As readers of Eat Amsterdam’s Facebook page will know, my mobile office has gone south for the winter. From my base in Johannesburg, I’m eating and drinking my way around beautiful South Africa. But I’m also taking the opportunity to catch up on some outstanding Amsterdam restaurant reviews.

Toko MC

A dead-end secretarial job in Manchester, UK was one of the reasons I moved to Amsterdam. A perk of the job however was the food. My boss was passionate about eating and almost every Friday he would order in takeaway for all the staff or take us out (there were only six of us). One of the places we used to go was a basic Jamaican restaurant with the best jerk chicken and rice and peas I've ever tasted.

I was expecting the same kind of home-style cooking and vibrant flavours at Toko MC, which promises modern soulfood from across the Caribbean. Instead, all the attention seems to have gone into the funky interior, with the food tacked on as an afterthought.

De Luwte

Along with De Belhamel in the Jordaan, restaurant De Luwte on Leliegracht has one of the most enviable locations in Amsterdam. The Italian-piazza-meets-Art-Deco interior also has a certain charm but the Mediterranean-led Dutch food, which features a preponderance of sun-dried tomatoes and rocket, could do with updating.

Pancakes!

Pancakes! is an Amsterdam pancake house with a difference. There are plenty of plate-sized Dutch pancakes topped with classic combos such as ham and cheese and bacon and stroop, but also pancakes from around the world, including French crêpes and Russian blinis.

Prices are reasonable - the most expensive pancake costs €12.50 - the restaurant is child-friendly and a gluten-free pancake batter is always available.

La Oliva

La Oliva is the first restaurant in Amsterdam to serve pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, and has a modern, informal vibe. I wanted to like it. Many other people clearly do, as the restaurant has attracted an enthusiastic following. Perhaps they go for the people-watching – like De Luwte, La Oliva has a great location – because I found the pintxos underseasoned and the wine underwhelming for the price.