Osteria Sala Federico in Kralingen-Crooswijk

This place was so good we ended up going twice during our 3-day trip to Rotterdam! Probably the best Italian food I’ve had, and you can truly taste and see the owner's passion in everything. Will definitely be back

Wanted to get some stuff for lunch. Only the mortadella and burrata were decent. Asked for some “fresh” pesto. Got asked how much and got shown a small pastic container. But it think my addition “please only for one person” did not come across. Paid 8.80 for a tub of what should have been fresh pesto which was already getting bitter. The texture itself was watery to say the least, more like a soup. Total 20 something for 150 grams of mortadella, a burrata and pesto.

Delicious food and a great atmosphere

A true Italian treasure. Owner and chef, Peppe Cappellano serves up a different delight every night. We were treated to 2 different pastas, one with truffle sauce and the other with a special sausage sauce. Both were delicious! Do yourself a favour and visit this wonderful restaurant. I recommend booking as you don't want to miss out.

Super friendly host and a very cozy restaurant. I recommend ordering the set menu and letting the kitchen surprise you. I would definitely come back! :)

We had the set menu and it was truly delicious! The atmosphere is lovely and the owners are incredibly friendly. My family is Italian, and this is honestly one of the most authentic restaurants I've ever been to in Rotterdam! Highly recommended!

Good food but way overpriced. NEVER going again! I recommend to avoid it. Shady owner, no prices on the wall. He makes random prices.

Service was lovely—the owner does a nice job to take care of guests. Music was good. The spot on the terrace was cozy in the sun. Drinks were fine, if a bit overpriced. Food was disappointing.

I used to come here regularly years ago when I still lived in Rotterdam. And now, after a long time, I'm back again. It's still a great place. Superb food and incredibly friendly and personal service. Truly a top-notch place!

We were very disappointed. There was no menu and no prices, just two pasta dishes to choose from. Unfortunately, the pasta was tasteless and, at €23.50, completely overpriced. During the meal, the chef even asked us to move to another table – we found that disrespectful. It wasn't a pleasant experience for us; we won't be back.

Finding a slice of Italy, and especially Sicily, in Rotterdam is fantastic. A chef and host who welcomes and pampers you is no small feat.

Took ages to have any attention from the waiters and you are almost given the fixed menu as the option to choose for ( under the premise: best for your buck) Overpriced vs what we received in execution ..

What a great concept! They only serve what the chef has cooked that day. I love that. You can choose between just pasta or a three- or four-course menu. We chose the four-course menu. The starter was antipasti, delicious salami and cured ham, pecorini cheese, some bruschetta, and roasted vegetables. It was a great starter. Then came the pasta, which was tasty, albeit simple. One plate was vegetarian with roasted vegetables, the other had one sausage. Seconds were four prawns (to share), prepared with limoncello. The flavor didn't really come through, but the prawns were decent. Dessert was a slice of cheesecake. Cost €65 per person. Conclusion: quite tasty food, friendly but confused service. We thought the price was too high for what was served.

What a wonderful evening we had at Osteria Sala Federico. I was there with a good friend to catch up and reflect on the past few weeks. And where better to do that than at Peppe? The concept is fantastic: there's no set menu, but you choose a three- or five-course meal. Then you're in for a surprise. Allergies, diets, and preferences are carefully considered. You simply indicate what you don't want or can't eat, and the kitchen ensures that beautiful dishes are served. We opted for three courses, which proved to be more than enough, as the portions are generous and perfectly balanced. The pasta was delicious, and the desserts were truly delicious. What made it extra special was the service by Casper. A wonderfully friendly and genuine guy with a sense of humor, who was unfortunately working his last night before going back to school. We wish him all the best, of course, but he definitely added a touch of fun to our evening. After dinner, Peppe himself joined us for a drink, and it felt like we were actually visiting his home. The decor is warm and homey, and you feel welcome from the moment you arrive. Peppe kept checking in to make sure everything was to our liking: whether the music was good, whether we were comfortable, and whether we were enjoying ourselves. And we certainly were. We felt like we were on holiday in Italy, thanks in part to the beautiful weather and especially to the atmosphere and the food. It was fantastic, truly pure Italian enjoyment. Peppe, you've got two new regulars. We'll definitely be back.

Very tasty pasta, but strange that you don't see a menu with prices. The fact that it's different every day is no excuse... you might as well write something on a board with chalk. We didn't want to risk it and weren't hungry enough for the €55 three-course menu, so we only ordered a main course and an appetizer. Much to the owner's frustration, we think. Every table got a digestive, except us 😆 pasta with tomato sauce and sausage for over twenty euros is definitely overpriced. Anyway, we didn't realize that until we were presented with the "bill" (read: the owner writing down prices on a piece of paper). Our reservation: it could just as easily have been done with a guess.

Horrible service, overpriced set menus including starter,pasta and dessert (€55 pwr . We waited half an hour for to order and get told that it is fixed. Waited another half an hour to get the starters. And an hour to get the main dish which is a “surprise”. I really doubt that they know what al dente is. Pasta was overcooked, tasteless. The dessert was brought out from fridge, it wasn’t even defrosted.Management is severely incapable, staff are nice but underperforming. Food below average. Stay away!

Way too expensive for what you get! First of all: the staff was super friendly, but being immediately told there was no menu and therefore no prices was a major red flag. All in all, I thought: "How expensive can you make pasta?" Most pasta in Rotterdam is around 17 euros, but this one was 24 euros for a simple tomato sauce and eggplant, and 24 euros for some sausage with a creamy mushroom sauce that didn't even fill me up. This was definitely a surprise and not at all good for a mediocre pasta that we had to wait 45 minutes for!

Based on the other reviews I think we were there on a particularly bad day but that doesn’t excuse how bad it was. The service was not good, even though the waiters were nice it took over 30 minutes just to be told there was no menu and we waited over 30 minutes between every dish being served. The restaurant doesn’t have a menu as they always serve something different everyday, which although is a good concept they didn’t even tell us what the food was going to be or the price. The appetizer was good but when we got the bill they charged us 47€ just for the appetizer, where we didn’t even get the meat (vegetarian). For the main course we were not told what the food was beforehand even though we asked for it, so when the pasta was served it was a creamy mushroom pasta which is the only one I don’t like, so it felt like we were tricked, as I would have never ordered it if I had known what it was. In the end they charged us way too much money for poor service and food that did not match the quality of the price. I would not recommend this restaurant.

Maybe saying that the tavern is my home is an understatement since we were born at the same time..... And yes, I am the first chef of the tavern and I am the one who set up the kitchen.... Peppe never made me wait a day for my salary not even when I was on vacation and I took a lot of money between catering, extra service and salary. That said, if you posted photos, you make me understand that the dirty one in the kitchen is you, it means that you don't know what HACCP is. My kitchen was impeccable from every point of view and you, eminent t.d.c., you ruined it and tried to ruin the reputation of an ITALIAN restaurant that has become an institution in Rotterdam. I forgot, you "chef" change jobs.

really a fantastic experience at Osteria Sala Federico. Can recommend it to everyone and will definitely come back

food is quite good but ridiculously expensive, they do abuse the prices if possible avoid this restaurant as much as possible, for the ridiculous prices then they will lower the prices themselves within a short time or go bankrupt if there are no more customers. They are bankrupt hahaha👍

Super nice owner and delicious food and fantastic atmosphere, highly recommended!!!

Best Italian and best prosecco, recommend to everyone. 🤍

The owner has the habit of not paying the staff, I speak from experience, furthermore this is the quality of cleanliness in the tavern, good dinner

Enjoy authentic Italian food! A cozy restaurant. Highly recommended!

paid €50 pp for a 3 course menu during King's Day last year. A little lettuce, simple pasta and dessert Expected more, given the Instagram page. For me, this restaurant will fall under the “tried, but that's it” list. Furthermore, very nice staff!

Was an a special experience and the food was sensational!

We had a wonderful meal, authentic Italian food as it should be. The food is delicious, but above all, the atmosphere makes the evening complete.

What a lovely restaurant! Lovely atmosphere, great concept, they make something different every day. Top-notch service, they take their time with you, and it immediately feels cozy. The food was delicious, and so was the wine. Definitely recommended, and we'll definitely be back.

Very tasty, a separate menu every day. Nice passionate real Italian owner

You'll have an unforgettable evening here in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, but... Unfortunately, the prices are completely out of proportion to what you're served. That's a shame, because he can cook. The prices of the (recommended) wines are also five times higher, which is really unnecessary. It's a shame.

Maybe the best antipasti I've ever had? Really cosy place, very friendly, attentive owner. The menu is always different, but he's more than happy to talk through it all and give recommendations.

Everything was perfect, delicious Italian food!

Delicious pasta and antipasti and great atmosphere!!!

An amazing experience! Food was super delicious, service and hospitality were top tier! The lil stories we’ve received before the dishes or drinks arrived were wonderful. As if we had a lil trip down memory lane while having diner with the chef. Will definitely come back again. See you soon and thank you!

We had a lovely lunch with four people. Personal attention, delicious food, and authentic Italy.

What a fantastic meal in Pepe's living room. A very personal touch. Only 20 seats. We'll definitely be back 😀.

Great atmosphere and service with mega portions of delicious food! Pepe and his team are the best

A-ma-zing! You have to go here! Like you are eating with a warm Italian family. Delicious authentic Italian food. Guaranteed a cozy evening with lots of laughter and also delicious wines (and liqueurs).

A corner of Italy in Rotterdam! #1

Enjoyed it immensely! Highly recommended

The tastiest octopus 🐙. Super fun with Peppe!

As an Italian living in Rotterdam, I believe osteria Sala Federico is the most authentic Italian restaurant in Rotterdam! Cozy atmosphere, happy vibes and amazing food! The most delicious dish on our menu was the fregola with octopus ragú, super tasty and delicious. I really don’t know what the last few comments are about because my friends and I had a lovely dinner!

Osteria Sala Federico isn't a restaurant, but a journey; a culinary postcard to be savored. Go, and spread the word, but not too loudly, because a secret should remain a secret. Just like that wine! Organic, white, and from Abruzzo. A wine not so much to be drunk as to be experienced! It was a delightful evening.

Really delicious food in fantastic authentic surroundings. Definitely come back here!

Delicious authentic Italian food! Definitely worth it.

Delicious food! Dishes prepared with love! Definitely recommended.

I’m Italian and at the Osteria I felt at home! The vibe, the people and especially the food..all amazing. I definitely recommend the restaurant for the true Italian flavour and experience💯💯

Tonight again wonderfully pampered by Peppe and his colleagues. Super nice authentic Italian restaurant in a top location, where you are completely surprised. All you have to do is choose between 3 or 4 courses, let Peppe guide you who tells you enthusiastically and takes you on a journey through Italy. FANTASTIC!!

Osteria Sala Federico is an absolute must if you are looking for homely cosiness and top quality Italian dishes. We will definitely come back!

The three-course menu, is with delicious fresh products from Italy 🇮🇹 & 🇳🇱 The Italian coziness is clearly felt. Real party. The prices, Excellent, you get more than enough and beautiful products with a good story of origin.

Delicious and surprising dishes, only menu of the day. Main course of pasta with fish especially very tasty. Cosy interior but lots of tables in a small space. Service is friendly, not so attentive and should come by much more often.

Delicious authentic Italian, great!

Great place to spend the evening, good food, service & atmosphere!

In the beginning we regularly came to Osteria and then we had good food at a reasonable price. Now it's ridiculous that you can choose very limited and then a 3-course menu €50+ bottle of wine €30 and bottle of water and a glass of wine extra = €192. Price quality for 3 people completely out of context.

For my birthday I had a delicious lunch with a large group! Food, service and atmosphere: absolutely TOP!! Will definitely come back!!!

Super nice restaurant with nice concept. All kinds of goodies came on the table! Enjoyed and were completely full.

Really authentic Italian as you rarely experience. Very warm atmosphere. Also delicious wines with the special dishes. Absolute recommendation. I will come back soon

It's a 50 € p.p.p for 3 course meal. You cannot choose what you eat, it will be random. Drinks are excluded. It will be around 65-75 € p.p.p. Ambient, service and wine are excellent. Food is good, depending on what they decide to give you. If you go based on Instagram reels, you will be disappointed due being overpriced for what it is.

Delicious lunch, super tasty food and cozy atmosphere

Super tasty and specially designed to your wishes

Unfortunately, absolutely not recommended. Instagram paints a completely different picture than reality. Mega pricey and definitely not worth it. I get the feeling that they are only after money and not a pleasant atmosphere... The food was very poor, special dishes with little taste. After dinner we are asked if we would like another limoncello and this is then stated on the receipt, which is not a problem at all, but it was said in a way as if it was offered to us. It's a real shame because a few small adjustments in attitude or better communication/expectations alone can make such a difference!

Very nice and cosy atmosphere, however the value money is quite bad, 23 euro for an average plate of pasta is too much. At the beginning they propose you the 3 or 4 course menu but you can also order single dishes.

Unfortunately the food was not tasty. We had the expectation that the authentic/casual living room restaurant atmosphere indicated that we would get a delicious pasta that would make up for the craziness of the service and background music. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case, we had a tagliatelle al ragú that had no taste, but cost €23.50. The minced meat in the pasta was dry and the pasta often clumped together. The antipasto was unfortunately also sparse (not with burrata/mozzarella and all kinds of tasty meats as other reviewers show). There was house music playing from the kitchen all the time, which we thought was funny at first, but this eventually created a crazy atmosphere. A huge shame, it had the potential to be a cute authentic Italian restaurant.

Nice place, intimate. Food took a long time, but they apologized for that. The food was not that tasty, antipasti was very salty, rigatoni and lasagna had little taste. Also pricey at €29 a la carte for a simple pasta that is not that tasty. It was perfectly al dente!

You feel like you're in Italy! Great!!

Overpriced menu, especially for vegetarians as they get hardly an option. The only vegetarian alternative available as “main” was a broccoli soup. Even if they get a poor soup instead of pasta and the meat (affettati) in the antipasti is replaced with some vegetables, they still have pay the same price: 50 euro for some veggies with 2 slices of cheese, a soup and one cannolo to share in 2, it makes no sense. Also the oven baked pasta with ragù I got, was overcooked and short of salt. I am italian, living in R’dam since years. Maybe I set the bar a bit too high but it’s definitely easy to find better quality for the same/lower price at other Italian restaurants in R’dam. The atmosphere is supposed to be cozy but 30+ people in that little room is actually just chaos, they try to squeeze in as many people as possible I regret having an instinctive reaction when I saw the bill, it turned out to sound rude to the waitress who didn’t deserve that (in the case You reads this, a renew my apologies). Speaking to the owner was pointless, his main focus seemed to be milking the cash cow. 65+ Euro each for dinner and getting out still hungry..not worth it

Tonight we enjoyed the delicious food and the cozy atmosphere. Very nice to eat dishes that you would not normally choose if you had a menu. Definitely worth repeating! It felt like an evening in Italy, visiting the Italian neighbors. Nice and cozy!

If only I had read the negative reviews before I booked... I was unsure between 1 or 2 stars but I'm in a good mood.

Atmospheric Italian restaurant, we were treated very hospitably and the food was delicious.

When you think of a turist trap in the middle of Piazza Navona for sure you will get a place like this. Just that you don’t have to go all the way there to experience it. We thought they had just a dish as we were not super hungry but they told us that they were only working with three and four courses menu. First red flag as when we already felt for it, people that came later they were offered indeed only 1 course. First an antipasto. Meat too thick, 20 slices of a poor cheese, and a decent burrata. We waited for half an hour since they took away this plate and came the second. The worst was the main dish. A tasteless portion of overcooked pasta with cheese and potatoes made in the oven. The only good part of this overprice menu was the dessert. Very nice cannolis. In total, 100 euros for two menus of the worst “Italian” food I ever had. And 23 for two glasses of Prosecco and one water…

I felt like home and the pasta was just amazing. Authentic Italian 👏🏽

Unfortunately my expectations were higher than the experience. Only menus are offered. No choice of dishes. Asking 50 euros for a 3 course menu is way too much for this menu. It was tasty but not special. We did not receive a warm welcome. At checkout, the owner had already left without saying goodbye when I was putting away my debit card. Not worth repeating. It is also advisable to use 1 full soap dispenser plus towels instead of 3 empty soap dispensers. Shame

We would like to thank Pepe very much for the nice evening and the delicious food. We weren't allowed to smoke in between, because then he came after us with the whip... haha. Then he got us drunk with sambuca and grape. See you soon Pepe! Ciao tutti en arrivederci.

Very welcoming, and the sandwich was amazing!

Ate here a while ago. I thought it was very atmospheric and really got the Italian feeling when I entered the restaurant. The menu is small, but I always think it says something positive. From my experience, what is available is better quality. It is a bit pricey, but I think it is commensurate with the overall experience. Would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Cozy place, cheerful service, tasty food

Really too expensive for what they offer. 50 euros each for 3 courses (one of which is an appetizer to be divided in two, not even very large and the last is a ridiculously small dessert). The pasta is also good, but it's not worth all that money and there's also the risk of getting something you don't like because you can't choose what to eat. In short, good food and nice atmosphere, but you can eat Italian in Rotterdam just as well without spending so much

The starter was promising, unfortunately it became less so with every course. It ended with a desert which was ridiculously little. The bill was really too high for what you got. Disappointing, never going there again

This place has the power to bring you to the heart of Italy… even in the midst of a typical rainy Rotterdam day. Excellent food, fantastic vibe, and amazing staff!

Amazing true Italian place. We had a spontaneous wine tasting with this small but not to miss venue! Try and you will love it

An authentic place, original cuisine with very honest and tempting offers.

What an amazing evening! By coincidence we found this little restaurant close to the yacht harbour of Rotterdam. It was a blast! If you want to go to Italy, you do not need an airplane, just visit this restaurant and you are right there. The kitchen does miracles, the service is amazing and also the style of the restaurant was simply amazing. The simplicity, the uniqueness where great and the Italian spirit was in each corner. Lovely team serving the quests, no standard Menü card but always varying menues made with pure passion. 200% of a recommendation, you can’t do it wring when visiting this restaurant. We are in Rotterdam for the first time and already after the arrival to find this diamond was a gift. Go there if you seek for something special, as this is not a standard Italian restaurant as we know them all. You will feel like home super fast and will enjoy great food, great service, great atmosphere. Thanks to the Team of Osteria Sala Federico for this evening! We will recommend you to all our friends heading towards Rotterdam, promised!

Authentic Italian cuisine with perfect service and atmosphere. You're taking a trip to Italy!

What a fantastic evening!! The service, the food, the meloncello, everything was great! A real gem and our new favorite <3

Very nice restaurant, very atmospheric Italian. But I thought it was too expensive, 130 euros for 2 people, price/quality is not good enough.

Substandard in relation to what was paid

Had a very disappointing visit! I followed them on Instagram and was often shown images of special southern Italian dishes and especially sea dishes, but once there it was a simple menu with antipasti, regular pasta and grilled meat! Food was a real disappointment. Service: we had to wait 25 minutes for our starter to be served! While that was just cold and prepared in advance. Service was mainly busy with their breaks and their shots of limoncello!!! I thought we'd go to a nice restaurant for my birthday, but alas!

Snail in the starter, alive. Says enough about how your food is handled. Chef comes to the table to claim that it is fresh, no compensation or drink on the house, nothing. And just pay €130 for 2 people. Never again, and if you care about your hygiene, you won't come here.

Ate here with 6 friends. I got there a few minutes before time to receive everyone. According to the staff I was too early. The music was very loud and stayed that way. I couldn't hear my friends well, so I asked if the music could be turned down a little, much to the dismay of the staff who made comments about it, even until we went home to say that the music could finally be loud again. The staff also looked very unkempt and the service was slow and chaotic. Wine was expensive: 8.50 per glass and very little was poured into the glass. Food was not very special. Ordered extra bruchetta, never arrived. There would be 3 pastas on the table to share. 2 came and when I asked, there remained 2. Quality of the food: Something you would make at home. I won't eat there again. Better go across the street and eat at Italian Nerello. There the price-quality ratio is great and real hosts.

Food good but choice very limited. Service not friendly and not very helpful. In addition to the fixed menu, à la carte is hardly possible. Very pricey for what you get. Acoustic lousy. Not worth a second visit unfortunately.

This is a small-scale Italian restaurant. The food is freshly made and tastes delicious. The staff is friendly, have a sense of humor and like to speak Italian.

The food was very tasty but really expensive. Also you cant see the prices beforehand. The service was poor. We had a reservation but initially they couldn't find it so we had to wait outside in the cold.

Delicious food in a homely atmosphere.

I recently had lunch there and the experience was outstanding. The atmosphere was cozy, the service impeccable, and the food was truly authentic and delicious. Each dish showcased a perfect balance of flavors, making it a delightful culinary journey. Highly recommended for a memorable Italian dining experience.

Seems like people who leave negative reviews here prefer to pay 5€ for a frozen deep fried snack, therefore cannot appreciate the quality vs price ratio in this restaurant. For me the pricing of the dishes was absolutely understandable, the flavor pairings were incredible, sometimes simple but still outstanding. I do agree with indications that the portions should've been bigger, or preferably endless! But not due to its price but the tastiness. I initially ordered a 3 course menu for 45€, but I liked one dish so much, I requested a second serving and we adjusted the price of my menu to 55€. So if you feel you did not receive enough, you can always discuss it! The service and the atmosphere in the place was welcoming and cozy. The owner is a sparkly persona bringing a vibe into his restaurant. Nothing to complain about, we will be back for sure!

I never eat Italian cuisine when I travel, but I couldn't resist. Super abundant starter with real Italian products. Excellent quality of the first courses. Exceptional wines. Super hospitality, service and courtesy. Absolutely worth trying.

There you are. My appointment was canceled at the last minute. And what do you do then? Stay home or go? I advise you to go. I promise you will be spoiled. I was allowed to taste everything, get small portions of everything and have my own culinary party! I have been blown away by all the flavors and the love that has gone into the food and the experience. A little piece of paradise in Rotterdam! Complimenti allo chef for every creation of his or her culinary excellence! 👌

Instagram 🎥 videos annoying, making people kiss for more followers and so on,

We checked their website beforehand but they had very outdated prices that were much lower than reality (27 euro for a 3-course menu vs 47 in the actual restaurant ). We went with a group and made a reservation. When we got there turns out there was a mistake and they didn't have a table for us so they sat us in the hallway of the entrance and a table and folded chairs which were used for delivery crates. Their pizza prices were reasonable (18 euro), but the pizza oven was broken,so we got some pasta carbonara (25 euro). The place was full so they said it will take a while and suggested we get some bruschetta since we were hungry. It was basic tomato filling on bread, but it was also quite cheap. The pasta came after around an hour and the portions were very small we even asked for extra cheese because there wasn't much, and the guanciale was quite pink. They gave 4 portions to us on one big plate and we had to split it amongst us, which was a bit awkward since it wasn't a lot of food. The wine was good, but the pasta was not worth the price. In the end we got some free limoncello to make up for the table incident. The staff overall was very chaotic, the one waiter would sit down at tables and chat with people while other customers were trying to order. It's the vibe of a small Italian restaurant indeed, and they say the food comes straight from Italy, but be prepared to pay a lot to get good portions, and to wait a while for service and for food. We paid over 30 euro for the food and left hungry at the end.