Bello Gio's by the River - Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Very poor experience on June 22nd at this restaurant. It's fair to say we won't be returning and would advise potential customers to reconsider their visit based on the following review.

We had this restaurant under our radar for quite a while and having family over that weekend, we were excited to give this place a try. Our party of four ordered four drinks, two pizzas, and two pastas. Despite the restaurant being relatively busy but not fully packed, our order took an hour to arrive. We asked our waitress to check with the kitchen after 45 minutes but received no update. Our food arrived 15 minutes later; did they forget our initial order? We will never know, as they didn't explain or apologize for the delay.

The food quality was subpar and raised food safety concerns. We found odd plastic strings inside the pizza. The waitress insisted it was cheese without checking with the kitchen. No type of mozzarella or burrata could form long, thin, even plastic-like strings that snap clean when pulled. Tasting a small piece of that string confirmed 100% that it wasn’t cheese and should not have been in a plate.

The portion of ragu pasta (20€) consisted of about ten rigatoni pieces, which was insufficient to satisfy even a small appetite.

We raised these concerns with the staff before writing this review. Their response was extremely generic, did not come from anyone who served us, and merely thanked us for our feedback, stating it would help them improve. No other resolution was offered, which is unfortunate given the 150€ bill. On top of this, the bill states that tips are not included and you are strongly encouraged to leave a tip by their credit card machine.

The interior is lovely and well-decorated, but the food quality, service, and kitchen standards are...

From the moment I stepped into Gio’s by the River, it was clear this was not just another dining experience—it was a journey into the heart of Italian hospitality. Roberto, the charismatic host, welcomed us with such warmth that we felt like cherished family members returning home.

The ambiance of the restaurant is nothing short of stunning. Its ‘wow’ design seamlessly blends modern elegance with traditional charm, creating an atmosphere that’s both inviting and stylish. Every corner of this place whispers stories of Italian artistry and culture.

But let’s talk about the food—oh, the food! It’s a delightful plunge into the roots of Italian cuisine. We started with an assortment of appetizers, including the baccalà and cibreo. The chicken livers with red onion and Vin Santo were a revelation, harmoniously blending flavors in a way that danced on the palate. The trio of tomatoes was a simple yet sophisticated dish, each bite bursting with freshness and a symphony of tastes.

The mains were a true testament to the culinary prowess of Gio’s. The linguine alle vongole was a perfect balance of delicate pasta and succulent clams, while the paccheri all’astice luxuriously combined the sweetness of lobster with rich, perfectly cooked pasta. And the pizza with ‘nduja? Simply divine, offering a spicy kick that was both surprising and deeply satisfying.

In short, Gio’s by the River is more than a restaurant; it’s a culinary treasure in Amsterdam. With its heartwarming hospitality, breathtaking design, and sublime food, it’s a place that not only serves meals but also creates memories. Highly recommended for anyone seeking the best Italian dining experience...

First impression was good. Host was nice and the place looked unique. We were a party of four - we ordered two appetizers: the focaccia which was nice and the carpaccio was also flavorful (however it was a bit too thick). We also ordered a round of cocktails and wines which was very good. We then each ordered a main course and this is where we were disappointed. The sea bass was close to the size of a sardine (looked like the scraps of the whole fish). We also had the amatriciana pasta; it tasted like a basic marinara sauce from the supermarket with a few bacon bits on the top. We also had the shrimp ravioli which was fishy but depends per person; for us it was okay. I had the mortadella pizza which was okay however did not look very appetizing (it was just “beleg” as we say in dutch). I requested extra cheese to enhance the flavor of my pizza but they were “sold out” of the cheeses. We have noticed that the waitress was visibly upset which was probably because of the work environment. Lastly, we had high expectations for the tiramisu that we ordered to share because we read positive reviews before coming here. The tiramisu was not good! It was super soggy and because of that we could not taste anything else of the dessert (I hate to say it but it was the worst tiramisu I have ever had). Also the pre-booking was €60,- which is very unnecessary for a place like this. We want to clarify that our waitress was great though. We thanked her for her good service and professionalism because she deserved to hear it. Overall the place looked nice and the staff was great, however the food was disappointing and we could not feel the love they put...