Terminus

Terminus! Last stop, dinner’s ready! Owner of this neo-roadside diner posted up along the edge of the highway, in addition to a nearby minimart and a wine shop, Pieter Verheyde (a former sommelier at Hof Van Cleve) has got you covered! And even if the matriarch Kathleen Vanderbeke hung up her apron in 2020 after 35 years of good and loyal service behind the stoves, her son now keeps an eye on things. His credo? Seasonal cuisine and first-class local meats, starting with the barbecue. It’s not surprising that the place attacts a colorful crowd (hardcore truckers, star chefs, families, businessmen, gastronauts dining solo, etc.), which flocks here every day, always wanting more! For us, this time: well-fried pork brains with lettuce and sauce gribiche; pink pigeon breast served with crispy sweetbreads, foie gras and fresh fries; and sole meunière with coleslaw, glistening in a tasty vinaigrette. And for that little something extra, a pot of frying butter – the height of nostalgia. And to close the deal, an honest rum baba. There’s no need make a song and dance about the place, let’s keep things fuss-free! // Casimir

FEELING THIRSTY? A real bible of bottles that’s any wine lover’s dream: La Douve, a Belgian white from Entre Deux Monts (€28 a bottle), Sierra du Sud, a Côtes-du-Rhône red from Gramenon (€50) or even Les Renardes, a 2017 Corton from Jean-Claude Boisset (€160).

PRICE: Dish of the day €15 (weekday lunch), menus €37, €55 and €80, à la carte €33-88.