Located in a historic townhouse in the heart of Ghent, Belgium, you will find Chef Michael Vrijmoed working diligently in his highly regarded two star Michelin restaurant. Also, a rated Gault Millau establishment. It is worth a pit stop when touring Belgium, firstly to visit the historic, fascinating town of Ghent with its mediaeval castles, impressive cathedrals, and beautiful canals and secondly to visit its best restaurant, Vrijmoed

This narrow, cozy, contemporary restaurant is like dining in someone’s home. Individual rooms are used with spacious seating. High ceilings, wooden elements, mirrors, and flowers make for a classic, chic interior with modern touches. Modern art adorns the walls and a nice bar is featured in the back. It is a great location and setting to experience the chefs tasty and characterful cuisine. He skillfully and creatively and blends complex, sophisticated flavors and focuses on vegetables. 

We went for lunch and were given the choice of a 3/4/5/6 or 7 course menu, a purely vegetarian menu or you could opt for the a la carte menu. We chose the 3 course menu and were rewarded with skillfully prepared food, made with surprising and colorful combinations and high quality, appealing  ingredients. At 75 Euros it was a good value with lots of extras like amuse and mignardises. I remember I was swooning over the bread and butter as well. It is a product oriented kitchen. Chef Michael Vrijmoed gained training at hotel school and in several restaurants in Belgium. He worked as a sous chef at the 3 star Hof Van Cleve (I couldn’t snag a reservation there). He opened his own place in 2013 and created his own cooking style using Belgian ingredients.

The service was impeccable and attentive without being overbearing. 

The sommelier won an award for being the best in the world. We asked to start with a non alcoholic cocktail first and it was excellent. Then he suggested the perfect wine to accompany our food. He has a story and explanation behind each wine which added to the overall experience. It was a calm oasis after a morning of touring and we got to indulge and relax with a most impressive and inspiring lunch. 

Worth a detour.

Recommend. Happy dining,

Shanea

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