There’s no reason why anyone should have to spend a lot of money eating great Italian food in Amsterdam and put up with snobby personnel or overdesigned “trendy” spaces.

Quattro Gatti, a tiny Italian restaurant in my neighborhood (the Negen Straatjes or Nine Streets), is absolutely the best in town. Prices are reasonable and the food is divine. Because it’s small, reservations are difficult to come by. The chef, who is also the owner, does not believe in expanding the place because he says he will lose control over quality.

Johannes van Dam, food critic of Het Parool (the Amsterdam newspaper), gave Quattro Gatti a 10- (click here to read review in Dutch). And everyone here knows it’s nearly impossible to get a 10 from him. Ever since van Dam reviewed Quattro Gatti, getting a table has been difficult for the neighborhood regulars who, for several months, had this place all to themselves, a real well-kept secret.

• Vibe: relaxed, trattoria feel

• Pros: best Italian food in Amsterdam, mostly northern Italian dishes but sometimes Sicilian since the chef is from Sicily, reasonable prices, outstanding home-made pasta, luscious desserts, good service

• Cons: small space, chairs are a tad uncomfortable, limited wine list

Quattro Gatti
Hartenstraat 3
Amsterdam
+31 20 421 4585