “All In” and you’ll get a huge platter of Longhorn beef fore-rib, Cornish leg of lamb and Middlewhite pork loin with duck fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, heritage carrots and sprouting broccoli, all served with three thick fingers of bread, soaked full of gravy and juices. Now all you need is a Gin and Juice — a cold-pressed juice served with its own bottle of gin.

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