Forget lunch boxes with sad looking sandwiches… The old school refectory of the École Normale de Lierre has been transformed into a much more tempting canteen, thanks to Nils Proost and Annelies Tersago – classy AF. After 10 years running their restaurant, Petit Cuistot, the pair wanted something new with Scandi-chic vibes, brought to life by Lawrence Auwerx from dhulst’ architect studio. Here, old school becomes cool: the vintage desk sitting in the entrance belonged to Annelies’ great-grandfather, Louis Dos, the chairs come from the math department and the cutlery trolley has been glossed in terrazzo by Studio Beton in Heist Op Den Berg. After a few appetizers (sublime asparagus from Lierse Asperges, sliced and served with smoked egg custard and parsley oil), tender cod with morel mushrooms doused in a sauce made from last year’s (fermented) asparagus peelings and the first wild garlic shoots of the season; and for dessert, a rhubarb and beet jam with magnolia granita. // Kiko Zushi

FEELING THIRSTY? Bottles that bang: Jacques Lassaigne Champagne (€16 a glass), Sol, an Austrian orange wine by Michael Gindl (€62), and Perzik Geel, a rare peach lambic from 3 Fonteinen (€10 a glass). Otherwise, opt for L’ Antidote, a sparkling mix of Beaujolais grapes, apples and herbal infusions (€9 a glass).
PRICE: Menus €68 (lunch) and €98 (dinner), cheeses €16, food and wine pairing €46, BOB €36.