The food was fine, but the check was somewhat unexpected with a total of almost $49.00 before tip. The feature was 28.99, lite item about 12.50, and the coffee 4.20 (this included a refill) plus tax. The coffee was the problem the $4.20 was actually a charge for two cups of coffee because of the requested refill. Now I understand the economic times are tough, but charging double because one chose to order from the lite menu seems excessive to this customer. Are they really that desperate to make some extra money.

I hope the Raindancer management are satisified with their attempts to control the bottom line by adding the charge for coffee refills for certatin customers. I consider myself and wife relatively frequent customers, however are now reassessing our position. The extra $2.10 for the refill has now caused my wife and I to reconsider our “bottom line”. We will cut back our patronage at the Raindancer and frequent other restaurants in the area instead. We may not cut the Raindancer out completely, but it will be some time before we return for that extra $2.10 coffee refill.

Again I not condemming the Raindancer, but only wish to inform others and let them be aware. So they too can make their future choices.

Tonights experience – Had a bloody mary at the bar. It was decent, not the best, not the worst. The service at the bar was very good. Friendly, and interacted well. Got a table for 5. My previous experiences led me to order something safe. At the table, my Stella Artois beer was skunky and past their due date already. I was told that is all that was in stock. They came back to the table with one in hand and already opened as if to say “drink it or leave it”. The waitress clearly does not know how to pour a beer!

I had the chicken and lobster claw sandwhich. This was messy, however very tasty. There were no complaints there. Two chicken oscars were ordered and were said to be very good by my friends who had it tonight. I tasted one of them, and it seemed to be a little too tasteless for me. Good thing for the sauce that came on it and the asparagus too! The steak ordered had no complaints and was very good. The prime rib was fatty and not edible. It was ordered medium and came to the table on the rare side. My friend picked through it looking for some meat and finally gave up in defeat. It was taken off the bill.

Service was good, there are no complaints there, whether it was the bar area or the dining area. We were checked on several times and service was done in a timely fashion. Though its the food the makes me likely never to return here.

It was $119 for the 5 of us. That included drinks which everyone had a few.

I happen to think the wait staff there is extremely courteous and friendly.

While yes, I have had meals that I did not like, that only accounted for 1% of the time that I was there. The rest of the times, 99% , I can only say the food was great.

I am so glad Amsterdam finally has a place to eat that is relaxed and not terribly expensive. The deck is a great addition in the
summer also.

ALso, I am not a native of Amsterdam. I wish some of teh local people would stop trying to find fault with everything positive about this area. It really is counterproductive to promoting a good outlook for Amsterdam.

Keep up the good work at La Cuccina

I was told by a regular at the bar to go in on wednesday nights, apparently the former cook works there those nights???

Perhaps that is when you should try them again- I personally recomend any soup that comes out of that kitchen, the french onion is probably the best in the capital region.(and I eat everywhere!)

-Jerry