Beer Served in Wrong Glasses in Brugge!!!!!

[Comet]

Here is a disgrace of a Belgian pub!!!



This is Bistro De Zandloper in Brugge. Formerly, one of our regular haunts in Brugge, until 15th September 2004.

On 15th September 2004, we went into this "pub" for what would be the last time. I ordered a Blond Malheur, and VC10 ordered a Kwak. When the drinks were brought to the table by a real bimbo of a "barmaid", we noticed that they had been served in the wrong glasses! which is just not done in Belgium!!!! The stupid bimbo and her colleague behind the bar were looking and laughing, and this is obviously a trick they try out on tourists, but they reckoned without a tourist who knows more about Belgian beers than they do, in other words this time, they picked on the wrong tourists

I said "this is not Kwak", and I know Malheur to be a blond similar in appearance to Hapkin, not the same colour as De Koninck! When they realised that we knew our beers, the bimbo then brought beers in the correct glasses, though with Kwak spilled all over the base of the wooden support.

We refused to tip the staff when we paid our bill, but they had been the losers in this because it cost them an extra two bottles of beer.

What a pity that 't Brugs Beertje closes on a Wednesday because that is the best beer pub in Brugge, and we tried some beauties in there, including Mater Wit, Ename Dubbel and Oudenaarde's finest!

Please avoid De Zandloper!

[luchtzak]

Comet,

good call you ordered the correct beer in the correct glass!

it's not the first time I hear bad things about the cafés and bars in Brugge....

[Stoney]

tip the staff? You usually do that?
As far as I know that's not required and I don't know anybody who does that, except you now...

Or have I been abroad to long and things have suddenly changed?
Or am I a cheapo?

Better save those tips for some extra beers imo

[sn26567]

tip the staff? You usually do that?)

I tip the staff as well, when I get excellent service.

Good reaction, Louise. But was it you or Trisha who complained?

[Comet]

Luchtzak - that is the first time we've had such a problem anywhere in Belgium, as I said, we were regulars in De Zandloper in 2001 and 2002 and we always found it to be friendly, and certainly never had a problemw ith the beers. I think the bad places should be named, then they might begin to think twice about ripping people off.

Stoney - we do tip in Belgium, but usually the service deserves it. Last year in Mechelen we found a great place, and we would go in every night because the staff were really friendly and always greeted us pleasantly and service was good. This is Ambrosia on the Markt.

Andre - in this case, those words I quoted are my own, but they soon brought the correct served beer so VC10 didn't get a chance to do her complaining.

Next year will we try and find another pub for Wednesday nights when Beertje is closed. If anyone has any suggestions of some good, centrally located bars in Brugge then I will be delighted to hear them.

And it is so that my image has been blown!

[Stoney]

Louise, little bit offtopic but what pub in Mechelen are you talking about? I live there by the way...

[Comet]

Stoney - the pub is Ambrosia on the Markt. I assume it's still there, we were there last year and it was very popular. The food is good too, especially the chocolate mousse.

[Stoney]

never been there I think, will have to check it out later...

[Manuel]

Next year will we try and find another pub for Wednesday nights when Beertje is closed. If anyone has any suggestions of some good, centrally located bars in Brugge then I will be delighted to hear them.

And it is so that my image has been blown!

I would highly recommend that you try out the following pub when you are in Brugge again: "De Zolder". It's a real cosy and relaxed cellar pub (the funny thing is, when you translate 'De Zolder', it means 'the attic'). They have quite a good selection of Belgian beers, but ofcourse ... not as much as in 't Brugs Beertje. The owner used to work in 't Brugs Beertje before he started on his own ... so rest assured: no beers in the wrong glasses here!

You can find a map and some photos here:
http://users.pandora.be/filip.geerts/zolder/index.html

If you want more information on De Zolder, or other pubs, feel free to PM me. I've been living in Brugge for my whole life .

Grtz,
Emmanuel

[Comet]

Thanks for your reccommendation Manuel. We were wondering where to drink in Brugge on a Wednesday when Beertje is closed, but you have solved that question for us! We shall definitely try that bar, and it will hopefully get me away from the Sloeber for a night to try some other local delicacies :drink:

Welcome to Luchtzak!

[A340-600]

Real belgian beer = Jupiler

[Comet]

Real belgian beer = Jupiler

Is that the best you can do? Yes, I like Jupiler but I can get that at home, so when I have a choice I always drink something I cannot get in Scarborough (which is most types!)

[Comet]

I have just done a Google search on "De Zandloper" and "Brugge" and this review was in the top three entries on the first page (the other top ones were the original review where I later said the owners were liars and cheats) and the second was was a review on Airliner World forum telling people to avoid this place like the plague!

I do hope the owners of De Zandloper have done a Google search about their "bar"

[CSB]

well, there's no excuse for such malpractices in bruges. But unfortunately, there are some people over there who try to rip off tourists.

A friend of mine who was guiding a group of americans trough belgium, had a drink with them on the market in bruges on one of the terrasses. Being amongst americans he spoke english all the time, and also ordered the drinks in english. Well, once the bill came, it was more than twice the normal price. And apparantly the face of the waitress was priceless, when he pointed that out in fluent west-flemish

[sn26567]

I agree with you, CSB, that the market place in Bruges is the place where I hace seen the highest prices for beer in Belgium, and by far. Even when you speak fluent Flemish... (example: EUR8.00 for a double Grimbergen on draught!)

[Comet]

The Markt in Brugge is rip off territory. We have eaten there on occasions, but in 2004 we ate in places off the Markt and paid prices which were only half what we would have paid on the Markt. And the food was good as well. The stupid idiot in Zandloper was lucky the beers weren't poured over her bimbo head! Thankfully I know my beers and don't take cack from a stupid bimbo like she is. In Beertje the beers are poured in front of you so you know they are not mucking about. Now that is what I call a reyt damned bar!! And in just under 21 weeks I shall be in there again!

[Comet]

well, there's no excuse for such malpractices in bruges. But unfortunately, there are some people over there who try to rip off tourists.

A friend of mine who was guiding a group of americans trough belgium, had a drink with them on the market in bruges on one of the terrasses. Being amongst americans he spoke english all the time, and also ordered the drinks in english. Well, once the bill came, it was more than twice the normal price. And apparantly the face of the waitress was priceless, when he pointed that out in fluent west-flemish

Which place was it? Name and shame 'em is my philosophy in cases like this (like I named Olivier the pig ignorant waiter in Falstaff ) You get a real kick at the thought the con artists might be reading stuff like this if they do Google searches

[ryanvsnow]

When it comes to beer in the wrong glass I get quite disturber with HOOTERS. My room-mate and I frequent there alot. No matter which chain you go to or which beer you order you will always get a BUD LIGHT glass.
Most American bars use a highball glass for everything. I have quite a collection that I have commandeered over the years.