There's alot of stuff on Utrechtstraat. If you spend any quality time in Amsterdam, you'll surely end up on this street, by accident or on purpose.

If you step out on the town and head there just as the sun is going down, especially at this time of year, you'll see lots of people sitting on terraces, eating tapas, and making a whole lot of noise to celebrate.... whatever they're celebrating.

One place you could easily miss, but would be wise to experience, is one of my top 10 all time Amsterdam restaurants for average cost. The Golden Temple.

Now I don't know the exact details on how it began, but when you walk in and notice the very "zen" atmosphere, you'll probably get that the owners are passionate hippies through and through. And if you walk all the way to the back of the restaurant you can say hello to two very kind and skilled cooks, always ready to give you a smile.

The one thing that gets me about Golden Temple, besides the extremely delicious whole-wheat pizza's they serve up, are the ladies. That's right, I'm talking about the waitresses. I have no idea how this place recruits help, but they manage to get some extremely beautiful and kind employees, and Im telling you.. it throws me off whenever I eat there. I'm trying to focus on the delicious chai or the ginger drink, not to mention my jalapeño pepper pizza, and one of them will just look my way and ask how I'm doing... suddenly I forget how to use my words.

Ok, Ok.. nevermind my bizarre restaurant observations. Golden Temple = GOOD. Just follow the Utrechtsestraat all the way down from Rembrandtplein, its on your right just after a spanish tapas place. (number 126)