On Sloterkade sits a business that is not easily pigeonholed. Il Fico is at once osteria, delicatessen and caterer. You can eat a plate of fresh pasta in the afternoon, then buy a bottle of olive oil or a jar of pesto from an Italian family-run business, and on the way back pick up a quick bowl of freshly prepared lasagna for dinner. That's the idea, and it works.
Behind Il Fico is the QI Bottega Italiana Group. The concept is built around Italian dining culture: eating together, taking your time, enjoying what's on the table. No rush, no fuss. The delicacies are carefully curated from products from family farms scattered across all regions of Italy. That means not just pasta and Parma ham, but regional products you won't find in a regular supermarket. The people behind the purchasing know their suppliers personally, and you can taste that.
The restaurant itself runs to classic Italian rhythms: lunch, dinner and the aperitivo. On the terrace you can spend an hour watching the neighborhood with an Italian aperitivo on the table, which is no punishment in Old West. The decor matches the atmosphere: warm, not too fancy, like you're just welcome. Fresh panini are on the menu, as are pastas and dishes to share. It's all about sitting at the table together, in good Italian fashion.
Here, the products of Italian family-run businesses from all regions of Italy are not just decor, but the heart of the matter.
Il Fico is run by people who stand for something. The combination of osteria, delicatessen and caterer makes Il Fico more than a place to eat. It is also a place to shop with taste. The products of family-run Italian restaurants from all regions of Italy are not just decor here, but the heart of the business. Anyone who walks in for a panino once is likely to leave with more than planned.