Oostende

Welcome to the Cardinal de la mer specialist! Joost Nollet and his wife Françoise have been delighting their many loyal customers for over 35 years. The restaurant seats just 30 diners, inviting you to enjoy the intimacy. Lobster is Ostend's undisputed expert when it comes to sublimating seafood platters and lobster. Situated opposite the Kursaal, the pleasant restaurant is an invitation to indulge: lobster à l'armoricaine, or with green pepper, saffron or tarragon, lobster stew with asparagus, etc. A real treat!

This seaside Popeye brewery(Zeezotje in Flemish) has a good reputation. Here, you can enjoy local tapas (meatballs with Brugse Zot beer, scampi and lemongrass meatballs, herring fillets with Bismarck sauce)... or a more hearty bistro-style dish (meat, fish, salad or pasta...) or just a cheese board with wine. The Zeezotje salad with various smoked fish and horseradish sauce is a real treat. You get what you pay for, efficiently served, with a smile and Belgian humor to boot. We also like the flexible opening hours.

This café, named after the film starring Catherine Deneuve, focuses on refreshing, inventive bistro cuisine. Never disappointing, with no unnecessary frills, the dishes sublimate beautiful flavors, especially steak, cooked to perfection here on its bed of arugula, as well as fish of course, married with original vegetal flavors. There are also world cuisine specialties, such as pad thai and vegetarian dishes for those looking for light, flexitarian fare. Trendy atmosphere and decor, beautiful day and night.

It looks like a fisherman's hut, it's tiny and cute. You'll find the widest selection of this North Sea specialty, belegde broodjes, filled breads in short, many made with the catch of the day at rock-bottom prices. There are even hot breads and paninis. A lovely discovery, open only in the morning and at lunchtime. We recommend making an assortment to sample the various specialties, and taking it away for a picnic on the beach.