B&B Steendam 66

We didn’t eat here, but we had a bad experience with the management, apparently the owner himself. On December 31st, my 11-year-old son had an “emergency” stomach issue and needed the restroom. If you have kids or grandkids, you know what that’s like. The owner waved us away, saying there was a “private party,” and even after I politely explained it was an emergency, he insisted he couldn’t help. Make of that behavior what you will. Ten minutes later, the kind owner of a Kebab diner serving €8 meals let us use his toilet. Kindness comes in different shapes and price ranges, apparently.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Gent. It’s a small, cosy place, and the service is great. You can watch the chef at work in the little open kitchen, and he really knows his craft. It’s incredible to see him make such delicious food. Everything we tried was cooked perfectly, especially the fish. Definitely recommended, though you should book a table since there aren’t many.

The steak tartare was the best I’ve ever had. The menu may look classic, but this chef clearly has deep knowledge and skill with ingredients. Flemish/French cooking done extremely well, with an excellent wine selection. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and location; anyone complaining about them should stick to tourist traps or pick cheaper menu items.

We came as a group of 11 on a Saturday night, and everyone was made to feel welcome and well looked after. The owner went out of his way for us, and the dishes were cooked to perfection in this cosy restaurant. Places like this are rare. I strongly recommend it.