BELGIUM - Best of Europe 2014 - page 232

Tom's Diner is a trendy, cozy little candlelit bistro in a quiet, cobbled residential area a
10-minute walk from the center. Young chef Tom gives traditional dishes a delightful mod-
ern twist, such as his signature Flemish meat loaf with rhubarb sauce. If you want to flee the
tourists and experience a popular neighborhood joint, this is it—the locals love it (€15-20
plates, Tue-Sat 12:00-14:00 & 18:00-23:00, closed Sun-Mon, north of the Markt near Sint-
Gilliskerk at West-Gistelhof 23, tel. [phone]).
Restaurant de Koetse is handy forcentral, good-quality,local-style food.The feeling is
traditional, a bit formal (stuffy even), and dressy, yet accessible. The cuisine is Belgian and
French, with an emphasis on grilled meat, seafood, and mussels (€30 three-course meals,
€20-30 plates include vegetables and a salad, Fri-Wed 12:00-14:30 & 18:00-22:00, closed
Thu, non-smoking section, Oude Burg 31, tel. [phone], Piet).
Carlito's is a good choice for basic Italian fare. Their informal space, with whitewashed
walls and tea-light candles, is two blocks from Burg Square (€8-13 pizzas and pastas, daily
12:00-14:00 & 18:00-22:30, patio seating in back, Hoogstraat 21, tel. [phone]).
Restaurant Sint-Barbe, on the eastern edge of town, is a homey little neighborhood
place where Evi serves classy Flemish dishes made from local ingredients in a fresh,
modern space on two floors (€12 soup-and-main lunch, €14-25 main courses, Thu-Mon
11:30-14:30 & 18:00-22:00, closed Tue-Wed, food served until 21:00, St. Annaplein 29, tel.
050-330-999).
L'Estaminet isayouthful,jazz-filledeatery,similartooneofAmsterdam'sbrowncafés.
Don't be intimidated by its lack of tourists. Local students flock here for the Tolkien-chic
ambience, hearty €9 spaghetti, and big dinner salads. This is Belgium—it serves more beer
than wine. For outdoor dining under an all-weather canopy, enjoy the relaxed patio facing
peaceful Astrid Park (Fri-Wed 11:30-24:00, Thu 16:00-24:00, Park 5, tel. [phone]).
Restaurants on the Markt: Most tourists seem to be eating on the Markt with the bell
tower high overhead and horse carriages clip-clopping by. The square is ringed by tourist
trapswithaggressivewaitersexpertatgettingyoutoconsumemorethanyouintended.Still,
if you order smartly, you can have a memorable meal or drink here on one of the finest
squares in Europe at a reasonable price. Consider Café-Brasserie Craenenburg, with a
straightforward menu, where you can get pasta and beer for €15 and spend all the time you
want ogling the magic of Bruges (daily 7:30-23:00, Markt 16, tel. [phone]). While it's
overpriced for dining, it can be a fine place to savor a before- or after-meal drink with the
view.
Cheap Eats: MedardBrasserie, justablockofftheMarkt,servesthecheapesthotmeal
in town—hearty meat spaghetti (big plate-€3, huge plate-€5.50, sit inside or out, Fri-Wed
11:00-20:30, closed Thu, Sint Amandstraat 18, tel. [phone]).