When the house which used to belong to the head of the Du Parc hosiery factory suddenly became up for grabs, Toon De Backer (a former business coach) spotted an opportunity to usher the town of Aalst into a new era. The result? A café-restaurant that looks straight out of a Wes Anderson set, thanks to interior designer Kelly Claessens – think lemon-yellow awnings, Muller Van Severen vases, multicolored Bruno Rey chairs and fresh cut flowers on the tables. What better backdrop for the classic brasserie fare, thoughtfully revisited with just the right amount of kitsch: lemon sole goujons and homemade tartar sauce, pulled pork croquettes with smoky BBQ sauce and crunchy crudités with cocktail sauce (yes, really!) to get things going; then a vegetarian tikka masala packed with sweet potato, chickpeas, dates, carrot, spring onions and warming cinnamon, subtly dazzling despite a slightly bold curry yogurt; before an old-school vanilla crème brûlée, with a perfectly golden crackling topping! // Lina Megalinia

FEELING THIRSTY? A selection of classic cocktails (Pimm’s No.1, Negroni, non-alcoholic Opius gin and tonic, €8-13), carefully chosen wines (Bervini Italian sparkling red at €8 a glass, or Vert ’22, a Belgian white blend from Hoenshof at €40 a bottle) and locally brewed Witkap Stimulo beer (€4 for 250 ml).
PRICE: Sharing plates €3-22, mains €17-35, desserts €7-15.