I wanted to splurge on a nice lunch with my wife, so I made a reservation at Tarantella (online reservations available) for a Friday lunch date at 12:30. I'd say four stars sums up our experience well - everything was delicious, the service was strong, but given the prices (50€ for two), there wasn't really anything to write home about.
The restaurant is located in the same building as the giant casino across the street from the Planten un Blomen park, but with its own entrance on the north side of the building. The space itself is a bit weird; there are three distinct dining rooms that run the length of the restaurant, and each has its own feel, although they are all tastefully decorated.
If you check the menu ahead of time, you'll notice that there's a lunch menu which is quite short, followed by a full menu of epic length. I was worried that only the lunch menu was available at lunch, but in fact, the full menu is available. The full menu includes oysters, caviar, sashimi, lobster, ceviche, steaks, fowl, fish, and a surprisingly deep drink menu. It's hard to say exactly what the cuisine is... Tarantella is an Italian word, but the menu leans French (with a few nods to Germany).
I had the wiener schnitzel with sides of fried potatoes and almond broccoli. My wife had the vegetable tartar, which is made of avocado, beets, salsify, and comes with a few tempura-fried romanesco on the side. We were both very satisfied with our meals, and the service was good throughout.
The drink menu is extensive, and there's an outdoor lounge area that I'm sure is great in the summer. If money is no object, this is a great choice for a solid meal. Otherwise, I'll save my visits for special occasions. read more