 |
Eating in Rotterdam |
A personal selection by district:
| Explanation price indications: | ||
| Inexpensive | main courses | under €20 |
| Moderate | €20 - 25 | |
| Expensive | € 25 - 30 | |
| Very expensive | € 30 or more |
Blijdorp, Provenierswijk & Bergpolder
Blue Mekong (Proveniersstraat 29a, tel 4660439)
Decorated like a basic Thai eatery. The choice of menu is straightforward: a set menu of 7, 9 or 11 dishes changing monthly. Delicious authentic tastes, friendly and cheerful staf. Moderate prices.
La Cazuela (Proveniersstraat 38b, tel. 484 56 53; Mondays closed))
Stylish tapas restaurant. Wide range of warm and cold tapas (traditional Spanish snacks and hors d'oeuvres). Full meals also available; good quality, pleasant and efficient waiting staff. Recommended: Menu de la Casa, a selection of cold and warm tapas amounting to a full two course dinner, which saves you some difficult choices. . Moderate.
Lokanta Dunya (Proveniersstraat 40a, tel 2430669; 12-23, za-zo geen lunch)
Turkish. Small scale Turkish restaurant baking its own delicious bread. Two daily specials (traditional and modern) or à la carte. Friendly service, good quality. Inexpensive
Cool (Centre)
Bazar Wereld Eethuis (Witte de Withstraat 16; tel 2065151)
In midst of the ever trendier Witte de Withstraat. Dishes and drinks from far away places. Most suited for lunch or snack between meals, but als full meals are served. Moderate.
De Engel (Eendrachtsweg 19; tel. 2133821; open vanaf 18:00)
Chef Herman den Blijker has become a national TV celebrity since he won - and lost - his first Michelin star. His none too big a restaurant is real Rotterdam highlight. Excellent food and not posh at all. Speciality is Dutch Beef. Reservations essential. Expensive.
Floor Spectacles (Schouwburgplein 28, n4045288; restaurant open 18-21.30, za/zo tot 23:00)
Café restaurant in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg (main theatre). Handy for a good pre-show meal. French cuisine. Modern interior. Live music at some nights. Moderate
Mastika (Eendrachtsweg
25, tel 214 24 63; kitchen open 12-22:00, Sat/Sun from 17hrs.)
Modern Ottoman cuisine, is something quite different
from everyday Turkish. Tastefully decorate restaurant, serves well prepared
and tasty dishes: venison, kazandibi, manti, gözleme and a variety of
vegetarian dishes. Surprising good Turkish house wines. Excellent service.
We're told that this type of cuisine is "all the
rage" these days in Istanbul. Moderate.
Nazar (Schiedamse Vest 12, tel 4046074)
Modern Turkish Grand Café. Sophisticated interior design, wide choice. Good food. Inexpensive.
Sublime
Raoul (Van Oldenbarneveldtplaats naast Bijenkorf)
Strategically placed with a view on the shopping crowds. Good for lunch and drinks while recuperating from heavy duty shopping.
La Villette (Westblaak 160, ph. 4148692; dinner 18-21.30, sunday and monday closed)
Don't let the grim concrete office building, in which La Vilette takes up the ground floor, scare you off. Easy going French-styled Brasserie. At night a mixed crowd. Not as expensive as you might expect for this quality restaurant. Moderate to expensive
Rodin (Schilderstraat 20a, tel. 4130143; open 17-22)
Parisian Brasserie. Clear and modern design. Open for lunch and dinner. International with French slant. Fine wine list. Average
Warung Mini (Witte de Withstraat 47, tel. 4047456)
Very simple eatery, that has survived the street's gentrification. Indonesian, Surinamese and Chinese food. Good and inexpensive.
Delfshaven
Bla Bla (Piet Heynplein 35, tel. 4774448; open 17-22 uur)
Vegetarian restaurant. Delicious, wholesome and eleborate dishes that can even lure the most fervent carnivores. Small and popular. Reservations are no luxury. Moderate.
Frits (Piet Heynsplein 25/A, tel. 4773025, open 16-22)
Frits serves an 8 course surpise menu. A flight of suitable wines can ordered along with the dinner. Moderate.
FG (Lloydstraat 294 Tel.: +31(0)104250520
Chef François Geurds learned his stuff in London's infamous The Fat Duck and now shows off his innovative molecular cooking in Rotterdam. Michelin awarded two much coveted stars for his taste sensations. Go for the set 11 course menu. Expensive.
't Ouwe Bruggetje (Voorhaven 6, tel 4773499)
French Bistro in historiscal district of Delfshaven. Wide choice of meat and fish. Good Quality and likeable staff. Moderate to expensive.
Le Souq Delfshaven (Voorhaven 54, tel. 4765558; open 17-21 hrs)
De Parel is a funny little place. The pitoresque facade seems have walked away from the French countryside. In the interior is nothing less than surreal. The menu offers Lebanese food. Moderate.
Hillegersberg
De Buren (Adriaen van der Doeslaan 30, tel. 4187742; open 17-23 uur)
Dutch/French Bistro in a residential area. Menu is a nice combination of Dutch and French goodies. Moderate.
La Salute (Bergse Dorpstraat 65, tel 4221122)
Italian restaurant. Pizza's but more importantly Italian meat and fish dishes of a better kind. Inexpensive to moderate.
Kralingen
Stylish and spacious top notch restaurant
Kleine Ondeugd Oostzeedijk 348. tel 2130718
Eetcafé with Thai food. No menu but fixed three course dinner. Soup is optional. High speed, reasable food. Inexpensive.
In den Rustwat (Honingerdijk 96 tel. 4134110 open 18-22 uur)
Located in a historical farm house (1597). High quality restaurant with French cuisine. Outdoor tables in summer. Expensive.
Watertoren (Watertorenweg 180 tel. 4522555)
A bit out of the way, but this eetcafe in a Water tower is worth the while. World cuisine. Inexpensive to moderate.
Kop van Zuid
Allure, Cargadoorskade 107, tel 4866529
Ambitious restaurant, with hip and happy dishes on the quay of an attractive town marina. Good and friendly service. French / Meditaranean cuisine with a worldly twist. Expensive.
Café Rotterdam (Wilhelminakade 699, 290 8442) open 12-14.30 en 17-21.30
In a section of the former arrivals hall of the
Holland Amerika-Line next door to the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam,
Café Rotterdam is located on the first floor. In this modernist
building from 1947
the high ceilling room has a grand view of the river, the bridge and
the city through the huge windowed facade. The Chef serves tasty and
well prepared dishes with a French slant. In summer a large
outside terrace is open (also on the first floor) .
Leipzig, (Antoine Platekade 9, tel. 0800-LEIPZIG)
Modern, stylish restaurant, inside the new Luxor theatre. Ideal for pre-theatre-dinners. Timing is tuned to the start of the shows. Also good for lunch and dinner for non theatre guests. International Cuisine. Can be easily reached by watertaxi.
Hotel New York (Koninginnehoofd 1 tel. 4390525; open 7-23)
The former Headquarters of the shipping company Holland-Amerikalijn has been converted into a Grand Café, Hotel and restaurant. Good choice of fish and meat. Beautiful building and location on a peninsula on the river. Can also be reached by Water Taxi from Leuvehaven and Veerhaven. Moderate
Hip en trendy restaurant dat uitstekend bereide en gepresenteerde Japanse gerechten serveert. Prima Maki sushi, Nigiri Sushi, Sashimi andere kleine heerlijkheden. Gefrituurd ijs als dessert. Gemiddeld.
Safir (Vijf Werelddelen 91, tel 4862318; open vanaf 17 uur beh. maandag)
Basement restaurant at Entrepothaven. An area of revitalised dock lands, with loads of ethnic restaurants, a marina and expensive apartments. Traditional Marrocan food. Moderate.
Nieuwe Werk (Scheepvaartkwartier)
Loos (Westplein 1, tel 4117723)
Grand Cafe and Restaurant in the Atlanticgebouw, the city's first business office centre. The café breathes the atmosphere of shipping companies and agencies. French quality food. Moderate to expensive. The cafe has a small menu with cheaper options.
Parkheuvel (Heuvellaan 21, tel 4360530; open 12-15 en 18-22 uur)
Perched on a hill at the edge of the The Park, with a river view. Golden location. Two Michelin stars . Very expensive
La Stanza (Van Vollenhovenstraat 19, tel. 2771414)
Fine Italian cuisine with French slant. Short menu list. Salmon, Gambas, Lamb are a few tasty examples. Fairly priced 3 or 4 course dinners. Behind the house the restaurant owns a charming garden for mediteranean al fresco dining in summer. Moderate.
Wereldmuseum (Westerkade Willemskade 25, tel. 2707172)
Since 2009 the Wereld Museum has its own restaurant, which has become one of the best in town. In 2013 it received a star rating by the Michelin
Restaurant guide. Refined dishes influenced by international cuisine
can be enjoyed with great views of the river. Museum objects give the
room that extra touch. Very expensive
Zinc (Calandstraat 12a, 4366579; open dinsdag-zaterdag)
Looks like a simple French Brasserie. The menu follows the seasons and has 3 options for starters, four main courses and a selection of desserts. It is not on paper, so pay good attention when the choices are explained to you. Reservations are reccommended. Guests who do want a full meal can join the neighbourhood table (buurttafel) Moderate (No credit cards; debit cards accepted)
Oude Noorden, Liskwartier en Agniesebuurt
Angelo Betti (Schiekade 6a, tel 4658174; open 4-10.30pm)
Without a shadow of a doubt this pizzeria and ice cream parlour serves the best Pizza's in town. You can eat them in slightly kitchy surroundings. Very popular. Reservations impossible. Expect to queue at least 30 minutes for a table. Inexpensive to Moderate.
Destino (Zaagmolenkade 37, tel. 8422059; open Tue-Sun from 5.30pm)
Besides the small permanent menu, Destina has a plethora of daily changing tapas. Fine Spanish wines to wash it all down. No bookings taken, but you can wait your turn sipping at the trendy bar munching away small but tasty bites.
Lof der Zoetheid (Noordplein 1, tel 2650070; open do-zo 10-17.30)
Café for coffees, tea, lunches and a Dutch take on afternoon tea. Lovely cakes, rolls and most of all delicious home made food.
De Jong (Raampoortstraat 38, tel 4657 955; open wo-zo
Find this place under the arches of a former elevated railway track just behind Hofplein. The menu is always a surprise. There is a choice between a veggie dinner or a daily menu with a choice of meat or fish. Very original choice of forgotten vegetables. Average
Stadsdriehoek (Centre)
Amarone (Meent
72, tel 4148487 open 12-14 & 18-21.30; zo gesloten)
On the ever more trendy shopping and culinary
street Meent. Only after one year awarded one Michelin-star..
French - Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis the French side. Light and
open space with lots of mirrors. Chef's specials include: "thinly sliced
scallops, with hazelnut, truffle and pecorino foam" or “Pata Negra
jambon with fried mackerel, polenta and vinaigrette of ginger and
curry”. Long, but pricey wine list. Expensive
Asian Glories (Leeuwenstraat 15-17, tel 4117107 open 12-22 except wednesday)
Not just any Chinese joint, but a restaurant serving Asian specialties in a forgotten street in the city centre. Reccommended. Moderate.
Restaurant Chung (Four Seasons) (Noordmolenwerf 171, tel 4144099)
Modern Chinese and Chino-European fusion. Wide choice tasteful modern Chinese dishes. A bit hidden in a residential area on an island in a canal. Nice outdoor tables. Moderate.
Dudok (Meent 88, tel 4333102; open 8-23uur)
Based in the former insurance office designed by the architect of the same name. Consists of a Grand-Café, and a patisserie at ground level. The cakes are delicious and can be bought for eating at home. At the mezzanine level there is a Brasserie.serving good French food. Reservations. Moderate.
Eye sore of a
Napoli (Meent 81/a, tel 4148467)
Reasonable Italian restaurant. Not surprising, but decent. Moderate.
O'Pazzo (Mariniersweg 90, tel. 2827107)
Very trendy Italian restaurant, that even employs an Italian Formula Manager. The interior is sophisticated and unusual. The artistically shaped pizza oven is in the middle of the restaurant itself. The food is good, the staff sloppy. Moderate.
Waterstad / Maritime District
Hangar 85 (Wijnhaven 85, tel. 203 8930, open daily 12-22)
On
Wijnhaven @ Posthoornstraat a new culinary hotspot is making its name.
Hangar
85 is the top among the restaurants here. The interior has that modern
"industrial look", but the dishes are refined and the atmosphere
friendly. Classics are given a modern slangt. The menu is different
too: the dishes are smaller and cheaper and can be combined in anyway
you like. There is also a chef's choice of 4, 5 or 6 courses.
Expensive.
Kaandorp (Oosterkade 119, tel 010-4133199 , Sun-Thu 15-22, Fri-Sat 15-23)
Friendly gastropub with magnificent view on the river. Large outdoor terrace in summer. Wide selection of dishes. Moderate prices.
Mooii (Oost Wijnstraat 14, tel 2331311 17-23)
In middle of the Old Dock (Oude Haven) night life district. Stylish French restaurant. 3 course dinner for aound 32 euro. Moderate to expensive.
Stockholm (Spaansekade 12, tel 414 72 95; open 17.30-23)
Trendy lounge, cocktail bar and restaurant (with quayside terrace) on the Oude Haven (Old Dock). Another step in the ongoing upgrade of this happening area. Resident DJ makes ambient sounds. Menu consists of a list with smaal dishes like oysters, "half a lobster with beurre noisette" or ‘sea bass with serrano, mozzarella and veal gravy’, from which you can order any number you like. Three dishes come close to a 2 course dinner. Moderate to expensive
FitzGerald
(Gelderseplein, tel. 2687010, di-vr 12-14.30 en di-za vanaf 18 uur )
Outstanding restaurant near Oude Haven (Old Docks). Modern cuisine. Besides high quality dining also fingerfood bar and private dining rooms. Expensive
Small
Oude Westen en Middelland
Viva Afrika (Nieuwe Binnenweg 153, tel
2120787; open 12-21.30uur; ma gesloten)
Africn restaurant on a lively part of the artery of the Oude Westen district. The menu inclueds dishes like 'crocodile', 'ostrich' and a number of East African minced meats eaten with a pancake in your hand (no cutlery!). Moderately priced. Book ahead.
Lux ('s Gravendijkwal 133, tel. 476.22.06: open 17.30-23.00)
Italian restaurant for those who want more than just pizza and plane pasta. Moderate.
Soit (s-Gravendijkwal 136b. 010-43631149, open 17-22.30)
Fine little restaurant, a bit lost in a rowdy neighbourhood. Delicious french influenced cooking with other ingredients as well. Meats, Fish and vegetarian. Three course meals for 45 guilders. Moderate.
Eetlokaal Kuiter, Mathenesserweg 2-4. tel. 06-647314143, open Wed-Sat 6-11pm)
The place for biological farmed produce directly from local famers. Daily changing menu according to the season. Good wines and informal atmosphere. Average.
Westerpaviljoen (Mathenesserlaan 136, tel. 4362645)
Grand Cafe and restaurant on busy cross roads in the Oude Westen district. In summer large outdoor café. Populair with the Rotterdam media crowd. .Inexpensive to moderate.
Rotterdam South
Deli Bird Thai Kitchen, Delistraat 44
Simple yet stylish Thai eatery, serving wok, curry and noodle dishes with chicken, pork and beef. Lots of vegitarean options. Mild to incinerator! Inexpensive.
Kwiezien, Delistraat 20-22
In the Middle of former dockland area Katendrecht. The area is in transition to a mix of old and new and promises to become a happening place. A small nice restaurant serving imaginative french/Mediterranean dishes of good standard. Moderately priced.