289BRUGES De Karmeliet z Δ ̊ ¡¡¡¡¡
Langestraat 19, 8000 Bruges Tel (050) 338259 Road Map B1
One of the two restauraunts in Belgium that have three Michelin stars. On offer are lobster, langoustine, caviar, oysters,
quail, top market-produce – all processed by the alchemy of chef Geert Van Hecke and his team into divine dishes,
beautifully presented. Polished modern decor and a lovely garden. Book in advance. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
BRUGES Patrick Devos Δ ̊ ¡¡¡¡¡
Zilverstraat 41, 8000 Bruges Tel (050) 335566 Road Map B1
One of Bruges’s most respected restaurants, cherished for Patrick Devos’s creative and light touch in the kitchen,
producing French-style gourmet cuisine. The setting is a polished and elegant belle époque interior in De Zilveren
Pauw (The Silver Peacock), a house dating back to the 13th century. Closed for Saturday lunch and on Sundays.
DAMME Siphon Δ ¡¡¡
Damse Vaart-Oost 1, 8340 Oostkerke Tel (050) 620202 Road Map B1
A charming restaurant set among the tree-lined canals between Bruges and Damme, Siphon has been run by the
same family for three generations and serves Flemish food. Fish is prominent – paling in ‘t groen, peeled shrimps,
lobster – plus game dishes in winter. Tearoom and terrace for afternoon pancakes. Closed Thursdays and Fridays.
DAMME Den Heerd Δ 0 ) © ̊ ¡¡¡¡
Jacob van Maerlantstraat 7-9, 8340 Damme Tel (050) 354400 Road Map B1
Just off Damme’s historic market, Den Heerd is run by a husband-and-wife team who serve up delicious Flemish
cooking with an emphasis on fish. The house speciality is a type of seafood lasagne, packed with scallops, shrimps,
grilled fish and shiitake mushrooms. The interior is smart yet understated. Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.
DE PANNE Hostellerie Le Fox Δ 0 ) ̊ ¡¡¡¡¡
Walckierstraat 2-4, 8660 De Panne Tel (058) 412855 Road Map B1
This is the place to eat in the Westhoek area, a hotel-restaurant with classic wood-panelled elegance, folded linen,
silver, fresh flowers and two Michelin stars. The focus is on seafood – canneloni of sole and langoustine, with
black truffles and the like. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays (but open on Tuesday evenings over mid-June–October).
DENDERMONDE ‘t Truffeltje z Δ ¡¡¡¡¡
Bogaerdstraat 20, 9200 Dendermonde Tel (052) 224590 Road Map C2
An old mansion has been modernized to create this spacious restaurant, which has a Michelin star. French-style cuisine,
with Belgian and Asian influences, is applied to a broad range of ingredients, including, as the name suggests, truffles.
Courtyard terrace for summer. Closed Saturday lunch, Sunday evenings, Mondays and for four weeks in July–August.
DONKMEER Palingrestaurant De Nieuwe Pluim Δ ¡¡¡
Brielstraat 9, 9290 Berlare-Overmere Tel (09) 3678070 Road Map C2
Donkmeer, a set of lakes near Berlare, is the place to eat eels. Occupying a chalet-like house with an outdoor terrace,
this restaurant is one of several overlooking the lake. Cosy and well presented, it specializes in eel dishes – paling
in ‘t groen in particular – but offers alternatives. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
GERAARDSBERGEN ‘t Grof Zout Δ ¡¡¡¡¡
Gasthuisstraat 20, 9500 Geraardsbergen Tel (054) 423546 Road Map B2
An elegant old building that was once a mirror factory has been converted into this charming restaurant. The
chef-patron uses interesting ingredients – guinea fowl, pigeon, sea bass, fennel, bulgar wheat – to conjure up
French-Belgian dishes. A terrace offers seating in summer. Closed Saturday lunch, Sunday evenings and Mondays.
GHENT Frituur Jozef ¤ Δ ¡
Vrijdagmarkt, 9000 Ghent Road Map B2
In the middle of the market square, beneath the grand façade of Ons Huis (headquarters of the Socialist Workers’
Union) stands an increasingly rare example of a traditional fritkot, a stall (established 1898) selling perfect fries.
Sitting on a bench, guests can have a whole meal here, with sausages, meatballs or stoofvlees (beef stewed in beer).
GHENT ‘t Dreupelkot ¤ ¡
Groentenmarkt 12, 9000 Ghent Tel (09) 2242120 Road Map B2
A lovely little old bar on the waterfront, ‘t Dreupelkot serves only jenever and is a classic place to sample this gin
in all its flavours: fruit, vanilla, chocolate and pure. Those who need guidance can ask the barman, Pol, a Ghent
institution. Open from 4pm daily (6pm in summer). Next door is a famous pub, Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant.
GHENT Dulle Griet ¤ ¡
Vrijdagmarkt 50, 9000 Ghent Tel (09) 2242455 Road Map B2
With a choice of 250 beers, this is one of the celebrated “beer academies” of Belgium, with encrustations of beer
memorabilia and bric-a-brac on its walls and ceilings. This includes a basket, hoisted to the roof, in which guests
must deposit a shoe as security when drinking The Max, a beer served in a large and particularly cherished glass.
GHENT Groot Vleeshuis^ ¡
Groentenmarkt 7, 9000 Ghent Tel (09) 2232324 Road Map B2
Occupying a large, modern glass box set in a sensational medieval butchers’ hall spanned by ancient exposed
beams, Groot Vleeshuis promotes Flemish food. The small restaurant serves interesting and good-value Flemish
dishes and is an unforgettable lunch stop. Kitchen open 10am–3pm; delicatessen until 6pm. Closed Mondays.
WHERE TO EAT