Best Italian restaurant in Amsterdam: Quattro Gatti 2 February 08
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
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I am an Italian national living 16 years in The Netherlands and I have seldom found a restaurant proposing Italian food of such a quality. Although was a special venue (the very small restaurant was reserved exclusively for our group of ~ 20 people), the capability of the cook and owner to interpret recipes of different Italian regional traditions in a correct way and with an utmost attention to the details, was simply impressive. Also the capability of creating a menu perfectly balanced and surprising at once, without any concession to a more “international taste” is a sign of a really creative and professional attitude. Simply elegant and completed by a high class proposal of wines. At a more than reasonable price. You better go there soon, because these guys will be in a short while at the top….
Quatro Gatti offers that very cozy, intimate environment you can’t get enough off. The design is a bit rustic italian, but not too rustic, with a classy-modern touch.The food is fantastic: all fresh made, every day new specials, generous tasty portions but very chic served, and the desserts are to die for – rich and nice, one for every taste.
I’ve been here with my boyfriend several times already and we were always happy. It’s a great place for a romantic dinner, for a birthday celebration, or just for a quality dinner.
Do make reservation in advance because they tend to be booked out.