Il Pacioccone

When I entered the restaurant it was much like when Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz entered the world of Oz upon exiting her house. It went from black and white to colour. Outside the door was a featureless drab alley while inside the rock wall by the doorway looking in towards the candle lit tables was subtly dramatic.
The man I encountered on the way in was very friendly and welcoming encouraging his waiter who was very casually dressed in a simple t-​shirt to seat me at a table which he immediately did. The waiter was also warm and welcoming adding to a pleasant friendly casual atmosphere which was a pleasant change.
Once my dinner companion arrived and was seated the waiter told us what was on the menu for the evening. It was written on a small chalk board. He explained it briefly to us adding the special of the night that wasn’t on the chalk board. The menu changes nightly according to what fresh ingredients they get for the day and what the chef decides to make from them.
The matron of the establishment suggested a wine to complement our dinner choices. It was one of her favorites. She also was warm, friendly and casual in a charming way.
The dinners we chose were good but not deliciously so. The wine was indeed a fine complement to the meal. I finished the meal with the tiramisu. It was different from others I’ve had and in such a surprising way that I didn’t fully appreciate it. It wasn’t bad but certainly different.
The bill was a bit more than either of us expected. They did allow us to split the bill and pay separately on our cards. All in all it was a pleasant meal in a charming atmosphere served by warm friendly people. I liked it but overall I thought it could be better somehow. They allowed my dog to accompany me which I appreciated. It was a nice touch. I won’t go rushing back but I certainly will patronize this establishment again.

Excellent traditional italian. As fabulous as I had in Italia. They have a set menu for each night. Tonight we had Ravioli with mushrooms, Lasagna Bolonegse, wonderful! Definately a must for Italian.

Great Italian restaurant! It’s hidden in an alley — a must find. Food is amazing. Waitstaff is welcoming and owner is wonderful! Very good!

There are some polarizing reviews so perhaps I can offer some clarity… This isn’t the best Italian food I’ve ever had — go to Italy for that. We’re in Amsterdam people! Therefore if you decide to go its because you’re looking for something that feels authentic and has great service and ambience. And that’s what Il Pacioccone has, people speaking Italian, good quality ingredients, and lots of flowing wine. Really appreciated the hospitality and service, and perhaps that’s what Italian food is all about?

Great dinner, very cozy and nice place. The owner was friendly and generous and definitely worth a visit.

We chanced upon this gem when we spotted it down a narrow side street on our first morning in town, not far from where we were staying in the Centrum. We were greeted at the door by Gimmy who welcomed us warmly though we were just checking it out, who explained that they only used fresh ingredients from Italy. We were sold and returned the next evening and had the most amazing experience. As other reviews have noted, the menu is limited to a couple choices for primo e secondo corso and we selected caponata — a large portion of roasted vegetables in a tomato sauce served in a terracotta bowl, with some of the best crusty fresh bread and olive oil for dipping, paired with a very nice Rosso di Montefalco. As we were the second to last patrons of the evening, we were also served, at no charge, a large dish of the remaining foccaccia made for the evening. We chose lasagna for the secondo, served piping hot in another large terracotta bowl. Very simple, but delightfully blended flavors of fresh pasta, cheese, beef, and sauce. Il dolce was tiramisu. It came swimming in another terracotta bowl, a delicious creamy smooth extravaganza with cocoa dusted on the lightest, delicate tiramisu we have ever had, not too sweet, with the perfect amount of coffee flavor. We were brought two little shot size cups of limoncello (again, at no charge)…then a second round… as the chef/​owner Paulo came out to sit with us at the table. Paulo doesn’t speak much English but Gimmy helped translate and before long Paulo had Gimmy bring a bottle of Sagrantino di Montefalco Passito, a dessert wine and a couple hours later, the bottle was empty, Paolo had freely given us the complete recipe and instructions for making the tiramisu, we had shared stories, and connected sweetly. Paolo’s famous words, were, I love women and I don’t like TV. Grazie mille Paolo, Gimmy and Alessio, for this most memorable, once in a lifetime experience. We will be back soon.

While visiting Amsterdam from NY, this place was recommended by my hotel. The food, wine and ambiance was amazing! Absolutely loved the set up of this place. It’s so interestingly placed right off the main street, and you feel like you’re stepping right into Italy. Pizza was outstanding! I would have given this place 5 stars, but the service wasn’t great– It seemed like the owner was giving very obvious special treatment to any Italian people who came in, but everything else was so great that I still highly recommend this place! The fact that many true Italian people sought this place out for a meal (and seemed to be regulars) definitely speaks to how wonderfully authentic this place is!

Hard to find restaurant, but worth the walk from the train station. Tucked back a few streets on a nice, quiet side street. The menu changes daily and is written on a small chalk board. Choice of starters, pasta and main dishes (2). Food is very tasteful and authentic. I had the linguini bolognese. Service was impeccable and friendly. Highly recommend for a nice, relaxing environment with superb food. Prices are good — 18 € for the pasta dish.

This is a fantastic restaurant — cozy, warm atmosphere, fantastic service and superb food, you can’t go wrong by eating there!
I had dinner there with my mother during a trip to Amsterdam and we had the best experience. The waiters were extremely attentive, treated us as close family friends and did their very best to give us the best dinner experience. They gave free appetizers for everybody who was having dinner that night, served us more glasses of wine than we paid for and brought us digestives after our meals. The food itself was truly superb. They were extremely attentive and the whole atmosphere was perfect :)

Fantastic restaurant.
Ate here with my wife one late night a couple of weeks ago, it was one of the best Italian restaurants ever. Real authentic food cooked by real southern Italians who are passionate about food and cooking. Probably best in Amsterdam. Only a few tables and only a few things on the menu but it’s all outstanding, and they are open late.

Casual, intimate, feels like your a guest over for dinner and given all the special attention one would give to family seen infrequently or a good friend.
Menu changes daily and is not written down. Simple to decide between a prod fixed three course meal or a la carte orders of a primi and segundi.
We ordered a la carte a delicious and surprisingly light lasagna of tomatoes buffalo mozzarella and parmigiana which I described as tosses. We also had a filet of Chianina beef. It was «like butter» but different cut then the thin and massive porterhouse I enjoyed several years ago in Florence.

Charming little alley restaurant, which tucked 20 seats into a narrow galley, both quaint and baroque. Menu is posted on a chalk board, short menu since it is fresh and updated often. Staff was friendly and attentive. Wines were all from Umbria, which was unexpected but welcome. Unfortunately, the music was tiny bopper central, but we didn’t let this tarnish the charm.
Specific meal review:
Smoked Cheese Honey — Unexpectedly enjoyable. Enough to feed 3 as an app.
Lasagna Bolognese — Meets all expectations for a great lasagna
Filetto (beef) — Tender juicy and delicious. Would click repeat on that track.

Did this pace change ownership? My wife and I have eaten here at least a dozen times, the first 10 times I would have given the restaurant a 4 or 5 each time. The place was one of our favorite restaurant in the city. The last two time were 1 or 2 at best. Everything has changed, the waiters we got to know are gone, no more homemade bread, the first 10 times we got the same appetizer from the chef, this has changed, the menu set up is different, and most importantly the food is just not the same. The menu was always changing, but we would take friends here and share our food and each dish would be great, these last two times it just wasn’t good. Very sad, we gave it another chance as we thought it was a fluke, but it appears to me that it is no longer the same place.

Simply the best Italian I’ve had food was excellent and considering the place was very busy the service was good. Can’t wait to go again

This ristorante is wonderful, my husband and I were the only ones there on Monday after 2 PM, we eat at odd times, anyway the menu is is small and changes daily with freshest ingredients and very authentic Italian food the owner and the cook and server are all from Italy and are passionate about their food and wine, which you can taste in the food. We hade the shaved pork cheeks in balsamic vinegar with fresh baked bread hot from the oven, followed by a mushroom and cheese wood fired pizza, that was amazing. We talked to Gimmy the cook for a bit and was so passionate about food and wine from Italy and using the freshest ingredients and also poured us some limoncello after the meal thanks Gimmy your the best!
You must eat here! I wish was in Amsterdam longer so I could eat here again

Very romantic atmosphere in a small, intimate restaurant. Make sure to either have a reservation or go early or you might not get a table. Really great wine selection to go with great food. Reasonably priced as well.

Good prices, good wine, excellent pasta and bread, just like Italy. Friendly, helpful staff. I will be back on my next trip to Amsterdam

This review comes with being very torn. Do I rate on Service (2 Stars) or do I rate on food (4 Stars) — which leaves me flat in the middle at 3 stars.
After two weeks in Europe, it was our final night of travel and we wanted decent and hearty food. We stumbled upon IP, and walked in. We were greeted by a hostess who wanted to seat us right in front of the cold door, even though there were plenty of other places to sit. When we asked for an actual table we were met with some resistance but ultimately got a warmer location away from the door (the place is cute and tiny).
We both ordered the Pasta in meat sauce, which was divine. And the pricing was pretty reasonable. We got the smaller portions, which was a perfect amount. Dinner came with some hard bread and we ordered glasses of wine which came in a healthy serving size.
So would I recommend IP? Yes! But don’t expect to be treated well.

We stopped by randomly and it is definitely the best italian restaurant I never had in Amsterdam.
Dishes and people are delightful, simple but with the best ingredient.

Oh my mamma MIA!!! Sono inamorato with an Italian Restaurant called Il Pacioccone!!!
I’ve already been to this Italian food heaven three times and I still find myself gazing out the forehead oil smudged windows of the NS trains on my way to work, longing to be embraced by garlic oil bread that greets me every time I walk into Il Paci… And the pizza… Can you please just marry me now so that I can always have your crispy crust gooey cheese combination in my mouth forever until death do us part?
Even with a conveniently small and ever changing menu, I find myself torn between your truffle pasta, bacon and smoked cheese lasagna, and wood oven pizza bufala e pachino. Sometimes I want to dramatically bitch slap you for your AWESOME foods that drive my tongue sensory into overload and then have rough make up sex with your tiramisu causing us to crème brulee all over Sint Jacobsstraat.
Folks… I’m not sure what more to say. I’ve been to many Italian places in Amsterdam and they are good, but they aren’t GOOD! Perhaps I’m just a humble Italian that jumps into water pipes to save cute princesses from weird turtle reptiles, but even the high end Italian places in A’dam don’t do the trick! Obviously I will be super jealous seeing people visit MY Il Paci… But I just have to let the world know that this place is super good! The atmosphere inside and out is SUPER gezillge and unique! If you sit outside on their nice barrel for two lucky people, you have a good view of the clientele that go in and out of The Web. Don’t know what that is? Hee hee… Look it up, but only if you aren’t at work! NAFW!!! Service… NIIIIIIIICEST people! Food… if you didn’t get what I was saying above, this stuff makes me crème brulee in my pants — ‘nough said.