Caffè Toscanini
Forty years of daily-changing Italian cooking under a glass roof; the locals' heirloom.
Open since 1985 and still the answer to 'where do actual Amsterdammers eat Italian.' Chef Leonardo Pacenti has run the kitchen since 1999, and the room, high glass roof, open kitchen, tables of Jordaan regulars celebrating nothing in particular, hums like a Milanese canteen on payday. The menu changes daily depending on what came in: hand-rolled pasta, whole fish, offal for those who order like adults, regional dishes from wherever Pacenti's attention has wandered. Nothing is styled for a phone; everything tastes like someone's nonna is auditing the kitchen. The all-Italian wine list goes deep without mugging you. Book ahead, locals treat tables here as heirlooms, or hit the deli a few doors down for the takeaway version. Forty years in, it still doesn't coast.
Order whichever handmade pasta is on the day's menu, it changes daily and never misses.
What to order
Full menu- Ravioli ripieni di ricotta e spinaci€20
Butter-sage ravioli that shows up in nearly every review since 1985.
- Bigoli al sugo di coniglio€20
Fresh bigoli with rabbit, olives and tarragon, the Venetian deep cut regulars order.
- Tagliata di manzo€29
Sliced beef with rocket, Parmesan and fried polenta for the non-pasta camp.
- Pannacotta al caramello€10
'To die for' is the standing review verdict.
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