TOZI restaurant in Amsterdam has a new chef, and his pasta is amazing

TOZI has been on our list of favorite Italian restaurants in Amsterdam for years. Located near Vondelpark and known for its Italian cicchetti and consistently delicious menu, TOZI is not a place you go to just for the pasta. You go for the whole experience: the atmosphere, the hospitality, the wines, and yes – the dishes, each of which is made to share. Although with most dishes, you probably won’t want to, they’re that delicious. 

New chef

And now there’s news: TOZI has a new executive chef. Gaetano Verde is a young Italian chef with an impressive résumé (including the Ritz in Paris and Atelier Joël Robuchon). Chef Gaetano hasn’t come to simply freshen things up. The classics on the Best of TOZI menu remain (thank God for the zucchini fritti), but the revamped menu also features new favorites.

Mezze maniche with lamb ragù and Caciocavallo

Like his mezze maniche with lamb ragù and Caciocavallo cheese. Mezze maniche is an Italian type of pasta that literally means ‘half sleeves’. It is a short, straight pasta, similar to rigatoni but smaller. The pasta has a unique shape that holds sauce well, making it ideal for rich, hearty sauces. This dish is so flavorful that after the first bite, you can really do nothing but enjoy it in silence. The ragù is silky smooth and deeply flavored, while the Caciocavallo gives the whole dish a mildly spicy, creamy finish. This is comfort food at Michelin-star level!

Cicchetti to share

TOZI is all about sharing. Literally: the name means ‘a group of friends’ in the Venetian dialect. The menu is therefore based on the cicchetti principle: small plates meant to be sampled with your tablemates. The advantage is that you can try lots of different dishes; the downside is that they really are small dishes, sometimes amounting to just a few bites. And the price is fairly high.

TOZI Feast Menu

We went for the TOZI Feast Menu (€89 per person, from 2 people). And despite the criticism mentioned above, the quality is incredibly good. The menu starts with various dishes served on the table at the same time;

• Homemade focaccia: three pieces with different toppings, incredibly delicious!
• Sea bream carpaccio with white almonds: wonderfully tender!
• Cod polpette with chili-tomato dip: large fried balls filled with a cheesy cod filling. Wow!
• Beef carpaccio with Parmigiano Riserva, arugula and sun-dried tomato: perfection! Super-tender meat, no frills, just the best products in the spotlight.
• Burrata with zucchini and light mint dressing: what’s not to like?

And of course we also order the zucchini fritti, which are crispy, light and so delicious that you really shouldn’t skip them, even though they’re not on the Feast Menu.

The wine list: Soave and Chianti Classico

Wine lovers are just as well catered for at TOZI as pasta fans. The well-organized list is packed with Italian gems. One of our favorites? The Soave Classico Netrroir from Cantina Mainente (€10.50 per glass). Layered, intense and with that mineral note that pairs perfectly with rich dishes such as the Zucchini Fritti.

And there’s more: white Gavi from Piedmont with the starters, a beautiful Langhe Chardonnay with the tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe with black truffle, and a classic Chianti Classico with the veal saltimbocca.

Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe with black truffle

Besides that incredible lamb ragù, there are more highlights on the menu:

• Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe with black truffle: finished tableside by the charming Skander and topped with black truffle. A joy to watch and eat.
• Veal saltimbocca with roasted peppers: oh wow, what delicious meat and what a sauce!
• Grilled swordfish in a herb crust with salmoriglio: perfectly cooked fish in a sauce—or rather, dressing—of lemon, parsley, garlic and oregano (sammurigghiu in Sicilian). Served with crisp green beans.

We finish with TOZI tiramisu, chocolate caprese with (incredible!) hazelnut ice cream and a fresh, sweet-tart strawberry salad with lemon sorbet. All three are incredibly delicious!

Aperitivo o’clock

Highly recommended! Don’t forget to sit at the bar before or after dinner, too. TOZI serves delicious Negronis and other cocktails, as well as an excellent selection of wines by the glass.

TOZI opening hours and location

Come for the cicchetti, stay for the wine, and dream about that pasta at night. Buon appetito!

Opening hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 17:30 – 23:00 (kitchen closes at 21:30)

Address: TOZI Restaurant & Bar, Koninginneweg 34, Amsterdam

Website: www.toziamsterdam.nl

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