While strolling through Oud-west, I stumbled upon this charming little restaurant and decided to check it out with my Italian co-worker. To my surprise, she raved about it, saying it's one of the best Italian spots in the city, so we decided to make a reservation.
(Be sure to check out the video below for a one-minute video of Vicio Il Mastro Pastaio Amsterdam)
Although the restaurant appeared small from the outside, it actually had an upper floor and quite a few tables, similar to Mangia pizza. As we stepped in, we were warmly welcomed by the Italian staff, who were friendly and attentive.
The interior was delightful, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the front and back, allowing natural light to fill the space. They also had lovely lighting fixtures, creating a cozy ambiance.
The menu was compact and straightforward, with options for both starters and pasta dishes. They also had a few more appetizer choices, including squid ink arancini and monkfish. What caught our attention was the unique twist on their pasta dishes, which embraced the flavors of Sicily.
As an aperitif, I chose the Malfi Lemon Gin, which was served in a gigantic glass.
Among the appetizers, our first choice was the frittura mista. We were interested in the arancini, and upon seeing that one arancina was already included in the frittura mista, we were informed that it was for one person and just a small piece. So, we decided to order an additional arancini.
The frittura mista included panelle (Sicilian chickpea fritters), arancina, zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies, codfish, and cauliflower. The zucchini flowers and cauliflower were especially delicious.
We were into arancini, so we ordered another one, the daily special - squid ink arancini. It had clams and fried bread crumbs, and the crispy squid ink fritter with the flavorful rice inside was a total hit.
After the awesome starters, we were excited for the pasta. The Sicilian pasta with tagliatelle, dried tomato, garlic, parsley, raisins, pine nuts, capers, pecorino cheese, and toasted breadcrumbs sounded intriguing. Surprisingly, the combo of raisins with dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and capers was a delicious surprise. And the portion was generous too.
We also tried Culurgiones al ragù - five potato-filled ravioli with beef and pork ragù sauce. It was good, but the Sicilian pasta stole the show.
After such satisfying dishes, we had no room for dessert. So we wrapped up with some coffee and tea.
Vicio il Mastro Pastaio exceeded our expectations on all fronts. The food was fantastic, the service outstanding, and the ambiance charming. Amsterdam boasts numerous good Italian restaurants, but if you're in search of a delightful Sicilian experience, this gem should not be overlooked.
Vicio Il Mastro Pastaio
Bilderdijkstraat 192 H, 1053 LE Amsterdam
+31 06 58738871
https://vicioilmastropastaio.com/
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