At Da Sebastiano you can enjoy an authentic mini Italian experience. The restaurant we visited was Da Sebastiano No.2. It has a very relaxing atmosphere and the hosts make you feel at home. Every guest is welcomed with a bruschetta al pomodoro (crispy toast with tomato) and the evening never finishes without a limoncello (lemon liquor). They aim to keep a good balance between price and quality. There is definitely enough choice and variation on the menu: plenty of pasta and pizza to choose from, a few meat dishes and one fish dish. The menu is strong and everything on the menu is always available.
For Sebastiano the days start very early and holidays are rare. He wakes up and straight after he heads for the shops on his motorino (little motorbike) to then choose the fresh ingredients for that day and personally supply his two restaurants.
If you are good and you deliver good quality, you have to do what you’re good at.
Sebastiano is from Italy (Puglia, Southern Italy) and has lived in The Netherlands for a long time. Before settling in The Hague, he lived in Germany, Switzerland and the Canary Islands in Spain. He believes that a good cook does not stop at Scheveningen. You have to go around to learn! Sebastiano likes to keep busy. Everyday he thinks:
What can I do to improve today?
Sebastiano enjoys the combination of hosting and cooking. His favourite dish is pasta in every way, but the Italian way ofcourse! He choose not to take up the older, traditional pastas on the menu like: Puttanesca, Carbonara, Amatriciana. In his opinion they do this everywhere and he prefers to serve something different. His pasta dish preferences are reflected in the menu:
1) Spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, chili pepper, tomato and basil
2) Penne with spicy tomato sauce, sausage and aubergine
The specials can always be found on the blackboard. The dishes change almost every day, depending on the quality and availability of the fresh ingredients. Sebastiano likes to personally present the blackboard to his guests in Da Sebastiano No.2 and explain the daily menu.
Our menu for the evening
- Starter: Antipasti plate
- Main: Fresh pasta with a truffle and ricotta creme, topped with parmigiano
- Dessert: Fresh strawberries with cream and a chocolate – balsamico dressing
The Italian cuisine is all about fresh and simple ingredients. Did you know that they don’t use herbs like coriander and dill in the Italian kitchen? Sebastiano likes to emphasize the fact that they also don’t work with butter, only with olive oil.
The dessert has taken an important place in The Netherlands. He feels that it is valued more than before. The desserts they serve at Da Sebastiano vary and are not written on the menu. Feel free to ask!
The overall dinner experience
Great combinations and variation in taste and at the same time complementing each other.
Lovely, homey experience and great hosting. Grazie ancora Sebastiano, for an unforgettable evening of great company and most importantly: fabulous food!
Sebastiano, our host for the evening owns two restaurants in The Hague:
Trattoria Da Sebastiano, Javastraat 138a Den Haag, The Netherlands
Da Sebastiano No.2, Laan van Meerdervoort 214 Den Haag, The Netherlands
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