Michelin-starred chef François Geurds' casual concept in Rotterdam offering creative dishes at accessible prices. Open kitchen, relaxed atmosphere, and innovative plates make fine dining approachable and fun.
FG Food Labs is the casual and more accessible concept from Michelin-starred Chef François Geurds, operating from the same Katshoek address as his flagship FG Restaurant in Rotterdam. While FG Restaurant operates as a formal fine dining experience with structured tasting menus and Michelin-star ambition, FG Food Labs was conceived as a more relaxed format — open kitchen, walk-up lunch service, creative dishes priced for regular visits rather than special occasions, and an atmosphere that prioritizes energy and informality over ceremony. The chef's surprise menu at €45 delivers a curated sequence of courses that demonstrates Geurds' technical vocabulary in a compressed, accessible format. Individual dishes from the regular menu — including the Signature Burger with house-made accompaniments, small plates reflecting the day's market, and rotating specials — give guests the flexibility to construct their own experience without committing to a full tasting menu. The open kitchen is central to the experience: the view into the cooking process adds energy to the dining room and reflects FG Food Labs' identity as a kitchen that wants to be observed rather than hidden. The concept resonates strongly in Rotterdam, where a generation of diners has grown up expecting accessible quality from a dining scene that is younger and more democratic than Amsterdam's. Weekend lunch at FG Food Labs is consistently popular; booking a day or two ahead for weekend slots is advisable.
Signature dishes
- Chef's Surprise Menu — €45.00
- Signature Burger — €22.00
Good to know
- Hours
- Tuesday-Sunday 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Reservations
- Recommended
Location
Katshoek 37, 3032 AE Rotterdam
51.9288, 4.4853 View on map
Highlights
- Michelin-starred chef François Geurds' casual concept with creative dishes at accessible prices
- Open kitchen policy adding energy and transparency to the dining room
- Chef's surprise menu at €45 delivering fine-dining technique in an informal format
- Popular Rotterdam lunch destination combining quality with relaxed atmosphere
Tips for visiting
- The chef's surprise menu is the best representation of what FG Food Labs is about — order it on first visits
- Weekend lunch slots book out; reserve 2-3 days ahead for Saturday midday tables
- Combining lunch at FG Food Labs with dinner at FG Restaurant in one Rotterdam day is the full Geurds experience
- The open kitchen counter seats are the most interesting position in the dining room
Accessibility
FG Food Labs is located in a modern Rotterdam city center building with level ground-floor access. The dining room is open-plan and generally accessible to wheelchair users. The open kitchen counter may have bar-height seating; standard tables are available throughout.
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Frequently asked questions
How does FG Food Labs differ from FG Restaurant?
FG Restaurant is the Michelin-starred formal operation with seven-to-nine course tasting menus at €145 per person and above. FG Food Labs shares the address but offers a relaxed, à la carte and set-menu format at roughly one-third the price.
Is FG Food Labs open for lunch?
Yes, FG Food Labs serves both lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The lunch service is particularly popular among Rotterdam's working population and visitors combining food with the city's architectural highlights nearby.
Can visitors with limited time choose FG Food Labs over FG Restaurant?
Yes, FG Food Labs is designed precisely for this situation — it delivers the creative thinking and ingredient quality of Geurds' kitchen without the time commitment or price point of a full tasting menu dinner.
Is there a vegetarian option at FG Food Labs?
Vegetarian dishes are available at FG Food Labs, and the kitchen's skill with vegetables — a strength across both concepts — means plant-forward dishes are genuinely satisfying rather than afterthoughts.