Amore, Pasta e Gioia

Amore, Pasta e Gioia is a family-run osteria in Ixelles led by Karina and Giuseppe, who ran Al Piccolo for eight years; Al Piccolo was a gastronomic restaurant honoured by Michelin and ranked among Brussels’s top ten Italian restaurants by Gault & Millau. Returning to their roots, they opened the convivial osteria in the former family site L’Amarcord at Porte de Namur to serve authentic home-style dishes instead of haute gastronomy. The owners, a Michelin‑seasoned team, choose a simpler format and aim to cook with heart and simplicity while creating a welcoming space for sharing honest Italian food. The interior is warm and cosy with wooden touches, creating an intimate, family-friendly ambience ideal for relaxed shared meals. The cuisine is traditional osteria‑style, built on fresh Italian ingredients and traditional techniques, prepared simply and cooked al dente; portions are generous and the menu includes explicit vegetarian, lactose-free and gluten-free options. Specialties include fresh handmade pasta, carbonara served in a wheel of Parmesan, tagliata, truffle pasta and truffled meat dishes, an antipasto misto tower, daily tiramisu and Sicilian pistachio ice cream.