Amsterdam restaurant Gespot is housed in a traditional wooden-beamed canal house, but the sleek decor and laid-back vibe attract a young hip crowd. The current menu is made up of Italian classics, but is updated every couple of years.

On one of the last sunny days of summer, we settled in to one of a small tables on the restaurant’s canal-side terrace. We passed over the rather standard starters of mozzarella with Italian tomatoes, and grilled vegetables with balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese, opting instead for scallop carpaccio on a bed of rocket.

The scallops were buttery and soft but the portion was overwhelming: slices of scallop covered the entire plate and the bed of rocket, and was oddly decorated with a grid-like pattern of lurid pink dressing and chives. The dish looked more like an abstract street map of New York than something you would put in your mouth.

The antipasto rustico, a platter of assorted Italian meats, cheeses and olives was much better - and more appetising - although the cheeses were potent for the start of the meal.

Our primi comprised pappardelle pasta tossed with strips of truffle salami and black olives, and ravioli filled with asparagus and ricotta cheese, almost submerged in a butter and sage sauce.

Both mains were tasty but not exceptional and, in contrast to the starters, portions were small. At around €15 each, this made them expensive.

After the disappointment of the first two courses, we skipped dessert – the choices included tiramisu, profiteroles and scroppino – and went instead for a nightcap at wine bar Vyne, a short walk up Prinsengracht.

Restaurant info

Opening hours:
Tue-Thur 18.00-23.00; Fri-Sat until 03.00

Price indication:

Our rating:

Address: Prinsengracht 422
City: Amsterdam
Telephone: 020 320 3733
Web: go directly to homepage

eat amsterdam