Review of lunch place MyDabba, Amsterdam

Where once Hot ‘n Cold was located on the corner of the Albert Cuyp and Ferdinand Bolstraat, I suddenly found a new place called MyDabba. The menu looked interesting, having different kinds of food for different moods, like happiness, love and relax. They have different things ranging from coffee and pastries to differently healthy drinks (bottled, not fresh) and sandwiches and salads. It looked interesting so my friend and me decided to check it out.

Once inside it was not quite clear what we were supposed to do, so we decided to take a seat first. The decoration of this place is very white and sterile. It reminded me more of a waiting room for the dentist or doctor than of a eating place. Anyway we took a seat and we decided that you have to go the the bar/buffet to get your things. I went to the buffet and found the place where you are supposed to start. It is a bit strange, because you have to go a bit to the left from the entry. There you find the Dabba’s, a kind of open plastic boxes that serve as a tray. The buffet begins with pre-packed things, then on the corner you have a section where you can have your own sandwich made. And then come the sweets and the drinks and the checkout where you also can order coffee. I took a pre-packed sandwich, because the choices at the sandwich corner were not very clear. I took some drinks and ordered a coffee with the girl behind the cash register. She also asked me if I would like to have the sandwich warm, which I said yes to. She told me to take a seat and that she would bring the coffee and sandwich a little later.

I think this was one of the first day they were open, because it was kind of a chaos. There were 3 to 4 girls running around, but nothing seemed to happen. The dish washer was also being (re)installed, taking the attention of at least one of them. Anyway after some minutes finally some coffees came out. But then they went to people who had come after me. The waitress then realized that she had made a mistake and that one of those coffee was for my order. She then took the coffee from the other customers and took it to me. A bit strange…

A little later my sandwich arrived in another dabba. By then we had three The sandwich was okay, but nothing special. It didn’t have any distinctive flavor. I guess that is what you get with pre-packed things. The drinks I took tasted also very watery, but I think they were supposed to be like that.

MyDabba is a good idea, but the execution is still a bit flawed. I think it could use some things that could make it a little more special and the service could also be a little less chaotic. I don’t think I will come back here.