Le Botaniste was hands down our favorite place to eat in Ghent. The food was super fresh, really…read morehealthy with perfect ingredients, and packed with flavor! My beautiful Bride was extra excited because of this sign (in the pic I posted) at the entrance. "Food is Medicine", has been a mantra of hers for the last few years. This place has such a cool and unique look inside and just feels good to be in. The people working there were very kind and super helpful, and everything we tried was delicious. If you're in Ghent, take a break from the fries and stop here!

This is a really cool and unique spot!…read more Both GF and I had this place on our list being vegetarian/vegan leaning. I tried to bring my parents here for lunch however as soon as we walked through the door, the staff behind the counter didn't waste a moment of our time and informed us that there were no tables. We were disappointed but got around to doing some other shit and then by the time we were finished, figured we could go back to see if things had opened up. Fortunately, they had and we were able to snag a table easily. By this time, it was dangerously close to dinnertime and in the interest of having enough gastric space for dinner, we were light with this "snack". Both I and one of my dining companions ordered one of their soups. I don't recall much of the specifics other than the fact that it was green and delicious. Two of my other dining companions ordered the "veggie balls" which I had a chance to try, they were quite good. The veggie sushi was also ordered and received positive reviews. The inside/entrance area is really cool and they have a really impressive menu with tons of stuff. I saw some spreads/hummuses that I would have wanted to try if it weren't for the gastric space issue. I can see why it's hard to get a table!

Found this restaurant just outside the tourist area. Staff was very pleasant and seated us…read moreimmediately. Fiancé ordered the meatballs and I had the pork tenderloin. We both had the wine that was recommended for each dish. Everything was delicious. Pork was very tender and flavorful. Ambiance was also nice. If we ever make it back to Gent we will definitely return for another wonderful meal.

This restaurant was delicious. It was off the main drag and so glad I found it…read more It was less than1 hour before closing and we were seated right away, although the restaurant was still full. My daughter and I ordered deer and beer. Damn good combination. The decor and service were cool. The deer was so tender and my 9% beer went perfectly with the meal. Prices were reasonable for portions. And the presentation was really colorful. Bon Appétit!

We got the tasting menu which had several creative and delicious items. The first six courses came…read moreout at a pretty good pace and then everything fell apart. We never received one course and we waited over an hour for one ravioli. We had to ask for the dessert to go because we had to catch the last train to Antwerp. The restaurant is in an old building and the decor inside was nice. Sadly, a very nice dinner ended on such a sour note.

What a delicious vegan surprise! Amazing ambiance with soft lighting and plant based decor…read morethroughout the space. Attentive staff and a lovely menu. While it's vegan they do offer proteins for any dish (chicken, beef, seafood). Large cocktail and mocktail menu for any taste. Recommend reservations as they get busy quickly or be at the door at 6:30 pm sharp to roll the dice on a walk-in. Bread was gluten free as well and was delicious. So many options that will make everyone happy.

I only ate at Cucumbertime once, but since it remains unreviewed on Yelp, I'm going to give it a…read morebump. As heads up, there are quite a few reviews on Happy Cow about this place that can offer more insight. Komkommertijd has a nice set up for a buffet-style place, instead a little courtyard that feels very natural and peaceful. After marching all over Ghent for the day and searching for a magic unicorn of a restaurant that served both waterzooi and good vegetarian/vegan options - FYI, that didn't exist in 2009 and maybe still doesn't, we parted ways with our waterzooi-seeking companion and returned to this vegan AYCE buffet. There was a selection of soups, app, and mains that satisfied me, including some curry and lentil dishes I liked. At 12.50 euros it was steep with the conversion rate at the time but worth it for this famished herbivore. We were there during the second ever week of Donderdag - Veggiedag, which is something that's been in my profile photos since I joined Yelp (pause while you look through my photos). http://www.donderdagveggiedag.be/ What's a Veggiedag or veggie day? It's like a Meatless Monday, but the City of Ghent officially declared Thursday to be veggie day in 2009 and sponsored some great promotions to encourage schools and businesses to adopt healthier and environmentally-friendly eating habits. We thought this was so excellent and very progressive, so we made a weekend trip from NL, just to explore the veg offerings. Sadly there was no big Veggie Pride Parade with dancing broccoli on Veggie Dag (they should mandate that part of the weekly event) but I did fill the hole in my artichoke heart left by the lack of visible celebration. Whether it's Thursday - Veggie Day or not, you should check out Cucumbertime and enjoy a healthy, tasty lunch or dinner meal. Hey, maybe they have a vegan waterzooi now too?

This place is outstanding. For one price, you will have the healthiest, tastiest buffet of your…read morelife. Plenty of beer options as well that will help you find a great local brew. There's about 6 options for main course, about 4 for side dishes, dessert and soup. You can have as much as you want. About 18 euros.

I failed to take a pic of the salad but my husband and I loved Otomat. We took a day trip to…read moreGhent, were starving, and were greeted by the friendliest guys when we entered. The building itself is unique, it's a tidy and hip space, had lots of exposed brick and great colors, and comfortable seating with great music playing overhead. The menu has a variety of items from pizzas, salads, dips, olives, and soup. They've got a nice lunch menu option as well with a small pizza and a salad. We shared the Caesar and Bushwick. The Caesar was creamy and tangy, lettuce was fresh and crisp. The pizza had a delicate and delicious crust, topped with ricotta and salami. My husband tried a couple of beers while I stuck to a bottle of the Coke Zero. IDK what it is about Europe and the Coke Zero bottles but they hit differently. There's plenty of seating inside and out and the food comes quickly and service is exceptional.

A great family dining option!…read more If you are ever in Ghent and find yourself with a hungry child, pre-teen, early teenager - the dinner options at 5:30 or 6 pm can be few and far between. In fact, most of the restaurants do not reopen for dinner service until after 6:30. Not Otomat. They're open from lunch onward until closing 10 or 11 pm (depending on the night of the week). This makes Otomat a lifesaver for families like our looking to feed a hunger panged child. Oh, and don't be mislead by my chronologically direct review - the food is darn good . . . and, it's so much more than just pizza (fear not gluten-free eaters!). The salads and non-pizza offerings are all gluten-friendly. In addition to a nice selection of noshing items - they also have a long list of beers by the bottle and draft, as well as wine, cocktails and house made lemonade. Finally, the convenient location and super friendly staff make Otomat a great place for a easy late lunch or early dinner - or anytime meal for traveling families.

Sandwiched between boutiques and Belgium resturants is this gem of a restaurant. The restaurant has…read morea wonderful outside dining experience located along the water. We dined at 6pm, just as it opened, and our waiter offered blankets and menus for us. I ordered the large vegetarian salad plate. The salad plate was a pleasant surprise of mixed vegetables, including sesame noodles, vegetable curry, beets, a falafel, and cauliflower to name a few. No lettuce (except as decor underneath the vegetable spread) but it was infinitely more filling than a regular salad. My dad ordered the fish soup (their version of bouillabaisse) and really enjoyed it. The soup had mussels, multiple kinds of fish, shrimp, some potatos, carrots, and rice in rich broth. It was also served in a Chinese style terracotta soup pot that added to the flavour. Overall the service was prompt and the food was stellar and just what I was craving. The owner was from Hong Kong and my dad was able to strike up a great conversation with him in Cantonese. If you're looking for vegetables, are vegetarian/vegan, or are just in the mood for a relaxing lunch/dinner, I highly recommend you check this place out!

Excellent stop for Indian food. This bustling place thankfully had a spot for a solo diner. If you…read moreare coming to the Ghent area, it may be of value to make a reservation in advance. I popped in around 8:45 so a later dinner probably helped me. Sticking to my routine, I ordered chicken tiki masala and cheese naan. I will say this is some of the best, most tender chicken I have ever had in my masala and the cheese naan was on par to be the best cheese naan I have had...and I eat lots of Indian food, it is pretty top on my food group list. If you are like me and like spice but not too much spice, I ordered the Belgium spice level 2. Now I pride myself on being able to handle heat and I suggest this level or maybe even one lower if you are similar. I was surprised at the level of heat for a Belgium level 2. Maybe I am loosing footing on my spice level tolerance! Service was attentive, food excellent, and definitely worth a stop through!

Came here for dinner on a quiet Tuesday. Cultural interior that's greatly decorated. Ordered the…read morebutter chicken along with some naan bread. Food was pretty good and had an authentic taste. Owners were checking regularly on customers and that was pretty nice. One of the owners was busy throughout the evening with a certain table which made the meal enjoyment a little less comfortable. I would have done the same just focus on all customers rather than focus on one group. I would definitely come back and try something else! Food 4/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service 3/5

The white asparagus soup was phenomenal! One of the best soups that I have had. Tomato soup with…read moremeatballs was also delicious. The soups are very hardy. We made the mistake of ordering two small bowls of soup and a sandwich for two of us to share. The sandwich was completely unnecessary, and we could not finish all the food. You order at the counter, and the Service was pleasant. This was a very quick and easy meal that allowed us to spend more time exploring the city. Highly recommend.

I love this place. Every soup I have had has been really good. I've gotten the oriental chicken…read morenoodle soup, the Thai curry, and the butternut squash. Feels like good quality. It comes with bread as well. Always pretty busy in there from open to close but staff are friendly. Cute ambiance inside with lots of different seating options. They also have sandwiches as well!

Excellent seitan! Good sized portions. Excellent choice for vegans/vegetarians. Nice romantic…read morespot with tables on the canal. You have to enter through a health food store, so it's easy to miss, but worth it!