Situated on Nieuwendijk, one of Amsterdam's busiest pedestrian shopping streets, Ava Cyril benefits…read morefrom a location that places it within walking distance of Centraal Station, Dam Square, and many of the city's major attractions. The exterior is understated, like many neighboring casual eateries; inside, the dining room embraces a cozy aesthetic with warm lighting, brick walls, and hundreds of handwritten notes from past diners. At 7:30pm on a Wednesday night, the restaurant was about full, with a buzzy yet intimate atmosphere, and they had plenty of room for my walk-in party of three. The menu focuses primarily on Italian cuisine, featuring a broad range of pizzas, pastas, salads, and antipasti. The offerings are intentionally approachable, emphasizing familiar favorites rather than highly regional Italian specialties. There is enough variety to accommodate both quick lunches and more leisurely dinners, with pasta (over ten different varieties of spaghetti), pizza, salads, entrees, and more. My two friends both opted for pasta dishes, which tend to range in between €15-20; coming off a recent trip to Italy, obviously, these dishes couldn't compare, but were solid and had well-developed sauces and al-dente pasta. I ordered the Lamb Chops (€23), and couldn't help but feel disappointed in the portion size. While the lamb chops themselves were cooked well, there were only three tiny pieces of meat. I also wasn't in the mood for greasy fried food that night, so I chose to only get a salad (it usually comes with fries and salad), and the salad itself was decent; a fresh, leafy mix lightly tossed in an oil-based dressing. Prices are relatively accessible given the location (Amsterdam isn't known for being a cheap city), with most meals falling in the €10-20 range before drinks, making it an approachable sit-down option in one of Amsterdam's busiest districts. Service is friendly if a bit slow (so take time to enjoy your meal), the food is solid if not stellar, and a convenient option in one of Amsterdam's most popular areas - just don't come expecting authentic Italian food!

Great food and service. Very personable staff. Busy, close to other customer to have conversations…read more This was an A+ Italian meal Amsterdam, all around.

From the pictures I could tell they make a good crust and I'm pleased to say I wasn't disappointed…read more Really good pizza and the crust was the star. The potato and porchetta was a nice pairing, though it could have used a little salt. Started with a ceaser salad as I've been desperate for some veg and it was a pretty small side salad for 12 Euro, which was kinda sad, but good dressing and croutons. I saw the lasagna on other tables and it also looked very good. This restaurant is kinda tucked away off the main street, but it's worth seeking out. Good, friendly service, clean restaurant and bathrooms. A good choice for a more casual dinner.

We found Demetra through Yelp! This is a quaint Italian restaurant just south of the City Centre…read morenear the Royal Theatre. We didn't have reservations, but they were able to seat us after a short 15 minute wait. The place was very busy. The staff were polite. The menu had some good options. We went with the bruschetta for a starter, the tagliatelle bolognese, and the lasagna. The bruschetta came with four pieces. It was good. The lasagna was my favorite, but the tagliatelle bolognese was very good as well. We wanted some bread so we ordered the focaccia. It was good. The tables are packed closely together so you can get to know your neighbor. This was a pleasant surprise for us to find while wandering around after visiting the Rembrandt House.

at the front entrance of the restaurant, you will see people dining outdoors, just inside there are…read moretables a bar area, kitchen, a flight of stairs for more dining and restrooms. We were seated right away. We ordered the lemon cello spritz, mixed salad to share and chicken parmigiana. The waiter was friendly and we were served pretty quickly. The salad was very large and very fresh. It had beautiful mixed greens with onion, tomato, cucumber, and green olives with a light Housemade dressing. My chicken parmagiana came out with a beautiful flame of fire that quickly went out when the server put my plate down. my chicken was tender. The red sauce was phenomenal and I enjoyed my veggies. Give it a try if you're in town, I recommend it!

We stopped in for dinner not really knowing what we wanted exactly. The staff were friendly upon…read morewalking in. We ordered three pasta dishes and I have to say my favorite was the spaghetti and meatballs! So basic, right?! It might be but the flavor of the tomatoes married so well with the pasta with a touch of sweetness. The truffle ravioli I say was my least bc for me it was too wet and it made the pasta too soggy for my personal preference. The restaurant is perfect for a more intimate setting or a quiet diner for one. They do also offer outdoor seating if you can catch them on a nice day!

A True Gem in Amsterdam: Outstanding Food and Service at Guasto…read more Guasto Italian Restaurant in Amsterdam completely exceeded our expectations. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel like we were their top priority. The level of service was exceptional--warm, attentive, and professional. They genuinely made us feel like VIPs, offering personalized recommendations and ensuring we were comfortable throughout our meal. The food was nothing short of spectacular. Every dish was a masterpiece, bursting with fresh, authentic flavors. The pastas were perfectly cooked, and the pizzas were crispy, delicious, and topped with the finest ingredients. We couldn't get enough! Each meal was better than the last, and the variety on the menu ensured there was something for everyone. The management team was also incredibly hands-on, ensuring that each guest had an unforgettable experience. Their hospitality and attention to detail truly set Guasto apart from other restaurants. After such an amazing first experience, we ended up dining at Guasto four times during our trip to Amsterdam. It's clear this restaurant is committed to excellence in both food and service. If you're in the city, don't miss out on this incredible dining experience! Staff was so nice they even made a special request and made a baked potato for my salad and steak Thank you to the amazing staff

We wanted to go upscale a little bit and found a cluster of Italian restaurants. We looked online…read morefor reviews and Restaurant Gusto looked good, so we went in. We were seated and noticed a large block of hollowed-out parmesan cheese on a butcher-block table. After reviewing the menu, we asked about the cheese. It was for a spaghetti dish that "we wouldn't soon forget." "If we won't forget it, we have to have it," even though spaghetti is not the most adventurous thing to order in an Italian restaurant. The spaghetti is cooked and mixed with tomato sauce, then what I am guessing is hot oil is ignited and dumped into the hollowed out cheese. Then the spaghetti is added and mixed with the melted cheese, removed and served with additional shreds of hard parmesan. The result is nothing short of fantastic and I believe it when I was told Americans return every couple of years or so just to eat this dish. We also had a mozzarella and tomato salad (as if we needed additional cheese) and complimentary green and black olives. Most restaurants here serve Heineken on tap, but this place appears to only have Peroni, which was perfect. We'll be back. Read more about what I ate in Amsterdam https://sustainablecitynews.wordpress.com/2018/05/16/what-i-ate-in-amsterdam/

This place is NOT where the details says it is. Walked up and down the street looking for it and…read moreit's not there. Went into "Bora Bora" which is the restaurant that is on the corner where the description is, and they said they don't know of the restaurant. The place is not here, or it's closed.

Loved this place , food was absolutely excellent and the service was very friendly. Unfortunately,…read moreI didn't take a picture.

Fantastic. It is a large space, able to accommodate a large number of people, the patio is huge…read more The owners were absolutely delightful and accommodating. We had first gone to another Italian restaurant that was nearly empty, but due to reservations, they wouldn't take us in. This place was full, but the owner said if we could just wait a few minutes, they had some tables that were leaving. We had the caprese salad to start. It was very good. The mozzarella, tomatoes, arugula, basil, everything was fresh, and a nice sized portion, enough for two. We had lasagna that was a shareable size as well. It came out, piping hot, bubbling actually. But we made sure to save room for the cheesecake. Probably the best cheesecake I've ever had. The espresso martini and cappuccino topped it off. This place is quaint, and although super busy, if you have a little patience, it is a fantastic experience. Thank you to the owners for trying so hard to keep up with the volume. We had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend.

Glad we decided to walk the extra 14 minutes from the Dam square to this jewel in Amsterdam…read more Not only was the food very good, it was one of the most cost efficient meals we have had since being in the city. No sparing on the quantity of seafood provided in each dish. Very good ending to our Holiday.

Great owner operator Italian restaurant. Food was so good had the pasta finished in a Parmesan…read morebowl and the mushroom pizza-along with a very nice bottle of Italian wine. Service was efficient and friendly. Would definitely go again! Enjoy- The color is a little off due to sitting under their red sign-don't let it scare you.

Great location, appearing to be a mom/pops restaurant. Very intimate ambiance. A younger gentleman…read morewas our server, and he was wonderful--very attentive, checking on us several times and keeping our wine and water glasses full. The food was fresh and cooked to perfection. We had planned to order dessert, but after the appetizer, pasta, and wine, we were completely stuffed! Highly recommend this spot.

A friend had recommended this place to meet up for dinner. We got there early and were seated in…read morethe back. He mentioned that this place is popular with celebrities and on the brick wall are the autographs of some of the celebrities that went there which I thought was really cool. We ordered: Focaccia (Fresh baked focaccia bread served with EVO oil from Puglia and semi dried tomato cream): focaccia was sliced and toasted and the semi dried tomato cream so yummy to slater on the bread. Burrata Pugliese (Burrata Pugliese cheese, tomatoes, homemade Pesto Genovese - EVO oil from Puglia): Burrata, was always, super creamy and totally delicious. My friend ordered the Fiordilatte mozzarella (tomato sauce,spicy salami, speadrable spicy sausage, stracciatella Pugliese cheese pizza. It was quite large and 2 of my friends shared that. I stole a bite and the spicy sausage was so good! I wasn't too hungry and ordered the minestrone soup which was so comforting on a cold day. It arrived piping hot and was full of vegetables. I felt so much better after having this. Service was attentive and friendly. I would love to come back the next time and try the pastas.

Staff were very nice, great romantic atmosphere. Food was delicious, recommend by staff at the…read moreMarriott hotel.