Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    De Witte Leeuw

    3.2 (47 reviews)
    ModerateBelgian
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    De Witte Leeuw Photos

    DE WITTE LEEUW ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - De Witte Leeuw

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Classic stew
    Erika L.

    Beautiful and fun restaurant located in the heart of Bruges- right in the old town/touristic square. We sat outside for lunch and though it was a little cold, it was still a lot of people wanting to enjoy the sunshine! They had lots of heaters too. We ordered stew and mussels and both were great. We got to enjoy a nice beer as well - how could we not, when in Belgium?! The prices were a little high but we were in the peak of the tourist areas of Bruges. It got really busy at lunch but that didn't slow down our service at all. The location of this restaurant allows for wonderful people watching. The decor and architecture of this building and those around it is lovely- really makes you feel like you are taking a step back into history.

    Scampi à la maison - exploded in the microwave
    Tom D.

    AVOID! Tourist trap! Do not let the decor fool you. We went here recently to enjoy famous Ghent beef stew. This 20 EUR dish was still cold inside. Some of the table guests were served the most disgusting shrimps I have seen (exploded in the microwave). Furthermore, the waiters had normal casual clothes and ignored dirty plates/drinks/sauces etc..

    Sharine N.

    Beautiful view of the river. The food is just mediocre. I would avoid getting the ribs.

    Blonde Gruut... Such an amazing beer
    Emrie S.

    Incredibly friendly service (albeit a little slow), but orgasmic food. We ordered: Goat cheese salad: Incredible salad with sprouts, greens mix, carrots, apples, and a round of goat cheese with honey or some sort of caramelization on top. Dressing had a bit of horseradish... this is literally the best salad I've ever had in my life. Boar Stew (special): my husband loved this dish. From the potato croquettes to the stew, he literally left nothing on his plate. Stew was slightly too sweet for me, but the boar was melt in your mouth tender. Roasted rabbit: SO SO GOOD. Mouthgasm defined. There was ZERO gamey flavor to this rabbit and it came off the bone easily with a fork (so tender it actually shredded). The gravy it was served with is the king of all gravies. Like- if I had to choose a way to drown, it would be in this gravy. Venison Carpaccio: Brilliant doesn't even start to describe this. The pink peppercorn was such a genius textural and flavor addition to this dish... the little explosions with each bite were almost a candy-like pleasure. The Venison was also not gamey at all, and the balsamic drizzle was delightful. Everything about this dish was absolute perfection. All of these dishes were huge, so be ready to gorge yourself. I highly suggest this restaurant. Interior vibe is very worldly (with decor ranging from old European to Asian to contemporary art using wine corks)... and absolutely try a Gruut Blonde, it's my most favorite beer now.

    Spaghetti de witte leeuw
    Dan L.

    Situated on the picturesque Graslei, this touristy but good restaurant has both outdoor and indoor seating. Indoors is cozy and outdoors has one of the best views in Ghent. It's located in the heart of everything, very close to the three towers of Ghent. The food is very good (and I hadn't had the best of luck with food in Belgium - it tended to be pricey and just OK). I had the house spaghetti which was with a creamy, cheesy tomato sauce that was very rich. The portion was large and I was really full. I came back several hours later to have the waffle with hot cherries. The waffle was light and crispy and the cherries came separately, which was great as it kept the waffle from being soggy. My cappuccinos came with lots of whipped cream and a really good chocolate filled cookie. The staff were really friendly and nice... Again my experience with other restaurants in Belgium were not as good in this regard.

    Rob H.

    I asked for local food recommendation from the hotel reception and this is where we were sent. Loved the Stoverij and the muscles. The Stew was finger-licking good. Very friendly staff. Great beer. Kids had French fries and Mac & cheese. The ambiance and setting is so nice. I highly recommend it. Don't listen to the complainers; they will find a problem no matter where they go.

    View from patio.
    Alex C.

    Location is everything. But it also helps to have good food, especially if you are a restaurant. Came here based on the Yelp recommendations and went away pretty satisfied. A beautiful sunny Ghent day added to the ambiance, and the Petrus dark beer didn't hurt either. (One of the smoother Belgian beers I've had). On the waiter's recommendation, I tried the Ghent beef stew with pommes. The beef was fairly tender...not fall apart, but still very good. The sauce/stew was the amazing part. Sweet notes along with the savory. Used a spoon to get every last drop. As mentioned by another reviewer who had the spaghetti and commented on the creamy sauce, the lasagna was the same. Extremely creamy and cheesy and I loved the taste while my wife prefers a more "tomato" based sauce. The mixed green salad offered an impressive selection of greens and vegetables. Waffles were a bit disappointing, so look elsewhere for that. I enjoyed my visit here, but wasn't so impressed that I'd return and forgo an opportunity to try someplace else.

    Moules et frites, Orval, Chardonnay and a fabulous beef stew all on a historic canal.  What more could Ghent offer?
    Barb F.

    We hunted through many menus in town, but this was the best in Ghent! Ali was a great host and the food and service far exceeded our expectations. There's nothing quite like a lovely lunch with historic buildings in the background.

    Bonnie D.

    One of my favorite meals in Belgium! Beautiful setting on the canal with heat lamps so you can enjoy being outside even when it's cold out. I had a coffee (perfect, with a delightful shortbread cookie on the side) and the carbonades. I had this dish in Bruges as well, but this version put that to shame. The sauce was just perfect with the flavor of the beer and sweetness blending perfectly with tender beef. Flawless. Served with a tasty salad and some of the best frites I've had in Belgium. A bit pricey but generous portions and lovely atmosphere.

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David J.
    96
    2344
    11912

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David K.
    56
    297
    135

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom D.
    10
    11
    3

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben C.
    21
    1
    0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan L.
    28
    226
    324

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex C.
    56
    23
    110

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Barb F.
    100
    98
    215

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Bad food, worse service. Ordered the filet (medium rare) and frites. It came out well done, tough, and flavorless.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carl D.
    0
    604
    18

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L T.
    0
    35
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vick Y.
    70
    50
    5

    12 years ago

    Beautiful locale. The beef stew was good, not exceptional but at this location I'm just glad it doesn't cost a fortune.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Danny W.
    37
    338
    7

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark T.
    1
    104
    71

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yali J.
    3
    103
    4

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    De Witte Leeuw Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - De Witte Leeuw

    De Witte Leeuw has a prime location in the historic square of Ghent along the canal.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

    't Oud Clooster - L'Arogante (served in an Orval glass ) Rundstoveriej

    't Oud Clooster

    (44 reviews)

    €€

    A fair place. Healthy options. Our dinner was good. A basic dinner with potencial to be better. My…read morechicken was slightly overcooked but the combination of sauce, veggies and spices made it okay.

    Atmosphere: 5/5. Set in an old convent, very cool interior. Small but cozy. There is a back yard…read morearea where you can sit when the weather is nice. The restaurant is in the middle of town within a few blocks to the main town square. The menu has pictures of the nunnery attire, maybe how they brewed their own beer? They only had it in Dutch, no English menu. Food: 3/5. Bland food, which is not uncommon for Flemish cuisine, but meat was also quite tough. We tried the 2 most popular dishes, Brochette Oud Clooster, and Rundsstoverij met Westmalle Dubbel, and were not impressed. Both bland. The brochette was supposed to be medium rare but came out well done. Dry and tough. The dipping sauce has a hint of curry but wasn't enough to carry the whole dish. The stew has a yummy base, I could pick out the beer flavors (Belgians truly have the best beers in the world). Meat pieces were tough, which is a shame given this is a stew. They should have use a fattier cut of beef like chuck. Meme Gusta has a similar but much more flavorful Flemish stew. The no-bake cheese cake was light and refreshing. Good for 1 person, small to share between 2. Service: 2/5. They had no English menu. At this point I have come to Belgium enough to pick out a few familiar terms, but I would have liked to be able to see what other dishes they had. Had to aggressively flag down waiter whenever we needed something. they also charge €1.80 for tap water. This place is popular enough even for locals that one can't get in without reservations. We were told they only have 2 slots: 6-8 or 8-10. We picked the earlier one. The restaurant was only half full until about 7.

    Groot Vleeshuis - Interior - those are real hams that are hanging!

    Groot Vleeshuis

    (6 reviews)

    €€

    This former butcher's hall is a great space, and very well matched with the fare they now serve…read more I went with the blood sausage, and it did not disappoint. It was piled high with slices of ham and cooked apples. Pork is one of the specialties here, and the whole dish was very good. The distinctive taste of the sausage filling should be savored. I also had the opportunity to taste the waterzooi, a stew with a cream sauce. It was tasty. I would highly recommend this restaurant, if you find yourself in Ghent.

    Groot Vleeshuis is a historic building which used to be the meat market long time ago. Now it's…read morebeen converted into a restaurant, and the cool part about this place (other than the history) is that they have real Flanders ham hanging and drying from the ceiling! You don't have to be eating there to walk through the restaurant to see the ham! After going on a free walking tour, I was starving, so I came to eat lunch here. There are tables in an inside area that's inside of the building (sounds confusing, but when you see it you'll know what i'm talking about), but sitting in the area where the hams are hanging is a lot more fun. You just grab any table and a server will come to you. It's a hopping place for brunch/lunch - they have salads and toast and omelettes, and of course lots of beer options. I wanted to try something local and so I ordered the waterzooi, which is this cream/egg based stew with chicken and potatoes and other veggies. The dish originated in Gent. And since I was at the old Butcher's Hall, I wanted to try some ham. They had a meat tasting dish that came with four different meats. The meat sampler came with Superano ham, Ganda ham, Breydelham, and Gentse kop. My favorites were the Superano and the Ganda - they tasted like prosciutto. The Breydelham tasted like regular ham. The kop was my least favorite - it's basically a pork product made of parts of the pig like the head. I guess it's kind of like spam, but not as tasty. The sampler came with some kind of mustard for dipping the meat in! The waterzooi was tasty and hearty and it was huge!!! It had generous chunks of chicken and yummy potatoes. I like the light creamy flavor. I couldn't finish it because it was too much food. The service was great except it was hard when I tried to pay and leave. My original server was very busy with this large party that was there and he was bringing out dishes two at a time by himself. I finally got the attention of the girl server who was clearing a different table and she came by but when I tried to pay with my credit card, she said I had to go inside to the bar area to pay. So I went and paid and the girl who took care of that for me said it was like some kind of special customer day and gave me this little bottle of a pickled dip for eating meat with! There is free wifi! And there's a restroom, but you need a code to get there!

    Door 73 - Cauliflower

    Door 73

    (4 reviews)

    Top quality food in Ghent. Incredible service, presentation and food. Was seated with a kitchen…read moreview to watch the chefs. The place has Michelin quality chops - it's off the main square a few steps. Trade in the touristy canal views for seriously good eats. It's some of the highest quality food you'll eat in Ghent.

    After we got our reservations mixed up at OAK (we apparently had dropped a spot on the waitlist and…read morenot for a reservation), the folks there suggested their sister restaurant Door 73, which was just a few minutes down the street, a little closer to the center of Ghent. After meandering around a little, we decided to go ahead with it. You find yourself swathed in a curtain when stepping inside (at least during the winter), but once you pass that, you find yourself at a quaint little bar in the front, with the main dining room a little further back. The ambiance itself is very casual and relaxed; you can see the kitchen from the dining room, and with low ceilings and an open, undivided space, it really does feel as homey as the neighborhood the restaurant is in. The servers who took our orders were helpful, although they did accidentally bring us a dish we did not order (but they did comp it even though we failed to realize it in our jetlagged state - very kind of them). The drink menu isn't huge here, but I enjoyed the house cocktail - a gin and yuzu-based concoction, if I recall - so much that I got it twice. The elderberry that was mixed in gave it a wonderful floral nose, and the flavors were perfectly balanced between the liquor and the mixers. The food here is also pretty good, and for lunch, I found that what we settled on originally (oysters, an appetizer, and a main to share) would have been a perfect size. The oysters, from Normandy, were on the better end of what I'm used to having here - not too briny and with a bright flavor, helped by a tinge of lemon squeezed over it. The gnocchi was probably the least distinct bite, although by no means was it bad...being pumpkin-based, it certainly was seasonally appropriate. I will say our mistakenly comped appetizer - beetroot served with crumbled feta - was absolutely delicious, though. The bright pink/red beets have that perfect balance of starchy sweetness that works very well with the crumbly fattiness from the cheese - very tasty (albeit it more filling than we bargained for). We then finished up with the steak main cooked medium-rare. The steak looks more rare than it lets on when you initially see it in the mini cast-iron skillet it is served on, but the flavors are delicious, and the texture is just right. My only quibble with the dish is that while the outer edge of the steak was perfectly crisped and full of flavor, the inside was usually ringed with fat...I would have expected the steak to have been dressed such that we wouldn't have to be slicing off small pieces of it to avoid the chewy bits. From my understanding, Door 73 is a relatively new spot, but we really enjoyed our meal here, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for a casual bite. Lunch ran a bit longer than I had hoped - a bit longer than 1.5 hours - but just keep in mind that time can move at a slower pace in European restaurants :)

    De Trollenkelder

    De Trollenkelder

    (17 reviews)

    €€

    We arrived at a super busy time and we're given the appropriate beer as we were looking for…read moresomething super Belgian. Martin came through for us! Delicious beers, and great staff and the ambience is super funky.

    This was definitely my favourite place in all of Ghent. During our one week stay, we came back like…read morefour times. THE BEER IS AMAZING! First off, the look and design: the place is troll themed -it's whimsical and weird, in the best way possible. It has a very fantasy/medieval tavern feel to it, with gnomes and trolls EVERYWHERE. There are neat paintings, beer mugs and steins hanging about, and three floors, each with their own little sections if you want less noise. The third floor is less troll themed, and more 1800s-ish for on of the rooms. Second, the beer selection is absolutely incredible. There are so many beers, you'll get lost in the choices. There were two guys working there, both quite friendly and helpful. One of them (the leaner, taller one), was super knowledgeable about their selection, and was awesome at explaining how each beer tastes as well as choosing something for us based on what we said we generally like. Which brings me to the last point : cherry beer. If you are anywhere in Belgium, definitely, definitely, definitely try some cherry beer!!! Generally, they are much less sweet than cherry cider, and especially the Belgian ones have an almost vinegar-y taste to them (lambic beers do in general). This specific bar has quite a few cherry beers. I personally love the sour cherry beers, so the bartender guy I mentioned recommended several sour cherry beers, and I loved all of them. My favourite was 'Hof ten Dormaal kriek- sour', although the 'Kriek Girardin' was also quite awesome (but even more vinegar-y / lambic tasting). Out of curiosity, my boyfriend wanted to try the much sweeter but stronger in alcohol cherry beer on tap, which the guy recommended against, and I personally really didn't like it, while my boyfriend loved it (the bartender guy said "I told you so" ). Anyway, they have lots of other beers on tap, like lambic, Belgian IPAs, trapist, etc. Definitely try some Belgian beer while in Belgium- it's so different from other beer. I'm not a huge beer lover, but Belgian beer (especially Belgian sour cherry beer) has me completely hooked and missing it when I'm back home.

    Dreupelkot - Klokke Roeland

    Dreupelkot

    (23 reviews)

    We stopped here to try an Ale that was on Tap and was the only place in Ghent that had it according…read moreto our tour guide. Beautiful Tuesday afternoon around 4 so all outdoor tables were occupied but one opened up after a short wait. We were in a rush as we had a meeting point deadline. Service was a bit slow to take our order. Interior, which was empty given the weather, had character and looked like a cool Bar to have a drink especially when it's cold outside. Dreupelkot is also known for Jenever-juniper flavored liquor. They have 200 offerings on the menu. That said, we were here for Klokke Roeland. (The Roland Bell which hung in the Ghent Belfry). A strong, (11.5% ABV) rich golden brown Ale. Some fruitiness with a slight bitter finish. We enjoyed it! As mentioned , brewed exclusively for Dreupelkot by Brouwerij Van Steenberge. Our server was upbeat and thought we ordered two Cokes (vs Klokke). I walked over and double-checked with him and we avoided a wrong order. Overall, a great stop with nice views of Binnenstad, for Klokke and also to try the Jenever.

    Jenever, genever, "dutch gin": whatever you call it - this is the best place in the WORLD to come…read moreand try over 100 different flavored (and non-flavored) kinds served to you by the famous unenthusiastic legend Pol who's usually smoking a cigar while serving. I've been here twice - I literally stumbled in her by chance my first time - now it's my favorite place in Gent. I might take a train next week just to go then come home. I love it. It's a tiny, intimate little room, and everyone's there for the same purpose - to drink Jenever. It's the international equalizer. The crowd is random - last time we had models, locals, young and the old. it's a great way to meet people from and visiting Gent. Of note: * Jonge jenever - leaves a burn, but a good start * Jalapeno (pepper) jenever - think you can handle the heat? go on. give it a try * Violet jenever - one of a kind * Kreik (cherry) jenever - made in house - nice * Lemon jenever - classic It's a "can't miss" spot in Gent in my opinion. Stop by, try a few, but if you stay a while, don't say that I didn't warn you about one of one of the worst hangovers of your life.

    De Witte Leeuw - belgian - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...