Holland America Line’s Rotterdam restaurants are mostly good, but I discovered that some are better than others. One of the best is the pan-Asian restaurant called Tamarind. There are eight Rotterdam restaurants:

• The Dining Room.
• The Pinnacle Grill.
• Tamarind.
• Nami Sushi.
• Rudi’s Sel de Mer.
• Canaletto.
• Club Orange Restaurant.
• Taste of De Librije (European sailings only).

The Dining Room – the biggest of the Rotterdam restaurants

The Dining Room is the biggest restaurant on HAL’s Rotterdam. Indeed, it spans two decks with a spectacular atrium staircase and chandeliers of blue and gold tinted orbs.

The Dining Room seats over 500 guests. In spite of the challenges of feeding that many at once the food is generally, but not always, good. Starters can include Escargots Bourguignon, Crab Seafood Cocktail or Apple, Pear And Cucumber Salad. I sampled main courses including a tasty Pork Medallion With Huckleberry Jam as well as a disappointingly overcooked Tangerine Glazed Duck Breast. There’s also Holland America Line classics like Chef Rudi’s Spice Roasted Chicken and New York Strip Loin Steak with Garlic Butter.

On selected voyages the menu can include local Port To Table specialities. During my European sailing these included Beet & Red Cabbage Borscht as well as Cornflake Crusted Fresh Redfish.

An Indulgence selection is also available. For a fee you can enjoy Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail (USD8.50), Lobster (USD20), an up-market surf ’n turf (USD30) or a President’s Cut Rib Eye (USD75).

The Dining Room is open daily for breakfast and dinner. It is only open for lunch on sea days. There is also a daily Afternoon Tea service with sweet treats as well as tea and coffee.

Open seating is on the lower level, where you don’t need a reservation. The upper tier is for guests with a specified sitting time.

Breakfast: 8:00am – 9:30am.

Lunch: 12:00pm – 1:00pm (sea days only).

Afternoon tea: 3:00pm – 3:45pm

Dinner: 5:15pm – 9:30pm.

The Pinnacle Grill

The Pinnacle Grill is a signature Holland America Line restaurant on Rotterdam. It is a high-end steakhouse with a very good menu, but you do need to pay extra to dine there.

It has the ambiance of a private club, with high back leather chairs and tables nestled amid wood veneered walls. It’s all very impressive, and so too is the menu.

Indeed, the cuisine is inspired by the Pacific Northwest in the USA. There is excellent beef from Washington State and seafood from Alaska.

Appetizers include house specialities like Clothesline Candied Bacon with Maple, Black Pepper & Half Sour Pickles. There’s also an excellent Steak Tartare as well as Ossetia Malassol Caviar with Creme Fraiche & Buckweath Blinis.

As you’d expect, there’s Filet Mignon and Rib Eye as well as Aged Delmonico for main course. In addition there’s a signature dish of Beef Tenderloin with Lobster Dumplings. I enjoyed the Grilled Lamb Chops with Controne Bean Puree, not to mention the delicious Maine Lobster Tail.

The Pinnacle Grill is one of the best Rotterdam restaurants. It is open for dinner every night. You need a reservation and a supplement of USD39 + 18% service charge per person is payable. It’s worth noting that certain items on the menu (like caviar, bone-in rib eye or lobster) incur an additional supplement.

The Pinnacle Grill is also open for lunch on sea days with a reduced supplement of USD15 + 18% service charge per person.

Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:30pm.

Taste of De Librije (European sailings only)

Once a week during Rotterdam’s European sailings the Pinnacle Grill showcases the food of Jonnie Boer, one of Europe’s most acclaimed chefs.

The Dutch-born, Michelin starred Boer runs the De Librije restaurant in the Netherlands. His passion for the finest regional produce is reflected in the Taste of De Librije menu on Rotterdam.

Indeed, it is a taste sensation with a small but perfectly crafted menu of four courses.

I started with Oysters On The Beach, a playful take on the seaside with Foie Gras shells, Oysters, Oloroso Sherry & Ginger.

Next was the highly rated Crispy Pork Belly with Madras Curry, Green Pea Caviar & Goats Cheese. It was mouthwateringly good.

Main course was a delectable Baked Pike Perch with Pandan, Cucumber, Sweet & Sour, Red Onion & Zorri Cres. Though the Lamb Neck Confit with Curry, Cabbage, Couscous & Beurre Blanc was also tempting.

Dessert was Deconstructed Apple Pie, Jonnie’s Mom’s recipe no less! With edible gold star anise, cinnamon stick and vanilla pod it looked almost too good to eat.

Taste of De Librije continues to serve some of the best cuisine I’ve eaten at sea, made even better with wine pairings recommended by the De Librije restaurant sommelier, Thérèse Boer.

There is a dining supplement of USD49 + 18% service charge per person. Matching wines add USD20 + 18% service charge.

Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:30pm.

Taste of De Librije is available on European sailings only. Bookings are essential.

Tamarind – the best on board

Tamarind is an Asian speciality restaurant and my favourite dining venue on Rotterdam. The food is consistently excellent. Indeed, it rivals some of the finest in Singapore and Hong Kong.

The menu at Tamarind is innovative and the food best shared, just as it would be in Asia.

There is a mouthwatering Thai Citrus Scallop appetizer, as well as traditional Satay, Jewels Of The Sea Shrimp Wontons and more.

Main course includes an astonishingly good Wok-Seared Lobster with Asian Greens, Ginger, Sweet Chilli & Soy. It was so good I almost ordered a second! There’s also Wasabi & Soy Crusted Beef Tenderloin as well as Crispy Duck Ginger-Chili Glaze with Drunken Udon, Grilled Scallions & Sprouts.

Dessert is a cut above the typical Asian fare with a small but tempting selection. It includes Mango Posset with Coconut Macaroon, Passion Fruit Jelly & Mango Sorbet. There’s also Yuzu Cheesecake with Honey Tuile & White Chocolate. Not to mention Passion Fruit Cloud, an egg white soufflé with passion fruit sorbet.

Tamarind is open for dinner every night. You will need a reservation. Also, a dining supplement of USD29 + 18% service charge is payable per person.

Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:30pm.

Nami Sushi

Nami Sushi is another oriental restaurant on Rotterdam. In fact it is located within the Tamarind restaurant, but features sushi and sashimi.

Nami Sushi showcases the creative talents of master sushi chef Andy Matsuda. There is top quality salmon, tuna and king fish sashimi, as well as classic rolls including California, Spicy Tuna and Rainbow.

In addition, the restaurant serves some of Andy Matsuda’s Signature Dishes. There is Seared Albacore Tuna with Jalapeño Ponzu Sauce, Grilled Alaskan Crab with You Gosho and more.

Nami Sushi is open nightly. Seating is limited so reservations are essential. It’s also important to note that unlike most other Rotterdam restaurants, the menu is à la carte with prices as marked.

Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:30pm.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer

Rudi’s Sel de Mer is a French restaurant on Rotterdam. It is a chic brasserie with enjoyable cuisine that celebrates the French heritage of chef Rudi Sodamin.

Indeed, the venue shares chef Rudi’s bold personality. The decor is bursting with rich crimson and wood panelling, not to mention chef Rudi’s playful ‘food face’ painted plates. His artist son has also contributed to the bold flare by way of a spectacular mural painted across one side of the restaurant.

Appetizers include Foie Gras De Canard Au Cassis as well as Classic Baked Escargots. While for main course there is Bouillabaisse Marseillaise and an excellent Whole Dover Sole Meunière.

Sel de Mer serves seafood of the day too, either fresh fish or lobster. Also, there are chef Rudi’s specialities including Coq Au Vin or Filet Mignon with Foie Gras, Black Truffle & Mediera Sauce. It’s all very good.

Dessert is a nostalgic 1980’s treat with delightful Crepes Suzette (sadly not flambéd table side), Apple Tarte Tatin and Profiteroles.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer is open for dinner only and reservations are essential. There is a dining supplement of USD49 + 18% service charge per person.

Dinner: 5:30pm – 9:30pm.

Canaletto

Canaletto is an Italian-inspired restaurant on Rotterdam. The first thing you’ll notice about it is the decor – at once chic and garish!

The menu is less showy. Indeed, it is somewhat underwhelming. Although to be fair it is peppered with a few good dishes.

Appetizers include Veal & Sage Meatballs as well as classics like Minestrone Soup. I enjoyed the Mozzarella De Bufala, it was fresh and creamy.

Main course is a hit and miss affair. There are very enjoyable dishes, like Spaghetti Alle Vongole or Grilled Lamb Chops. However some of the other offerings were underwhelming.

There is a small dessert selection including Tiramisu and a delicious Orange Blossom Ricotta Tart with Fresh Berries.

Holland America Line suggest the menu is best enjoyed when shared. I agree, if only because it lets you sample the best of what’s on offer.

Canaletto is open for dinner only and you need to make reservations. Also, dining supplement of USD19 + 18% service charge per person is payable.

Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:30pm.

Club Orange Restaurant

The Club Orange Restaurant is an exclusive dining venue on Rotterdam. It is open only to suites guests as well as those stateroom guests with Club Orange privileges added to their cruise booking.

On Rotterdam the Club Orange Restaurant has a plush, up-market feel. The intimate venue has crisp white table linen as well as ruby-red and cream leather chairs. There are fresh flowers on every table and smart artwork decorates the walls.

The Club Orange menu is an expanded version of what’s on offer in the main Dining Room. You can expect to sample dishes like Citrus Grilled Rainbow Trout and Roasted Boneless Chicken Leg, not to mention New York Strip Loin. There are also daily Club Orange specials.

The Club Orange Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner only.

Breakfast: 8:00am – 9:30am.

Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:30pm.

Lido Market

The Lido Market is Rotterdam’s casual buffet restaurant. It is a huge venue that spans the entire width of the cruise ship. There is a centrally located buffet with seating on either side.

Uniquely to Holland America Line, the buffet is themed around destination-focused food stations. For instance there are Mexican, Asian and Italian buffet stations. In addition, the Lido Market has grab ’n go meals, handy for taking on afternoon excursions.

The Lido Market is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast: 6:30am – 10:00am.

Lunch: 11:30am – 2:00pm.

Dinner: 5:00pm – 8:30pm.

A small selection of buffet stations are also open from 2:00pm – 4:00pm and 10:30pm – 11:30pm.

The Grand Dutch Cafe – the most popular venue on Rotterdam

Nowhere on Rotterdam seems more popular than the Grand Dutch Cafe. Located on Deck 3 near the Guest Services Desk the Grand Dutch Cafe is the hub of shipboard life.

The blue and white Delftware inspired cafe serves great coffee and Dutch snacks. In addition, there’s also a selection of draught beers and liquors – perfect for an afternoon tipple.

Open daily: 6:30am – 10:00pm.

New York Deli & Pizza

The New York Deli & Pizza is a casual eatery located on the terrace above the Lido Pool. It serves made-to-order American-style pizzas like “Primo” with Salami, Pickled Peppers & Red Onion or “Wall Street” with Prosciutto, Arugula, White Sauce & Gorgonzola. In addition, there are panini and salads too.

Breakfast: 7:00am – 10:00am.

Lunch and dinner: 11:30am – midnight.

Dive-In

Dive-In is the place for burgers, hot dogs and fries around the Lido Pool.

Opening hours: 11:30am – 6:00pm.

Gelato

Fresh gelato is made daily and a variety of flavours and styles are sold at Gelato, next to the Lido Pool.

Opening hours: 11:30am – 8:00pm.

The author sailed as a guest of Holland America Line.