What do you get when two Finns decide that celebrating Finnish Independence Day is best done by heading to an Italian restaurant for some cheersing with wine and overindulging with pasta? Especially if you’re armed with some Social Deal Vouchers for a bargain in both? A gastronomic adventure in the heart of the Amstelkwartier, in the first Dutch branch of L’Osteria.
But let me rewind a bit. Getting to L’Osteria turned out to be an adventure in itself. Accompanied by a friend set for some serious dinner experience, we hopped into a taxi. Little did we know, her well-intentioned instructions led us astray at first, winding up on the wrong side of town. After a few chuckles (“trust it to happen to us, eh?”) and a swift redirection, we arrived at our destination fashionably late but adequately hungry.
What I knew about L’Osteria before I went
Honestly, absolutely nothing. I pass by the area on an almost daily basis but didn’t even realise this “Riverside Oasis” was there. Lucky my friend invited me, otherwise I may have missed out on some serious Italian cuisine.
On their website, they describe themselves as having “the best, best pizza, pasta d’amore and a unique atmosphere – a recipe that cannot be beaten”, which is high (self) praise indeed. So, obviously I was ready to put that to the test.
First impressions
From when you walk in, you are immediately hugged by an ambiance that blends urban chic with Italian warmth: from the cozy interior to the rather stunning views of the Amstel River. It’s comfortable, it’s warm, it’s very gezellig indeed. The staff are also super lovely – and not just because we were super late (Titta, I love you but from now on I’m going to be in charge of the taxis, okay? 😂) and they didn’t mind at all – they made us immediately feel like home.
Buon cibo. Buon vino. Buon amici
We came in with a big hunger so the fact their portion sizes, even when you come in with a Social Deal voucher, are super generous. The bruschetta? Fresh and delicious. The pasta? Perfectly al dente and delectable. I’d been craving for a pasta carbonara for a while now and this one was exactly what I needed – simple and indulgent at the same time.
It may have something to do with the fact that since 2015, they have been making their own macaroni, strozzapreti, tortellini and all the other sorts in their own pasta factory in Nuremberg, so they know what they’re doing.
And the wine. When a house white is a sublime mixture of peaches and apples and goes down so well it’s almost dangerous – you’re on to a good thing.
What’s the verdict?
L’Osteria has gone from a place I didn’t know existed until yesterday evening to a place I am putting on my radar for future visits for sure. I really liked the vibe and the food – I even enjoyed the additional bonus of getting a Duolingo style Italian lesson from speakers when you visit the restroom. I now know how to ask for extra pepper on my pasta… or I did yesterday, but in my defence, we did get through a few bottles of wine so I may have to go back for a refresher lesson soon.
You can find L’Osteria on Korte Ouderkerkerdijk 16 – so why not head on over there already!
katnapped. 