Flo's Appetizing Amsterdam — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Tried flo’s in a few locations over the last year and at this point, I can give a well-rounded opinion. They’re good and the sandwich options are tasty (tuna melt!!) Challah is another I grab on Fridays. Plus they have small selection of spreads and bagel types.

Us bagel snobs know this isn’t close to the NYC Jewish bagel shop scene when it comes to bagel taste, texture and scale of fillings, but it kind of ‘scratches the itch’. Not nyc quality but Amsterdam quality, let’s say.

A few things that throw me off are that you can’t get your bagel toasted unless you get a (pastrami or tuna melt). I was kind of shocked because toasted bagel are part of my go-to order. It’s super simple to provide customers and elevates the bagel experience ten-fold (toasted bagel with lox cream cheese 🤤).

Another is that for the bagel sandwiches, there isn’t that much filling so it’s a bit lacking and leaves you still hungry. It’s more of a snack than a breakfast. If they doubled the filling, I’d probably triple the frequency I go - and know the same is true for a lot of friends here. I understand times are hard, but after waiting in line for forever, it’s disappointing to have a slim sandwich.

As for the bagels themselves - they are good not great. Yes, we take bagels seriously, because it’s a huge cultural staple as an immigrant jewish community claim to fame and is quite hard to replicate correctly. The NYC water quality is what makes the dough, and specifically gluten, act the way it does and come out to be the chewy inside, crunchy outside bagel we all love.

All in all, adjust your expectations and go and try it. They’re clearly working through some disorganization and staffing issues right now, so pro tip: go during the week in...

There's so much you need to know about this place and the taste of the bagels before you decide to stand in that queu. But let me start with this; the bagels are crispy, when fresh, they have a nice bite, but they do not taste of a traditional bagel or even classic bagel. I didn't think it would be fair to give 2 stars because I feel I set myself up for disappointment, aka high expectations. I pre-ordered expecting to swiftly pick up my order the next day. Wrong! You queu up with everybody else and the bagels you can choose from are the ones that are available (even if the online order form mentions specific which bagels you'll get) Since the last time I had a bagel was at Tompkins Bagels in New York and the bagels before that were from Bagelsaurus in Boston, I had mega high expectations. Also based on their description online, I was expecting magic. If you are familiar with that real chewy, doughy, slighty sweet, perfectly balanced sweet/salty taste, oh....you know what I mean. Unfortunately these bagels are just slightly off the bread scale. They are shaped like bagels, they are great imposters, they are not authentic bagel tasting bagels. I know taste is a personal thing, but we were with 4 tasters and all agreed. So, just manage your expectations. Flo's is a great place for tasty, fresh and warm bread tasting bagels. Next one for me to test in Amsterdam will be Tony's in Amsterdam, they are so bold they put New York in their name. Still have hope I'll find a great tasting bagel...

Flo’s used to be our absolute go-to spot for takeaway bagels. The hardworking ladies behind the counter were warm, and the food was consistently excellent; generous, fresh, and made with care. But recently, something has shifted.

The last couple of visits have been disappointing. The bagels, while still somewhat tasty, are noticeably smaller in portion, with very little filling inside. But what we found even more troubling was the service. The person taking orders seemed completely unengaged, dismissive, and unfortunately, this wasn’t a one-off. It’s the third time we’ve had this kind of experience, so it’s starting to feel like a pattern.

We’re giving three stars only for what Flo’s used to be, and for the lingering traces of that great bagel we once loved. But sadly, the vibe is off, and unless something changes, we’ll likely give it a break for a while.

Edit: Visited again today after some time - there’s been a noticeable improvement; it feels just...