OX Rotterdam — Restaurant in Rotterdam

Such a disappointment on a special occasion that we went to OX to celebrate. We often go to high class fine dining places and this is the absolute ground in quality and service…

Mysterious and intriguing place, we were very excited and looked forward to the visit for a while! The interior and atmosphere are great but that’s about it.

The staff was extremely nonchalant from the beginning, meaning no one explained anything, they just threw two mysterious menus with drinks on the table and disappeared. Courses were brought with limited to no explanation (strangely, the tables around us that spoke Dutch got much more elaborate info about the dishes which is a big part of fine dining… discrimination much?)

After getting the mini starter, it took over 40 minutes to get the actual first course (total scheme to make you order more of the mediocre drinks they had - which I usually don’t mind splurging on but in this case, OX deserved the very least in bill).

The place is very heavy on sauce which we normally love and is a part of Chinese cuisine but they were simply hiding the blandness of their food with it - since when did fine dining become bathing food that can’t be a stand-alone piece without the sauce?

And no, they didn’t ask about any feedback - we returned 3 of the 5 courses significantly unfinished. When we gave feedback about the terrible main course we were served - undercooked (no, not medium - UNDERCOOKED, CHEWY, STILL MOO-ING VEAL), we returned it after eating some sides and 1 piece each and shared that this is simply unacceptable. The chefs said that’s how it should be though… well, it was uneatable and with barely any flavour (even the sauce couldn’t help them this time). I didn’t expect or request for them to take it off the bill but at least acknowledging the feedback would’ve been nice… none of that with the sassy girls working at OX - they’re simply above that, and above you, apparently. :)

All of this, for the lovely price tag of 200€. I don’t mind paying upscale price for upscale experiences and I often do, but the staff’s attitude and the poor food quality and meal execution would’ve been only been acceptable at a price of 50€ and below… we got some bitterballen after - so much better!

My bottom line - simply don’t waste you money and also time! We were so sad and frustrated considering we went for such a special occasion - even if the food is bad, at least the staff could’ve presented it better and could’ve been a bit more kind, respectful and open to civilized feedback with nothing but good intentions for everyone to have a good...

Ihad high expectations for Ox Rotterdam given its reputation as a high-end restaurant. Unfortunately, my experience has been anything but luxurious. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to attend my reservation. I had made a €50 deposit to secure the booking, which I fully understand is standard practice for a restaurant of this caliber. However, when I reached out to see if the deposit could be applied to a future reservation, I was told it was not possible.

This lack of flexibility and understanding is disappointing and not what I would expect from a restaurant that markets itself as a top-tier establishment. True high-end service is about creating exceptional experiences for guests—even in challenging situations. Instead, I am left with the feeling that my €50 has been taken for nothing, with no effort to accommodate or retain me as a customer.

Exceptional food is not enough to justify the “luxury” label—service is equally, if not more, important. Ox Rotterdam failed spectacularly in this regard, and I am unlikely to return or recommend it to others. High-end in name, but not...

I absolutely love Ox! We've been here 3-4 times, and every visit is a delight. We always go for the chef’s menu because we enjoy the surprise factor. It’s 4 rounds of shared dishes, and every single time, the food is absolutely delicious. They also do a great job accommodating our dietary restrictions, which we really appreciate.

One small recommendation: they used to have this amazing dessert that looked like a real plant pot, complete with worms and everything – it was so creative and really matched the restaurant’s vibe. I miss it, and you should definitely bring it back!

The cocktails are phenomenal, though a bit pricey for the volume you get. Still, it's worth it for the quality. The restaurant is a little hard to find, tucked out of sight, which I love – it adds to its charm and makes it feel like a hidden gem. Ox is a special place for me, and I can’t recommend it enough!

If you like it, you should try their steamed oysters as well. It has a nice...