Is there anything more Belgian than a proper frituur? Not a chance! And Mathieu Brouckaert, who took the helm of Frituur Franky some fifteen years ago, certainly wouldn’t disagree. At this legendary Ostend institution, now more than thirty years old (!), the tireless owner preps his potatoes from scratch every day, sends them through an old-school fry cutter, then plunges them into vegetable fat until perfectly golden and crisp. The locals know a good thing when they see it, happily lining up for their paper cone of fries. But that’s not all! The burgers are well worth a bite too, starting with the Franky Special, generously loaded with egg, bacon, tomato, onion and pickles, or the Mont Blanc, stuffed with a thick slab of gloriously gooey raclette. Next time you hit Ostend, you’ll know exactly where to go to get your fingers greasy. · Zoé Ripaille

Feeling thirsty? The usual suspects: Coke (€2.60 for 330 ml), fritz-kola (€3.60 for 330 ml), a mystery crisp pilsner (€2.70 for 330 ml), or the beer of the moment (Braven Apostel Tripel that day, €5.20 for 330 ml).

Price: Fries €3.40 to €4.20, hamburgers €4.50 to €13.80, sauces €1.20 to €4.50.