Restaurant Review - Expensive Eating in Brugge

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 11 Dec 2003, 10:07

This is a review of a Brugge landmark restaurant. Le Panier d'Or is located on the Markt in Brugge. It is a very distinctive building, and features in many photos. It is red, with a golden basket on the top gable. It has an outside seating area, and waiters who lurk outside and accost unwary passers-by. We have eaten here several times over two successive years. We have seen the restaurant deteriorate markedly.

Our first meal was on 10th September 2001. It was raining heavily that day, and it was nice to be shown to a seat by the window, and not too far from a roaring log fire. The waiters wore aprons, and looked very traditional. I ordered a veal schitzel and chips. I was very impressed with the presentation. The chips were proper ones, and were cut quite short, but beautifully golden and perfectly cooked, like good Belgian chips should be. The schitzel was coated in breadcrumbs and egg, and the taste of the egg really came through. The surprise came when I cut into it, and saw a dark meat. This suggested grass-reared veal, as milk reared veal is almost white, and, in my opinion, is the superior variety. The meat was very good though. Tea finished off the meal, and also a small Lila Pause chocolate.

We visited again on 11th September 2001, again a very dull wet day. This time we had cod and chips. The chips were the same standard as the previous day, and the cod was served in chunks coated in breadcrumbs, which perfectly complimented the delicate flavour of the fish. I watched two guys on the next table on a business lunch- one of them had a piece of raw (yes, raw!!) beef, and he was trying to eat it without throwing up I think!! It looked revolting. This restaurant specialised in the Belfort waffle, a waffle shaped like a step-gabled building, and we ordered one of these waffle with cherries and cream for our dessert. The cherries were hot and in a puree, and the waffle had a crisp outside and soft inside, absolutely divine!!!

On 12th September 2001, we visited for the last time that year, as we were to fly home the following day. This time I selected trout fried in butter with chips, followed by one of those waffles with cherries. I love trout, and it was a change to have it fried as opposed to baked or grilled. It was rich and buttery, and those chips and the waffle really added to the calories of that meal!!

On our return to Brugge, in 2002, we visited Le Panier d'Or again. This was on 4th September 2002, and we couldn't believe the change!! The waiters now wore football tops with numbers on the back - very tacky looking!!! We sat inside, in our usual seat, and ordered cod and chips. What a disappointment. The chips were now frozen ones, and the cod was very average. We ordered a cherry waffle, still very good and the high point of the meal. Tea and coffee finished this off. The shock came with the bill - 48 Euros!!!!! We ate cheaper in Falstaff and a nice place in Spa that year, and, needless to say, we shall not be visiting Le Panier d'Or again. Such a shame it has gone down the pan!!!

Post by **sn26567** » 11 Dec 2003, 10:45

The prices on the market place in Bruges have become outrageous. I've told elsewhere that I had to pay 8 (eight!) € for a 33 cl draught beer in a place next to the Panier d'Or. I have complained to the Ministry of Economy, which acknowledged my complaint and decided to investigate.

aerobel · Post by **aerobel** » 11 Dec 2003, 10:54

Please visit Brugge again sometime... But please try to avoid the most places where touritst go. You'll always pay to much in such a restaurant

.

TOM from Brugge

ps: I've I got time, i'll put some nice restaurant online here...

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 11 Dec 2003, 10:57

Thanks for that tip about the rip off places on the Markt in Brugge, Andre. I now know which places to avoid next year, in short anywhere on that square!!

As for the beer, I've never heard of that price before in Brugge, usually the beer has been reasonably priced. We bought a beer in Scarborough the other week (the world's strongest beer at 21%) and that cost us £6.99, which, believe me, is extortionate for a ber in this country!

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 13 Dec 2003, 19:19

aerobel wrote:Please visit Brugge again sometime... But please try to avoid the most places where touritst go. You'll always pay to much in such a restaurant .

TOM from Brugge

ps: I've I got time, i'll put some nice restaurant online here...

TOM - thanks for your comments. Sorry for the late reply, I always make the special effort to reply to all posts in this superb little forum!!

Don't worry, I shall definitely visit Brugge again, you are very, very, very lucky to live in Brugge, it is my favourite place in the whole of Belgium. I have a ten day holiday booked in Brugge for next September (which shall include my spotting meet).

I would love to read your comments about Brugge restaurants, and especially would like to know one which serves good Belgian chips instead of frozen ones.

I have done a couple of Brugge reviews on here already - Brugs Beertje on Kemelstraat (famous well stocked beer bar where I shall be drinking a Sloeber on 6th September 2004, my first night of my holiday!!) and Bistro De Zandloper, which is on 't Zand and was a regular haunt of mine in 2001 and 2002.

Thanks for contributing to City Guide!

aerobel · Post by **aerobel** » 13 Dec 2003, 19:46

The first one to recommend... 't Putje in the shadow of 'het concertgebouw'.

TOM

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 13 Dec 2003, 22:44

Thanks TOM, I think I can place that one, the name is familiar but I've never been there.

The first time I visited Brugge was on a day trip by train back in 2000, when I was staying in Brussels. We found a little eaterie in a quiet corner (literally, this place was well hidden in a corner) and it was not much bigger than a normal living room inside, but the food was superb. I had my first ever plaice on the bone, with a bowlful of delicious Belgian chips in here, but I have never been able to find it again, and I didn't note the name of it!!

Eating guides for all Belgian cities are especially welcome, so I can find places to try next year instead of the usual Falstaff in Brussels. Kortrijk would be particularly welcome, as we are visiting the place (I've only been briefly before, on the way to Oudenaarde. We had an hour to wait before our train, so we had a quick look in the town, but I would love to see more of the place).