Due to the corona crisis, the opening of Trattoria Graziella in March was unfortunately postponed. In the meantime you could already order dishes for take away. I even got a delicious taste of the menu at home and that made me even more curious… After a few months of patience I finally got the chance to visit this new restaurant of Hotel De L’Europe in the heart of Amsterdam last week.

The stunning interior of Trattoria Graziella | Amsterdam

What an amazingly beautiful and cozy interior! The warm colors, the stylish bar and classic sofas are extremely Instagram worthy. The Italian service is just as stylish and we immediately have the feeling that we are on a holiday. With a great sense of humour we get adviced about the dishes on the menu. We start the evening with a refreshing Graziella on the Coast: gin, lemon, rosemary, thyme and Taggiasche olives. Summer in a glass!

The colorful antipasti | Trattoria Graziella Amsterdam

When the antipasti appear at the table, they are welcomed with “oohhh’s” and “ahhh’s”. The colourful dishes are a feast for the eyes! Chef Luigi visits us at our table, including high chef’s hat, to explain his creations. The Panzanella e burrata is fantastic! On the plate, next to the “normal” tomatoes, are 2  “fake” tomatoes filled with bread. The burrata is just perfect. The Polpo Mediterraneao with saffron potatoes and squid croquette is almost too pretty to eat. I would love to have a kilo package of the croquettes to take home with me! What a refined and beautiful dish.

After the antipasti follow the primi and I order a delicious glass of Primitivo. We listen to Italian jazz music that contributes to the already fantastic atmosphere in the restaurant. The Cavatelli is prepared according to grandmother’s recipe and consists of homemade Cavatelli pasta, oxtail ragout and Pecorino cheese fondue. A truly classic dish. I would have liked the taste to have been a bit more distinct, but of course I won’t argue with grandma! The same goes for the Agnolotti with peas, bacon and truffle. It’s a beautiful dish, but I would have liked to taste a little bit more truffle.

The secondi is a showstopper for me. What a delicious dish. The Merluzzo with confit cod, mussels, white beans and garlic sauce is an excellent combination. A beautiful plate, full of taste and texture.

The classic desserts. 

We end the evening with, how can we not, tiramisu and Babà al Rum. With tea served in a lovely tea pot. The perfect, classic Italian ending. At Trattoria Graziella you feel like you’re on a holiday. The atmosphere, the service, the beautiful terrace outside, the tasty dishes and delicious wine make this new restaurant an asset to the city! I will definitely be back!

At Trattoria Graziella you pay an average of € 9,- for the antipasti, € 15,- for a primi and € 22,- for a secondi.

Click HERE for the full menu.
Click HERE for even more culinary inspiration for Amsterdam!