Osteria Da Vinci in Centrum

After three visits to Osteria da Vinci, I feel it is finally necessary to write a review. This restaurant surpasses every (Italian) eatery in Groningen. It excels not only in the food (naturally the most important aspect), but also in the excellent wine pairing, the sublime service from the waiter, and the atmosphere. An example of the latter is the beautiful covered courtyard the restaurant boasts, where we dined during our second visit. The tasting platter beforehand was very good and included meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, which were explained in advance by the wait staff. In terms of both quality and portion size: you get more than your money's worth, with fresh ingredients and flavors you rarely encounter in the Netherlands. The main courses were the pappardelle al ragù and a pizza noito (unfortunately not pictured). Both dishes were once again very good. The dessert was also fantastic, even though we had actually already had more than enough. Once again: after having visited almost every Italian restaurant in Groningen and the surrounding area, this is by far the best. Finally, a thank you to Carlo for the warm welcome, despite a very late reservation. We will definitely be back.

Delicious food, very friendly service!!

Tasty and fresh food, big portions. We really enjoyed. But service could be better. Waiters should be more attentive and professional.

As understanding customers, we arrived here in high spirits, but unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing. To start with, we had to wait half an hour for the menu. Following a service error, we then had to wait another two hours for the main course. As a gesture of goodwill, we were offered an alcoholic drink. Because no explanation was given and I was so hungry that I didn't feel like drinking strong alcohol with my meal, we asked for an alternative when presenting the bill. We certainly understand that it can be busy, but unfortunately, our request was not met with hospitality. Instead, the staff accused us of 'exaggerating' and 'trying to take too much control'. It is a real shame, as the place looks very nice, but this treatment unfortunately ruined our evening.

Had a delicious meal at Osteria Da Vinci! The food was truly Italian and really tasty. The atmosphere was good and the acoustics were perfect; it was completely full, but you could still hear each other well. Very pleasant. The temperature was perhaps a bit on the high side, but it was manageable. Furthermore, the service was good; sometimes there was a bit of a wait, but that didn't matter too much. It was very busy, so it is understandable that it sometimes took a little longer. The portions were large; I asked for a doggy bag! Ideal. This was a wonderful Italian evening with truly incredibly delicious food! 🇮🇹

First of all I want to say that the food was very nice. We waited half an hour for a menu after being seated (not kidding). A very dismissive apology was given. After that we waited almost 2 hours for our mains to arrive. The manager sent us two liqueurs before we had our mains without even discussing with us, the waitress just put in on our table without saying a thing. Then when we got the check I saw that we had to pay for everything except for the mysterious liqueurs. When I said that this wasn’t fair the manager told me I was overexaggerating and that I had to let him decide next time. I had not complained once during this disaster of a service and was very kind and forgiving to the staff, the manager made me feel like a cheap a-hole for complaining. I think this was handled very poorly, especially because I had been nothing but nice. Very nice food, horrible staff + manager.

Fine, it was streamlined and well organized. Fast and good service, the dishes were okay, not amazing. The price was fine. Great for a pleasant evening with friends or colleagues.

Best pizza and service in town. Only downside - their house wine was not really nice.

Tasty Italian pizza, lovely courtyard, and good cappuccino

We were with a group of 8 people. Reactions: The mixed grill had already cooled down too much and, like all the pizzas, was quite tasteless; the service was very sloppy (many dishes delivered incorrectly); and the coffee was served cold. All in all: once, but never again!

Caterina was amazing!! Good service and delicious food

The worst service in the Groningen. We waited food and drinks too much. Was ignored a lot. Was wrong counted by stuff.

Surprisingly pleasant. Looking for an Italian eatery in Groningen that is relaxed, good, and not too expensive. The food is beautifully presented, portions are good, and prices are friendly. The service is very friendly and they have a very nice terrace.

Great food and excellent service. We really enjoyed it!

The pizzas were tasty, but it took a very long time for them to arrive. That was really the only downside. The staff was very friendly and the restaurant was very cozy.

Gnocchi and taglione were very tasty. Cozy food! I recommend it!

The food was delicious, but the service was a bit sloppy. They ordered the wrong dessert, the wrong ice cream, and whipped cream instead of none, and the coffee was wrong. Otherwise, the service was very friendly. The food is delicious here as usual, even after the takeover. But maybe I'm imagining things, and the pizza isn't as generously topped as it used to be.

Very friendly and hospitable staff, quick service and delicious food! I had the Guanciale pizza and Panna Cotta as dessert. I enjoyed the food thoroughly and would definitely recommend this Ostaria! It was very busy at this time so understandably it was quite loud, but we were able to talk well enough. The atmosfere was great and the interior is beautiful.

The staff were incredibly friendly, even with so many guests! The food was absolutely delicious!

Amazing pasta, very well seasoned and adequate quantities. High quality food and superb service!

Great place with very friendly staff. Incredibly delicious food and a huge, beautiful wine list. Top wines from Sardinia!

Both the lasagna and the pizza are good and the staff are very friendly.

We have eaten here 5 times and the ingredients are imported from Italy and the food is authentic and fantastic. We came at 10.20 pm and Lisa and the team was kind enough to still serve us food. Everyone is friendly, respectful, smiling and the restaurant is spotless clean and reasonably priced. Well done team. Bravo!

Absolutely amazing food. In the Netherlands, there's always that risk that the food has been Dutchified, which makes it taste watery, bland and horrid. Not here! The food is AMAZINGLY flavoured, with actual layers and complexity to the flavours and textures. Best bruschetta I've had so far. Even the desserts were authentic and delicious. The servers are all so kind, efficient, and I love the "buonasera" and "prego" you often hear :). I wanted a birthday thing and they put a sparkler in my boyfriend's tiramisu, keeping everything discreet. Definitely coming back!

What a little gem. Excellent service good and atmosphere. Definitely a must to visit. Booking advised

We ate pizza super super delicious !!!

Delicious food, the people are nice. I'll be back!

The best Italian pizza in Groningen. The quality is really good! Highly recommended. If you are into pizza, try Diavola or 4 Cheeses here.

We had an incredibly delicious meal, a little bit of Italy in Groningen! I didn't write down the name of the lady who served us, but she recommended a perfect wine.

Delicious pizzas prepared with fresh ingredients, friendly service and with knowledge of allergies, which they respond well to

Still unsurpassable even after almost 40 years

Always delicious, flavorful food, a cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. Also the only place for our pizza at home; the Caponata is always our favorite = yummy!!!

First of all, I want to start by saying that the food was amazing, because we really had a delicious meal. What I personally found a bit less pleasant was that we discovered fairly quickly that there were mice in a nest of stacked wood in the corner where they were sitting. We pointed this out and also indicated that we didn't really find it pleasant. Basically, nothing was done about it, except that we were told in response that they could walk in and out quite easily. Furthermore, they didn't bring it up again, and we spotted our mouse friend about four more times while we were sitting there. And then I come to point 2: the staff was very friendly, but everything took a very long time. After the start, no one actually asked a second time if we wanted anything to drink, and after we asked for the dessert menu, no one ever came by to take our order. We waited about 30 minutes and eventually decided to skip dessert and go pay. Very disappointing. Despite the tasty food, for us it means: once is enough, never again.

This is no average Italian restaurant; here, dining becomes an experience. Excellent dishes, prepared with care, and surprising! Pleasant service that was very attentive and friendly despite the busyness. In short: highly recommended.

A great restaurant which I hadn't seen before, but was told to try owing to how inviting it looks inside abs the food reviews. We chose a night where my partners parents from Italy were here. Great atmosphere, all if not most of the staff spoke italian which made them feel comfortable as they don't speak English or Dutch. The food was excellent, the pizza was good but not traditional neopolitan style but very tasty - my 3 year old loved it. I had lemon pasta which was very good. For dessert tiramisu which was delicious. The beer was good, we had sardinian bottles beer (which is a big bottle) but see they had brand on draught as well as 1 or 2 more. We will definitely return a the menu is big so we won't be eating the same things every time.

Nice, authentic Italian restaurant with delicious food. Not super luxurious or incredibly atmospheric, but simply good. Highly recommended.

Friendly staff, nicely decorated restaurant with a cozy courtyard. The food was ready very quickly and very tasty!

We had a really delicious meal here. The staff were friendly, and the food and atmosphere in this restaurant were excellent. If we are ever in the area again, we will definitely come back!

The food here is really delicious!

First time means everything. Smile Italian speaking welcoming a new guest no matter single but eat for 2. Today is the first time and will be a regular guest for sure. Scampi King Prawns perfect. I love Chianti, but they proposed Sardinian vine... Tiramisu is 99% one of the best that I tried in my life al over the world, including Italy, of course... Small entrance but bigger garden will fave you nice time enjoy gladly raccomending. Bond James Bond

Super tasty food, and they are very helpful in deciding where you want to sit (crowds, heat...). The price is certainly in line with the quality. And lots of vegetables and salad with the meal!

Delicious food for a reasonable price. All dishes were beautifully presented, and the menu is excellent. We also had a lovely seat in the courtyard, and the service was absolutely fantastic. We had a wonderful meal here, and everyone was extremely satisfied. In short, highly recommended!

This restaurant was a really good surprise. The food was great and authentic, the service fine and everyone was Italian in the restaurant. We sat in the cover courtyard which was quitter than the front part Restaurant is not in the center but not too far from it. We had a nice and relax evening. Price was around 85 for 3 persons...not cheap but in zccodance with the quailty

We had a wonderful meal for two. It felt like we were in Italy. The wine was great, as were the Ichnusa beers. The service was excellent. Always good here!

We came here because we had a birthday boy over and wanted to have a birthday dinner. I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and cozy atmosphere inside. The restaurant has a truly Italian feel and makes me feel like I'm actually somewhere in Italy. The staff is very friendly and super attentive, which created a lovely atmosphere. The food was also of good quality. And I will definitely go back.

Delicious traditional Italian food.

Friendly service, delicious food and spacious.

Simply delicious Italian food! We didn't want fish in our appetizers, and they changed it without any problems! The staff was a bit busy, but patient and friendly. So sit back and enjoy your meal. And if you have to wait a bit, it'll be fine...

Osteria Da Vinci truly is a gem in Groningen. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience. From the friendly service to the delicious food, it has always been a number one spot for me. One of the best, if not then the best, restaurant to visit! Thank you for all the great memories!

Virkelig en god oplevelse. Fronten giver ikke det rigtige indtryk af restaurantens hygge og lokale. De har en hyggelig baggård. Kom uden at have bestilt bord. Blev mødt af venlighed og muligheder for placering selv om der var rimelig fyldt. Betjening var opmærksom og venlig. Observer en effektiv og rolig betjening og rydning. Maden var lækker, smagfuld og frisk. portioner yderst rigeligt.

Foods were lovely but it’s a bit noisy. There are many tables compare to the space. Staffs were kind and nice but there seemed to be a lack of communication between staffs (or problems in the system). I needed to say several times that I already ordered whenever the different staffs came and asked.

Last Saturday we celebrated our youngest son's birthday at Da Vinci. The food was delicious. The appetizer selection was very surprising and delicious. Everyone enjoyed the main courses. After the main course, some of us still wanted dessert. We will definitely be back. Saskia

We got a table without a reservation, the food arrived quickly and was really good. I'll definitely be back!

A true Italian restaurant, friendly service and delicious food!

Quick, not expensive, nice people and great food.

Delicious! What a lovely atmosphere. Simple yet inviting decor, and attentive service. The food was perfect, and the bill was absolutely reasonable. We'll definitely be back.

Lange tijd niet geweest. Iets te vieren en een 3 gangen menu leek ons heerlijk. Goede herinneringen met bv een heerlijke antipasti met warm brood en alle tijd. Nu niet meer helaas. Werken met shifts. Dus of om zes uur en 1.5 uur de tijd. Of om half 8. Dan half 8. De eerste gang duurde erg lang voor dat we wat kregen. De carpaccio van tonijn van veel te koud en daardoor smakeloos. De vleesgerechten waren wel oké. De groenten op het bord niet. Helaas was de gnocchi met garnalen veel te zout.. 3 kleine bakjes met wat sla en krieltjes en polenta voor 4 personen. Het toetje (ijs) was standaard bolletje. De tiramisu lekker. Koffie maar gelaten. De zaak was zo goed als leeg .. Prijs/kwaliteit teleurstellend. Jammer. Voor een pizza wellicht maar geen diner meer voor ons in Da Vinci.

Excellent food, the menu could be smaller, but overall a good place with wine for a good price.

I rarely write public reviews, but on this occasion, I feel compelled to share my experience. I had fond memories of this restaurant from a visit over a year ago, where I enjoyed a decent plate of pasta, and I had heard good things about it from others. However, after a previous incident involving a misunderstanding and a disappointing interaction with the owner, a significant portion of our community had boycotted the restaurant for over a year. Wanting to give them the benefit of the doubt—we are all human and can have bad days—we decided to book a celebratory dinner for a large group, hoping for a better experience this time around. Unfortunately, the evening did not go as we hoped. We had a fixed menu for our group and informed the restaurant ahead of time about the number of attendees. However, due to a last-minute emergency, one person could not join us. When we arrived, we informed the staff about the change and asked if this would be acceptable, fully aware of their policy requiring notice by 2 PM. The waiter, though visibly displeased, assured us it was "okay," and we proceeded with the dinner, optimistic that we would have a pleasant evening. Regrettably, the food was underwhelming. While the aubergine and the small sampling of pumpkin tortellini were enjoyable, the portions were shockingly small—reminiscent of tasting menus rather than a celebratory feast. Service was slow, and as we waited, we mistakenly assumed that more substantial dishes were on their way. To our surprise, the next course turned out to be tiny cups of sorbet, signaling the end of the meal. Among our group were several Italians and individuals familiar with Italian cuisine, and the general consensus was confusion and disappointment. Some even began discussing plans to visit a nearby kebab shop afterward to fill up. When the bill arrived, we noticed we had been charged for the absent guest. Upon questioning this, the waiter responded, "I said it is okay; I didn’t say we wouldn’t charge you." The absurdity of this statement left us astounded. When we pointed out that the amount of food served was already insufficient for the people present, let alone an additional “ghost guest,” the waiter reluctantly removed the extra charge. While this was the right thing to do, the overall handling of the situation was far from professional or accommodating. It’s a shame, as this restaurant has the potential to be a great dining spot. However, both the quality and quantity of food, as well as the communication and attitude of the staff, need significant improvement. I can understand enforcing policies on last-minute cancellations, but such rules must be communicated clearly and respectfully at the time—not presented in a misleading manner that leads to unnecessary conflict. For anyone seeking an enjoyable Italian dining experience in Groningen, I recommend Tarante, where the food is reliably good, and the staff are welcoming and professional. As for this restaurant, while we won’t be returning, I sincerely hope they reflect on this feedback and consider changes to enhance the experience for future diners.

Went to the restaurant for a celebratory dinner. Had a fixed menu that sounded very appealing. Unfortunately, this wan not the case. Putting apart the very slow and quite rude service, after a few small bites to share, some of which somewhat pleasant, all of us were waiting for the big star dish of the dinner. Nonetheless, this did not happen and after a these few appetizers the dessert came, very small lemon sorbet. The bill per was very high and did not in any way reflect the quantity of food eaten, and not at all the range indicated in Google. afterwards, some of us seriously considered going for kebab and I personally had more food at home in order to be full. Do not recommend.

Real Italian taste. Still the same quality of taste

The food is all right but the service pretty slow and inattentive. We would not go back.

Nice and atmospheric Italian restaurant, as if you are really in an Osteria in Italy. Highly recommended with a nice menu full of delicious dishes.

Καταπληκτικό μαγαζί καταπληκτικό φαΐ έφαγα την μακαρονάδα με το μπρόκολο πολύ ωραίος και ζεστός χώρος ενώ είχε 2 βαθμούς έξω ήσουν μέσα στο μαγαζί με κοντομάνικο Η ιταλική μπίρα καταπληκτική να την δοκιμάσετε ..είμασταν 6 άτομα ο κάθε ένας πήρε μια μακαρονάδα και μια πίτσα στην μέση και ήταν αρκετό για να φύγουμε γεμάτοι Επιλέξαμε να δοκιμάσουμε και το τιραμισού που πριν δεν μου άρεσε σαν γλυκό ήταν μέχρι να δοκιμάσω αυτό ήταν επίσης καταπληκτικό 🤍

Living here, I need a healthy restorative meal of REAL Italian CUISINE every now and then. From pizza like any other dish it smells of quality and love in making it and presented by Italian staff, EVERYONE gives you a smile, kindness and courtesy. It calls itself an osteria but it is truly EXCELLENT Italian restaurant. Congratulations and thanks.

Somewhat slow service at times, which often forgets things

Delicious food, highly recommended. Nice service and good atmosphere.

It took me nearly a decade to finally make it to Da Vinci—believe it or not! Every time I planned to go, something always came up. But tonight, I got to enjoy it with my friend and boyfriend, and it was worth the wait. The antipasti had an authentic feel, my gnocchi was perfectly done, and I loved seeing Sardinian seadas on the dessert menu—I don’t think you can find that anywhere else in Groningen. Recommended, I’ll be back to try the pizzas.

Came here for a pizza, and that and the service was very good! Italian owners and waiters made the night perfect

Cozy and attractive restaurant. Very friendly service. Good Italian dishes.

Bellisimo, pleasantly surprised! :)

Courteous service, Italian waiters. Welcoming and relaxing environment.

Nice pizzeria on the edge of the center. Friendly service, always a nice atmosphere and, above all, excellent pizzas, delivered quickly! 👌🏻

Delicious pizza eaten in good company.

Best italian in town, end of story.

Super comfortable location, typical Italian osteria. I went with my girlfriend recently and loved the Italian paintings and the atmosphere. The strozzapreti trufolati were very tasty. But the best aspect of the restaurant is above all the service: the waitress Elena was super professional and nice, and she recommended the very good red wine Senes. We will definitely come back!

Delicious food, unfortunately there was a very noisy group next to us which somewhat spoiled the atmosphere. Waiting staff were called in, but it would be nice if this were not necessary and such guests would be informed that there are others who want to enjoy themselves and do not want to experience inconvenience from others.

Cozy restaurant, was very busy, despite reservation we had to wait a while. Service was slow. The food is good, but not very special in my opinion.

Pure Italian food. That is possible here, in Groningen. Are you visiting Groningen and do you like Italian food? Then this osteria is so worth it. Enjoy!

Excellent food, top quality and very good service

Tonight we had dinner with 7 people, my mother was celebrating her birthday. We received a friendly welcome and had a nice table near the veranda/cover. The service was quick. The restaurant doesn't look very nice from the outside, but once it was opened it was attractive and cozy. we had starter, main course and dessert and the food was delicious! compliments to the kitchen. Also the amount of food was just right. In terms of location, atmosphere, service and food, I recommend eating here once. it is a super nice location.

Very nice and cozy Sarinian/Italian restaurant. Very friendly service with a very good price-quality ratio and delicious Sardinian wines.

Picked up a number of times during corona. Now sat inside. Delicious food. Not just standard Italian dishes. We couldn't choose... also nice: wine in a carafe per half liter. Nice to share. Service is great. Simple furnishings but cozy. We will definitely go there again.

Good Italian restaurant, cozy atmosphere and good service

Good restaurant with tasty food and friendly staff.

Great all around experience. Service was very acommodating and the food was great and drinks were great as well. Would recommend

Delicious Italian food, made by real Italians. Everything tasted good and not just standard Italian dishes as you often find in other restaurants in the Netherlands. Cozy atmosphere and excellent service. You can go there for pizzas as well as primi & secondi. The prices are good for the quality you get.

I think it's the tastiest pizza in Groningen. The service was also neat, fast and my allergies were taken into account. The restaurant is not packed with tables, so you can enjoy the food in peace.

Meest nare restaurantervaring van de afgelopen jaren. We moesten op ons tafeltje wachten, kan gebeuren. Maar “bekenden” van het restaurant kwamen later dan wij en kregen eerder hun tafel. Na twintig minuten aan tafel konden we pas drinken bestellen, en ook direct het eten. Bijna anderhalf uur gewacht op het voorgerecht, zes sneetjes Bruschetta voor 27 euro. Daarna de pizza’s, die erg lekker waren. In al die tijd is er niet een keer iemand langsgekomen om te vragen of we het naar onze zin hadden en of het naar wens was. We hebben wel gewoon alles betaald maar daar balen we achteraf van. Zelden zo slecht behandeld in een restaurant. Wij komen hier nooit weerz

The Osteria is a solid restaurant with mainly southern Italian cuisine. The furnishings are minimalistic and purist with bare wooden tables without table linen or anything similar. The recipes are good, as 35 years of the restaurant show. The bottom line is a typical Italian restaurant (which also offers pizza) without any ups and downs.

Pizza was very nice and I felt like I was in Italy

Best Italian restaurant in Groningen😃🩷Authentic💯

Most importantly of all, the food was amazing. Our waiter was lovely and very helpful. The atmosphere in the restaurant was very gezellig too. Will definitely be going again.

Excelente gusto, excelente servicio con una sonrisa. Pedimos dos cosas que no estaban en el menú, pero se prepararon sin ningún problema. Buena relación calidad-precio también. Absolutamente recomendable!

Ordered Pasta tartuffo = got very tiny amount of pasta with almost no mushroom at all in it. Taste was fine but it is very overpriced given the amount of pasta and ingredients in it… Otherwise staff is kind and atmosphere is nice.

Pizza little taste, chocolate cake frozen on the inside.

The best place in Groningen, period. I come here already for more than 20 years and this place is better than ever. Best Italian food outside Italy I ever had. Attention to detail, all perfect. Great wines. Lively, chatty atmosphere.

Delicious pizza, wine, coffee and tiramisu and a nice atmosphere thanks to the pleasant service!

There is no better Italian in Groningen. Run by Italians for Italians... and the crazy Dutchman who loves very good Italian cuisine.

I've been here twice in a short time. Very nice to see that a lot of Italian is still spoken, with the occasional stray Dutchman. Ordered a pizza both times that tasted really delicious. The pizzas on the menu are all authentic pizzas that you do not see on the standard Dutch menu. The starter was also great. Service was also fast and friendly. Personally, I just think that the interior is not always up to date, but that is my opinion.