Thanks for all the great suggestions!

For anyone who's interested, based on a recommendation from Time Out, I started with lunch at Halver, 7 Taksteeg just off Kalverstraat in the Dam area. Had a fantastic Caprese sandwich (basil, tomatoes and buffalo mozarella) on fresh brown country bread. Friendly service and good prices.

After some more sightseeing, stopped in for a couple of glasses of beer at Toussaint, Bosboomtoussainstraat 26, about a 10 minute walk southwest of Leidseplein.

By the time I was ready for dinner, I found myself in the middle of the Red Light District and was ready to flee for less seedy surroundings, and thought that Jordaan would be perfect. I headed up Damrak to Radhuisstraat and over to Prinsengracht, where I stumbled across the Jordaan Festival with a band performing on a free stage. I wandered for a while and ended up at Burger's Patio, 2e Tuindwaarsstraat 12. Menu was a bit French and a bit Italian. It was fairly empty at first (just before 7:00 p.m., but filled up quickly. Seemed like a good mix of locals and tourists, with a very lively atmosphere. My only mistake was sitting right under the specials board, so I felt like I was being stared at everytime someone wanted to check out the specials! The service was very friendly and the food was fine. I had a grilled pumpkin and goat's cheese salad, tagliatelle with hare sauce, and the cheese plate. With a couple of glasses of wine, and port with the cheese, came to EUR42.

Cheers.