restaurant of the week: scossa

The Dutch do not have the habit of visiting hotel restaurants and bars. They’re missing out! 

Some of Amsterdam’s best bars and restaurants are located in the hotels. A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Amsterdam Marriott’s Midtown Grill, a must-visit for any steak lover. And I continuously rave about the Okura Hotel, which has the best Japanese restaurants on this side of the world. 

However, not all hotel restaurants are up-class and expensive. Scossa is such a place. People living in the vicinity should definitely bookmark this post. 

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restaurant of the week: la viña

La Viña is the best kept secret of the Rivierenbuurt 
Few Amsterdam restaurants get ‘it’ right and I’m pleased to tell, I’ve found another little gem! La Viña is a Mediterranean restaurant where a Dutch lady gracefully ensure all guests get served properly.

what i love about La Viña
I love it that a small restaurant can create such a perfect dining experience. The dishes are well-thought through and well prepared. Then the wines are perfect and Jacqueline is a most professional hostess. 

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restaurant of the week: district v

District V (five) changed into an Italian restaurant... and I love the new place!

what i love about this place

> It’s a true Italian trattoria, situated on the picturesque little square ‘Van der Helstplein 17’ in the quieter part of ‘the Pijp’.

> Great food in a unpretentious environment with friendly service. The waiters are friendly with most of the crew being Italian. Truly Mediterranean.

> The charismatic manager is originally from Rome, who has many stories about the ingredients served, making a dinner here very entertaining.

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l'ozio - italian lunch, dinner, wine, movie and art

what i love about the restaurant

L’Ozio is run by Italiani that enjoy sharing their rich heritage with the Amsterdammers. This translates into an Italian trattoria with Contemporary Art exhibitions, movie showings and the sharing of recipes. 

Italian trattoria

A trattoria is a bar-restaurant where simple ‘home’ foods are served. L’Ozio actually has a true ‘mama di casa’, at least that how I’ve labeled the lady chef.  

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best wine list in amsterdam: bussia

As a hugely Italian-biased wine drinker, I am nominating Restaurant Bussia as the Amsterdam restaurant with the best wine list. 

Named after an area of the Barolo region, Bussia has all the best wines from Italy, from Sagrantino di Montefalco to a few selection of top Barolos. We tried a white wine Erbaluce, a rare grape from Piemonte.

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Most romantic restaurants in Amsterdam

Where to go for a dinner for two in Amsterdam... How about a dinner on the water or in a grand canal house? Or are you looking for an intimate wine bar with a good chef and passionate sommelier? Here's a list of Amsterdam's most romantic restaurant, especially made for my two dear friends (you know who you are). Big kiss!

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Best Italian Restaurants in Amsterdam

After the ‘best pizza’ in Amsterdam, let’s focus on the best Italian restaurant in Amsterdam. Of the 300 restaurants claiming to serve Italian food, only 14 made our shortlist. For readability, these restaurants have been divided into 3 categories: trattoria's, restaurants and fine dining.

Amongst Amsterdammers, Toscanini is regarded as ‘the best’. Indeed, the food  and service are favolosi. Despite the large space, the restaurant is always fully-booked. So if you are too late with reserving a table, try De Koevoet (very small, so also reserve) or Vasso, which usually has a table vacant.

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Best Pizza in Amsterdam

Amsterdam counts 20 pizzerias with wood-ovens. Since 2009 the Neapolitan pizza is EU-certified and consequently protected to (American, Turkish, Hawaiian) imitations. So where can you enjoy a proper thin-crusted pizza?

After consulting our network of pizza-loving friends, it becomes apparent that the ‘best pizza in town’ differs per inhabitant. Still, this list surely includes the wood-oven restaurant baking your best Neapolitan pizza in Amsterdam!

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