Really good Italian food at Vino&Friends in Maastricht
Italian food is love, we cannot ignore that. From pasta to risotto: everything is - with a good Italian, of course - delicious. The same goes for Vino&Friends downtown Maastricht, at the oh-so-cozy Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. An Italian pearl of a family restaurant awaits you here. To la dolce vita to experience in the south of our country.
Surrounded by beautiful boutiques, in the middle of the always nice Stokstraatkwartier, you will find Vino&Friends. In, of course, an equally authentic building. The fun part? As you walk past, you can see the chef already making fresh pasta in the shop window (bonus points!). And you're not even inside yet. When you step inside, you are immediately immersed in Italian atmosphere: wine bottles up to your eyes, delicious smells and the very kind Italian-speaking staff who rush to meet you. Like a warm bath. Approachable and cozy, but also refined.
Now: the food. Oh boy, what's good here. Imported directly from Italy or from their own organic vegetable garden. Fresher than fresh. Vegetables, herbs and fruit all come from their vegetable garden - five minutes away from the restaurant - and then freshly prepared in the restaurant. Resulting in dishes like tagliata di manzo, melanzana alla parmigiana of ravioli with fresh truffle. In short: what you know from Italian cuisine, but this time on another level. Is your mouth watering and are you already experiencing choice stress? Then choose a 2, 3 or 4 course surprise menu. No punishment. As the owners themselves say, 'fresh pasta is a passion, not just a trick. It is the perfect chemistry between love and art. A way of life'. We have no choice but to join in. Don't forget to ask for matching wine, from their own Grotta del vino (that's right, a private cave) underneath the restaurant. Some of them come from their own Lenoire vineyard, five kilometers from Maastricht, and others from – of course – Italy.
Feel free to take an afternoon or evening to eat here, because it is a favorite restaurant of the moment in Maastricht as far as we are concerned. Considering it's popular – not surprising – we would recommend booking a week in advance if you want to go for lunch or dinner on the weekend. Enjoy your meal.
Psst from November 2022, Vino & Friends will serve every 4e Tuesday of the month is a special evening focusing on one region of Italy: local regional dishes combined with matching local wines. And that sounds nice.
