I did some hardcore research prior to our family Belgium trip. It was the first trip in years with my parents and the first trip when I was mature enough to put some thought into it so stakes were high. This place seemed to be very highly rated and provided an opportunity to enjoy some of the local fare.
We just arrived to Bruges today but we have been in Belgium for five days so we're pretty much locals by now. This place is right in the middle of town where all of the interesting and touristy shit is and you can literally see one of the tall landmark buildings (probably a belfry or a church or something) down the block.
It's small but decorated in a very cute manner, for lack of a better term. There are really pretty chandeliers in there and vibe is nicer but not in a pretentious way.
We squeezed ourselves into our table just next to the bar.
My extremely health conscious (to a pathological degree) mother was disappointed in the lack of low fat options (there is a bit of cream in most dishes). As a vegetarian I struggled a bit but they did have a vegetable soup and a few starters sans meat products. I ordered the cheese croquettes to start and a salad that seemed safe, menu includes goat cheese, fruit, nut bread, and honey "vinaigrette". One of my dining companions ordered a chicken dish and the other two ordered the moules frites which I aggressively suggested due to aforementioned research.
Before I forget to mention, two of my dining companions also ordered the vegetable soup which was a puréed deal instead of a minestrone-type deal. I did hear good murmurings as the soup was being consumed.
The cheese croquettes were fantastic. I previously had the pleasure of consuming this dish earlier in our trip but these were superior. They were so crispy on the outside it was absolute heaven. The inside cheese was soft and warm and I'm literally salivating thinking about it.
GF ordered the moules frites, "it was good". I kindly assisted in the consumption of the accompanying fries and they were served with the standard mayo. They were crispy and warm.
After a really uncomfortable deliberation with the waiter, my mother ended up with the mussels and a side salad. It was like pulling teeth getting her to admit the mussels were tasty but I was ultimately successful,
My Dad was very surprised to see only a plate of chicken and sauce but was relieved when his side of fries arrived. His report on the dish was that it was good but that he "has had better".
My salad was quite the sight but I was also bummed to find that bacon was sprinkled about the frankly impressive quantity of ingredients. I wish the bacon was listed on the menu description as this would have at least allowed me to ask for its omission or order something else. The salad also did not have any honey vinaigrette but instead, the standard cream substance Belgium seems to top every salad with. This was decent.
For dessert, we ordered a waffle with ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. It was a Brussels style waffle and I tend to prefer liege (I told you I was a local now) but don't think I didn't demolish that shit. GF thought it was a bit "underdone" for her taste but my Dad actually preferred the texture to a more crispy version.
The service was excellent and I was very pleased the waiter had the patience to deal with all of our questions and neuroses.
This is a great spot to visit in town especially if you are a carnivore without dietary restrictions. read more