Raimondi's Villa Rozenrust

A family-run restaurant by Antonio Raimondi, situated in a stately villa on the outskirts of Leidschendam, where Italian cuisine takes center stage. The menu has remained unchanged for years, yet this poses no issue for the guests—mostly regulars—as the spacious dining room and adjoining conservatory are consistently packed. The extensive antipasti selection is highly popular, which is hardly surprising since the cold and hot dishes that fill the tables are truly excellent. We savor expertly prepared vitello tonnato made from paper-thin slices of veal tenderloin, delicious caprese, fried mushrooms in a creamy sauce, and the baked eggplant (melanzane al forno) is scraped clean to the bottom. Our host, Ciano Raimondi, pours a rich red Vecchia Torre Primitivo from Puglia to accompany it. We continue with a plate of perfectly al dente fresh tagliatelle enriched with fresh truffle cream, and there is still room for an oven-baked rack of lamb in a pistachio crust with demi-glace sauce. Do not expect culinary extravaganzas here, but rather excellent Italian cuisine based on fresh ingredients, served with genuine passion and craftsmanship.

An authentic family-run establishment renowned for its exceptionally wide selection of antipasti, which is included in the four-course chef's menu. Most guests choose this option. In addition, there is a menu offering à la carte choices divided into the traditional Italian courses: antipasti, primi, secondi, and dolci. It was busy on the evening of our visit, with many groups of friends and families. You can dine in the large main hall or in the more intimate conservatory. The atmosphere is lively and bustling, exactly as you would expect in an Italian cantina. The staff rush back and forth with plates piled high with delicacies, and we enjoy a variety of warm and cold starters, including paper-thin sliced carpaccio drizzled with fragrant olive oil, veal with tuna sauce, creamy burrata with tomato, and baked eggplant prepared according to Grandma Raimondi’s time-honored recipe from Calabria. The wild red prawns with garlic in a mildly spicy sauce, served alongside crispy garlic bread, are also excellent. We feel completely transported to Mediterranean surroundings. Save some room for the tiramisu dessert. Absolutely worth it.

There are certain places you always want to return to. Because it’s simply good there, and you know exactly what you’re going to get beforehand. The concept of brothers Adriano and Antonio Raimondi has, in fact, remained unchanged for years. Straightforward Italian cuisine, starting with a parade of antipasti, followed by a choice of various pastas, then meat or fish, and finishing with delicious dolci. The brothers grew up in Calabria, and many of the ingredients used come from this region. The atmosphere is lovely. The dining room is housed in a chic villa situated in the green Park Rozenrust. The interior is unmistakably Italian, featuring family portraits on the walls, a tiled floor, and artistic bouquets in large vases. A large terrace awaits in the garden. We start with various starters such as carpaccio di manzo, that is, paper-thin slices of beef tenderloin with a sauce of olive oil, lemon, and Parmesan cheese, burrata alla Pugliese, creamy cheese from Puglia with tomatoes and basil, and delightful warm eggplant made according to nonna’s Calabrian recipe. And we order another portion of the mushrooms in gorgonzola cream sauce, because we lick our fingers clean over them. Our young and friendly server, Marciano Raimondi, son of Antonio, rushes off to the kitchen to fulfill our request. After a simple but well-prepared al dente pasta with garlic, olive oil, and chili, we can’t resist the temptation and order five large Sicilian prawns, which are juicy and simply prepared. We pair them with a lovely Primitivo. Don’t feel like a set menu? Then order a crispy-baked pinsa, which you can also pick up on Saturdays to enjoy at home.

Brothers Adriano and Antonio Raimondi have been cultivating this bustling atmosphere on the outskirts of Leidschendam for years. Italian cuisine takes center stage here. The interior of the chic villa blends classic style with an Italian touch, such as family portraits adorning the walls. Although the menu offers a generous selection of traditional Italian dishes, most guests opt for the surprise menu, which consists of a lavish spread of antipasti, followed by a choice of two different pastas and a main course featuring either fish or meat. A dessert can be added at your discretion. Served alongside the aperitif—a La Vis Ritratti Chardonnay Trentino—is a traditional house-made bruschetta with tomato and garlic. The antipasti is meant for sharing, and we sample dishes from the brothers' native region of Calabria. We try the vitello tonnato, carpaccio, various salamis, as well as eggplant in tomato sauce and delicious mushrooms in gorgonzola sauce. The tagliatelle with cream sauce is generously sprinkled with shaved summer truffles. The beef tenderloin from the main course is expertly prepared and served with a walnut-cheese sauce. The glass of Primitivo we order to accompany it is poured behind the bar, which means we unfortunately don't get to see exactly which wine it is. There's no opportunity to ask, as the staff are constantly rushing through the dining room to keep everyone's glasses and plates filled. Coffee is served with some simple sweets, but we're already completely full from the hearty menu.