Ristorante Il Boccone in Centrum

Enjoyed a delicious meal in a pleasant atmosphere.

We ate here on Christmas Day. It's a small, intimate restaurant. We arrived a bit early, but that wasn't a problem; they simply rearranged the table. We enjoyed a superb Christmas menu. Everything was fresh and delicious! A generous and delicious amount of fresh truffle shavings instead of that chemical truffle oil stuff you see far too often and that wipes out all the flavor of your dish. The staff is Italian and cooks with Italian passion using quality ingredients. The wines are also excellent. And the Grappa selection is worth a try. All in all, a Michelin-star-worthy experience! We will definitely be back.

I had high expectations based on the many reviews praising this restaurant. Perhaps I was there on the wrong day, but unfortunately, my visit was quite disappointing. The dishes are ordinary at best and poorly prepared at worst. The pasta vongole was watery, bland, and lacked any depth or love for the dish. This has little to do with differences in taste; it simply wasn't cooked well. The reviews often emphasize that there are "real Italians" in the kitchen. But that in itself doesn't mean anything, of course. I'm also truly Dutch, but that doesn't automatically mean I'm a good cook. Authenticity isn't about origin, but about craftsmanship, technique, and taste—and that was completely lacking here. On the positive side, the service was friendly and the atmosphere pleasant. But ultimately, you come for the food, and in that respect, this restaurant disappoints. With a little more attention, quality, and respect for Italian cuisine, this place could achieve much more.

Il Boccone in Arnhem is a cozy and welcoming restaurant with friendly staff, but unfortunately, the food is disappointing. The pasta vongole was watery and flavorless, lacking any Italian flair, and the pizza arrived limp and not crispy. Considering the price, you would really expect more quality and authenticity here.

From starter to desert awesome food

We arrived on a Friday evening, hungry, and had heard good things about this restaurant. But our experience was anything but good. As an Italian, you expect a lot, especially from the classic dishes we chose. An inedible parmigiana; an arancina, which was also good but served in a mixed mushroom cream that took away the arancina's crunchiness; a plate of ravioli with mushroom cream and truffles with a nauseating amount of cream. The pizza had a heavy crust, although the combination of salami and mascarpone was a pleasant surprise. As is almost always the case, you enter an Italian restaurant and are left disappointed. When I pointed out that the parmigiana was inedible, the waitress said, "Have you ever eaten at an Italian restaurant abroad?" As if to justify the food, which in my opinion was not at all worthy of the price. The only positive note of the evening was the Sicilian cannoli and the fairness in removing the parmigiana from the bill.

Authentic Italian restaurant. Authentic Italian cuisine. Due to its popularity, please book in advance. The service and kitchen run like clockwork. Friendly and welcoming.

A truly authentic experience at Il Boccone. It's served by true Italians, and the food is cooked by true Italians, which is evident in the food itself. It's like bringing a piece of Italy to the Netherlands. The food is so authentic, you can even ask which wines pair well with your meal, and so far, they've been excellent every time. My girlfriend and I will definitely be back. So if you want real Italian pasta or pizza, come to Il Boccone.

Delicious food, authentic flavours, friendly service and a nice cozy atmosphere.

A cozy and very welcoming restaurant. We both chose the all'amatriciana. The menu listed it with spaghetti, but it was easy to get it with penne. The tomato sauce could have been a bit spicier, but the portion size was just right, and there was plenty of Pecorino Romano. We will definitely be back. Reserving in advance is recommended.

Many Italian classics. One of the best in Arnhem.

I wanted to celebrate something personal with my friend a few nights ago. Since we already had an early dinner (and she is picky with her food), we just wanted to get a glass of wine and some focaccia before we head home since it’s her favorite. We were greeted around 9pm and we made our order. Then two waitresses had to come and ask is that all and explain how we MUST order a main dish. Mind you, the prices are above average but the food definitely isn’t. The focaccia was more like a pogacha, if you know you know. It wasn’t real focaccia, just bread. The white wine was super alcoholy and had a super sour aftertaste and it wasn’t the cheapest on the menu. The whole time we were there we felt pressured to order more items + the waitresses were staring at us, so impolite! I was very kind, even when I felt uncomfortable, but I did feel judged. We left more than €30 just to be shamed for it. Outrageous behavior and ridiculous service. Super overpriced, I’m glad I didn’t order a main pasta dish for €29, I’m almost sure I would’ve regretted it. Super honest experience, unfortunately not the spot for me or anyone who wants to have a drink and enjoy some quality time with their loved ones. Pass.

From start to finish, everything here is so delicious!!!

Not a pleasant experience and we won't be back. Eight of us came for dinner and were forced to pay €22.50 each for an appetizer platter we didn't want. That was €180 for something we didn't order or eat, and this wasn't mentioned ANYWHERE in our reservation. We'd never experienced anything like this before. The platter consisted almost entirely of meat, even though five of us are vegetarian. When we pointed this out, they didn't offer any assistance or make any adjustments. We ended up leaving without eating, but were still charged for our drinks, which weren't even finished. It was incredibly unfriendly. We were also crammed into a table of five or six, where there was clearly no room.

We had an excellent meal, especially the carpaccio was very tasty.

It was delicious, but I hate sea bass. I would leave the lemon to the people themselves. Sometimes a bit too sour for me. But otherwise, we had a great meal and will definitely come back.

Loved the food. Will return to the place.

Very good restaurant and great cuisine. Sometimes the pasta portions are small.

Very tasty pizza or pinsa. Even gluten-free. Perfect. 👏

My favorite Italian restaurant in Arnhem. Everything Italian, and you can taste it!

A lovely, extensive wine list, friendly staff, and a well-balanced menu. We had a fantastic evening!

The food was good, the atmosphere was nice, and the employees were so kind in helping with the birthday surprise. I really enjoyed my birthday dinner with friends there.

We came here to celebrate our anniversary and I'm not disappointed. I think this is one of the best Italian restaurants in Arnhem. This is a very nice restaurant that offers really tasty Italian cuisines. Restaurant is quite small, so reservation in advance is important. They have pasta and pizza with a perfect portion. I normally couldn't finish my plate since the Dutch portion is mostly quite big, but this one I actually can finish up all my pasta. The service is also nice and friendly. I definitely recommend this restaurant!

The food is decent, but the flavors are bland/watery. The price isn't good value for money. Nearly €6 for a bottle of tap water is ridiculous. The restaurant is packed, making it noisy and cramped. Staff sometimes have to squeeze past tables. The staff is very friendly and service-oriented. We asked for a piece of bread with the pasta sauce but had to order a full starter. There are better Italian restaurants in Arnhem.

From the moment we walked in, we were embraced by a warm, intimate atmosphere that set the perfect tone for the evening. The arancini and the tenderloin were nothing short of spectacular — each bite a refined explosion of flavor that lingered beautifully. The staff was exceptionally attentive and genuinely kind, adding a personal touch that made the experience all the more memorable. We’re already counting down the days until our next visit to indulge in more of their culinary delights.

Fantastic, highly recommended. It feels like you're on vacation in Italy. Friendly service, and they're Italian too.

The food is really good, but the receptionist was mainly interested in whether we'd leave on time, which is unpleasant. Too bad...

I've been here 10 times now, and it's truly excellent. I live in Amsterdam, so we were looking for a good Italian restaurant, and Il Boccone didn't disappoint. They cook like real Italians here, not the mediocre Dutch restaurant experience you often get. The food is delicious, and the service is very friendly. The house limoncello after coming here several times is a nice gesture. The prices are low for the experience; to my knowledge, this is the best Italian restaurant in the Netherlands.

Says it is open until 23h but kitchen is closed at 21:30

Il Boccone is undoubtedly a culinary gem in Arnhem. An accessible restaurant with a well-balanced Italian menu. The wine selection complements the food perfectly, and the price-quality ratio is simply excellent. The restaurant has become very popular (understandably), making reservations in advance a must. If that's not possible, I recommend having lunch at Il Boccone, because it's truly fantastic! The staff is very friendly and clearly has Italian roots, which definitely enhances the restaurant's atmosphere. Not everyone speaks Dutch, which sometimes takes away some nuance from communication, hence the one star deducted for service, but it should have been a quarter star. Il Boccone is highly recommended!

Last week, we had a reasonably priced meal at this cozy restaurant with super friendly service. We went for the surprise menu, something we always do when dining out. It had a great variety and dishes you wouldn't normally order yourself. Unfortunately, with our six-course dinner, we received two prawns, two lobster dishes, and one salmon dish. The only dessert wasn't fish. It's a shame there's so little variety, and I think you should expect a surprise menu to offer some variety. A la carte is apparently fine, but in our opinion, the surprise menu isn't.

I finally managed to eat at Il Boccone. Usually, I think about it too late, and by then it's already packed. It's a small, cozy restaurant. A real Italian. The staff even all speak Italian. At least, I think they do, because I don't understand it. I had a risotto ball as a starter, which is highly recommended. For the main course, I had a calzone, which was deliciously tender. For dessert, I had a scroppino. Legend 1) Terrible! I don't recommend it, I'll never come back! 2) Too bad, below my expectations, I won't be back. 3) Okay, nothing wrong with it, but nothing special, nice for a one-time visit. 4) Fine, worth coming back. 5) Excellent! I recommend it, I'll definitely be back!

Delicious pizza and pasta, and even though we hadn't reserved a table, we were still welcomed for a while. Good food and excellent service.

Great food, highly recommended TOP

We had another wonderful meal here. Authentic Italian food. Delicious pasta and meat dishes. Affordable wines. Quiet yet very centrally located. Small-scale. Italian clientele. Very friendly service. Delicious melon liqueur afterward.

WARNING: Avoid this restaurant EVEN WITH A RESERVATION!We booked for 5:45 PM. Their own policy states they hold tables for 1 hour. We were only 15 minutes late. Unbelievably, they canceled our reservation just 10 minutes after our scheduled time!** While we were frantically rushing to get there! Upon arrival, the staff was extremely unfriendly and turned us away. **We drove an hour and a half for NOTHING!*This restaurant is clearly too busy and cares ZERO about customer experience. They blatantly disregard their own website policy. DO NOT COME HERE! Don't waste your time and effort like we did!

Calzone pizza & salmon tagliatelle - delicious 10/10. Great atmosphere!

Fantastic, we will definitely come back again, very tasty, friendly staff, cozy atmosphere. 👌🏼

Delicious food and friendly service.

Food is excellent, but the wines we drank (Fiano and Primitivo) were disappointing and the 2 bottles of water we had (carrying a lable telling its ‘genuine’ tab water) exessively expensive (€6 a piece).

Italian… with a stopwatch We had a great meal in a small but atmospheric Italian restaurant. It started off promisingly: a delicious carpaccio as a starter — thinly sliced, well-seasoned and lovingly prepared. The pasta vongole was delicious. Then came the fish ravioli… Unfortunately. Dry, tasteless and as un-Italian as ketchup on your carbonara. Fortunately, the mushroom ravioli made up for it: creamy, full of flavour and completely “mamma mia”. The coffee? That was great. But then… the eating time rules. Seriously? A table lock from 6:00 to 6:15 PM? So un-Italian!!! Too bad, because the atmosphere and some of the food actually invite you to linger. In short: nice place, friendly atmosphere, varied food — but hopefully they will soon remove the stopwatch when making reservations. Italy is about la dolce vita, not la dolce deadline.

Amazing place! Super delicious food and very caring personnel. Surely would like to come back in the future. If you want to eat and not just to have drinks – make sure you arrive earlier than one hour until they close .

What a lovely restaurant! The atmosphere, the food and the service are great. The food feels like real classic Italian. The location is in the heart of the city, but still in a quiet place. If I have to mention a small point, it is that the space around our table is a bit tight and I could not easily pass the others, but that certainly did not spoil the fun. I will definitely come back here! My compliments to all the employees of the restaurant.

Last Thursday my girlfriend and I had reserved a table for 2 at 7:30 PM. We were not helped quickly so we decided, when the waiter finally came, to order our starters right away (both a carpaccio). According to the waiter this was not possible, the intention was that we would order our entire order including main course/dessert at once. My girlfriend and I had not looked at the menu yet so I asked the waiter to come back soon. Again this took a long time, so long that my girlfriend and I were not that hungry anymore and decided to just order a starter. When we finally told the waiter this we were told that this was not possible. My girlfriend and I did not understand what the waiter meant exactly and asked for an explanation. He told us that if we only ordered a starter we could leave. My girlfriend and I could not believe it, did not feel comfortable with a discussion and left the restaurant immediately. Incomprehensible!

A great restaurant👌 Took the chef's surprise menu. Everything was very tasty and the quantity was more than enough. The service was also very good, very friendly. I would like to eat there often. Please keep it up 👌

Very tasty, very friendly, nice atmosphere, would love to go again!!!

Cozy, busy restaurant with authentic Italian food.

Be careful if you go with a group of +6 people. We had made a reservation for 10 people but in the end 2 people were prevented at the last minute, so we arrived with 8 people. We were then told that, because 10 people had been expected and 2 people had not cancelled, we would be charged for 10 people. This surprised us because this was not announced in the confirmation email or on the website. Discussion led to nothing and preparing less food was not negotiable. We paid for 10 people and unfortunately this left a bad taste in our mouths. The food was otherwise fine.

Everything perfect! The quality of the food is very good.

Very nice place with friendly service and good Italian chef. Delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. Popular place so reservations are recommended!

I really don't understand why it's not always packed here... What a gem of a restaurant in a tucked away spot! If you want real and super tasty Italian food, this is the place to be

Excellent food. Everything was so well put together and very tasty. Can wholeheartedly recommend!

Had a lovely meal yesterday. Staff is very friendly. Too bad the tables are so close together.

We had a really nice evening at this restaurant. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, they made us feel at ease straight away. The food was excellent, really tasty and well prepared. The atmosphere is very pleasant, so much so that we wanted to stay for hours more to chat and relax. We will definitely be back soon, it was a really nice experience!

Wow! Incredibly delicious: fresh, tasty and in fine portions. And that with exceptionally sweet and nice service and in a very cozy ambiance. Our kids also loved it (even our eggplant 😉). We would love to come back again.

Awesome. One of the view authentic Italian kitchen tastes in NLD

Great food. Very nice wines. Too bad the music was so loud.

Very annoying situation with tables too close to each other, giving absolutely no privacy (especially on the terrace). I can hear people talking uncomfortably close to each other and have the feeling that we are actually sitting at the same table. It casts a small shadow over the delicious food and friendly staff.

Very tasty. Lots of vegetarian and vegan choices on the menu for an average Italian.

Absolutely fantastic, lovely restaurant with wonderful food and incredibly good service. Very rich dishes and their pork shank was really tender and delicious.

The food was very good and the service was nice

The food is very fresh and delicious!!

A truly authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Arnhem. Very nice service and delicious food, unfortunately some dishes were on the salty side, otherwise they would have been five stars. It is also quite busy and noisy. Highly recommended!

Italian, but as intended. Good service and delicious food.

From art! Great food. Tiramisu as it should be ❤️ Delicious wines. Pure enjoyment!

One of the best Italian restaurants I've had the pleasure of eating at. Well priced, fresh, delicious food and wine. Staff extremely friendly and accommodating, good for the family.

Cozy atmosphere, delicious authentic Italian food, fine wines, nice service.

Congratulations, congratulations!! Everything was delicious. The prosecco, the spaghetti alla Norma and the tiramisu. Great service! The atmosphere too. I'll be back soon! Best regards from Groningen.

Cozy and intimate atmosphere. Good and cheerful service.

Very nice, comfortably furnished. Prices are more than okay. Food was very tasty 😊

What a great authentic restaurant this is! It was our first time at Il Boccone and we actually enjoyed everything. The attentive and friendly service, the beautiful flavors and beautiful wines (our Brunello paired perfectly with the saltimbocca, the linguine vongole, the spaghetti carbonara (real, so based on egg!) and the pizza with spicy salami). We found everything to be a high point scorer. If I had to mention one small point, it would be the light: it could be a little stronger so that the dishes are more visible and therefore contribute even better to the overall experience. All in all: Grazie mille per la splendida serata. Ci vediamo presto!

Ate here with my best friend. I must say very good! And the non-alcoholic beer was also very good!

Had dinner with two people on a Wednesday evening. I haven't had such a delicious, authentic Italian meal in a long time. Pinsa romana as a starter and Tagliatelle Salmone as a main course. Enjoyed both until the last bite! Service is excellent, compliments. Atmosphere also good, although personally it was a bit too dark. With a little more light, the menu was easier to read and the dishes were also visually attractive. But that didn't spoil the fun. I will definitely come back again.

Music was a bit loud. But nice atmosphere. Staff were friendly. Food was clearly fresh. Flavors were fine.

Delicious Italian food. Feels like you are really in Italy.

We had such a lovely dinner here last week. The friendly Italian staff hosted a perfect evening, and we were amazed by the authentic dishes. A place to return to!

Boccone, a mouthful of pure splendor, Smooth and rich, with a flavor that smiles. Every fork lifts you to a dream, Where cream and spices flow together'. The paste soft, so full of power, With cheese that melted and brought love. A touch of garlic, pepper, herb, An explosion of flavor that never fades or creeps. O Boccone, your glow so warm, Embraces my soul, fills every charm'. A plate of yours, a party, an art, Heaven probably tastes just like art.

All was fine but considering that main food came 30 minutes before the time we were told we need to leave, we couldn’t really enjoy a nice dessert and koffie and thee. So you need to choose whether you want a starter more or a dessert because you don’t have enough time for the whole experience which is a pity for for a specialised Italian restaurant, I hope they learn from their feedback. Normally in 2 hours 45 minutes we should be able to have it all if service as efficient enough

A cozy little top restaurant in the heart of Arnhem. Very tasty foccacia An excellent Amatriciana And a deliciously refreshing sgroppino

I went to Il boccone for the second time on Saturday evening and it was clearly a very different experience than the first time. Starting with the food, this was not bad except for the vitello Tonnato, which clearly came out of the freezer too cold and wet. The service of 3 people was extremely difficult to understand, no Dutch and English was also poor, no attention for the guests. After entering we had to wait 20 minutes. A card is thrown over your shoulder onto the table with the note Drinks. And the rest of the evening is not much different. Very annoying, there is a shift at 7:00 PM, so all tables are empty. We also hear our findings from other guests. The place is so full that you have to put on your coat outside. In short, no 3rd time for us.

I had a calzone as a main course and the taste was excellent and just like being in the heart of Italy. And for dessert an Italian-style crème brulee. Very tasty.

We were looking for something for lunch and came across this restaurant thanks to the good Google rating. It was absolutely delicious. Fresh ciabatta, homemade antipasti including pesto and tomato sauce. Excellent salads but the pinsa at the next table looked great. Great espresso ☕️ and very attentive and very friendly service. Top!!!

Reserved for 2 people on a Saturday, after we sat down at our table no one came to ask what we wanted to drink. After 20 minutes someone finally came to the table, after which we ordered our drinks and the starter. That all happened at once fifteen minutes later. The food was fine, but the restaurant was very full, actually too full. Therefore 3 stars for both service and atmosphere.

Schon wieder in Arnhem, also wieder ins il boccone. Der nette Service wieder vor Ort 👍 Küche wieder super . Diesmal eine Pizza mit Kürbis, Walnuss und Mozzarella zur Vorspeise geteilt, danach lecker hausgemachte Nudeln mit Muscheln und Garnelen 🍤 Vielen Dank 🙏 es war wieder super bei euch

Really delicious food, had a four course surprise menu that was really worth it and very attentive and friendly service. Top.

Everything was great! The food, the atmosphere and the people working there 👌 A true Italian restaurant

One of the best Italian restaurants in the Arnhem area. Eating out here is always a treat. The food is delicious, the wine excellent, and the staff very friendly!

The food, mood and staff were amazing. The only negative point I could point out is that it was quite loud inside.

Sicilian cuisine comes with warm hospitality.

Fantastic Italian restaurant in the heart of Arnhem, delicious food and great service, casual atmosphere, highly recommended!!!!

So incredibly delicious! Just a disappointment once your plate is empty. Service is also very friendly and helpful. Great restaurant.

This is the third time I come here. It was very good again. The food tasted delicious and the service was very friendly. I'll definitely be back!

We were there on Christmas Day. I wasn't feeling well, but what great service this team gave me. The true Italian mentality. I recommend them to everyone. And we will definitely come back.

Food was great but they gave us a reservation slot of 1 hour and 15 minutes. We wanted to order quickly but had to wait to order both starter and main course. The main course came 10 minutes before the end of our slot because it took 15 minutes between starter and main. Got kicked out with a doggy bag which is pretty crazy if you are in a restaurant. If u allow these slots u have to be clear about what u can order and don’t have crazy delays while ordering and for the food to come out.

Delicious food but very pricey (above 60 euros per person for three courses with drinks). Service was reasonable but not more than that. Taking the high price into account, I get 3 stars.

We had a really delicious meal! Authentic Italian dishes that tasted really good. Service was very friendly and helpful. The only downside was the fact that you could not get tap water (even though we had ordered several alcoholic drinks). I will definitely recommend Il Boccone, you have to go here at least once!

Not a lot of space, but everything else is perfect

Finalmente una pizza italiana come si deve in Olanda! Ogni volta che siamo qui ci sentiamo un po’ a casa. Unica pecca da migliorare: l’arancino. Per il resto super! - Elke keer dat we hier zijn, voelen we ons een beetje thuis. Het enige verbeterpunt: de arancino. Voor de rest: top!

Great restaurant, service very good, food was delicious.

Super tasty food and a nice atmosphere, but unfortunately a downside for the service. I was with 3 friends and we wanted to share some dishes. We were recommended to do the antipasti platter twice with a mix of all the starters, even though we thought in advance that this would be too much. When we ordered 2 main courses to share, we were also advised to order 3 main courses, otherwise it would really not be enough. Because we don't really know how big the portions are, we followed the advice and also ordered 3 main courses. Afterwards it turned out that we had already had enough after the antipasti planks, so we only had one of the main courses. A great shame of course, because that resulted in an expensive voucher, while we could not fully enjoy it.