Märch - Leuven Diestse 26

Restaurants nearby

• EED★ Michelin EED is the epitome of minimalist. Philippe Heylen strips his dishes to retain only the most essential ingredients, so don’t expect fussy frills or superfluous fillers. The spotlight is on the quality of the produce and the veggie side dishes are as important as the main ingredient. Chef Heylen gets right down to business with lashings of originality. He manages to surprise us with familiar flavours, like a rib steak that is paired with Asian notes of sesame and caramelised honey. Or how about a yellow beetroot, coated in earthy tonburi, a sweet mango jelly and a kimchi of hispi cabbage? A subt104m
• EssenCiel★ Michelin Established in a grand town house, EssenCiel is the lovingly created brainchild of youthful Niels Brants and Romina Charels. A smart contemporary style, mingling purity and elegance without losing sight of their casual hallmark vibe, sets the scene. A seat on the patio near the vegetable garden is heavenly in fine weather. Chef Brants rolls out the full gamut of his culinary know-how combined with a flair for unearthing fantastic ingredients. He avows a passion for vegetables and the intricate craftsmanship of his unorthodox recipes is part of his hallmark. Examples include a mind-blowing asso553m
• EST★ Michelin Chef Abel Demeestere and Laurence De Smet in charge of the front of house have chosen to write a chapter of their own in the illustrious story of the Arenberg house, whilst respecting its timeless traditions. The former Jesuit farmstead overlooking a garden and appointed in works of art is both smart and contemporary. The house classics continue to grace the à la carte menu in particular, exemplified by pork neck fillet.Chef Abdel cannot be rivalled for his skill with big-boned traditional fare, as his fascinating sauces and stocks bear witness, although he is not averse to slipping in the odd3.4km
• Couvert Couvert★ Michelin Couvert Couvert is the ambitious story of Folmer and Folmer. Brothers Laurent and Vincent greet guests in a softly lit, airy venue of Scandinavian inspiration. The interior is stylish, the terrace peaceful and the service attentive, however the singularity of this restaurant resides in the brothers’ highly individual creative streak. Together they perform a culinary show of cutting-edge precision and strewn with daring. For example, they may pair a crispy skinned breast of guinea fowl with a warm salad of artichoke hearts, pistachio, sweet earthy vernal grass and hints of walnuts and hay, whil3.6km
• FurbettoBib Gust and Jasper have established their friendly eatery a stone’s throw from Heverlee railway station in a smart town house. Their love of unfussy Italian cooking shines through as you watch them wield their magic in the open-plan kitchen. Homemade is the name of the game here, underscored by a constant quest for superlative local produce. After nibbling on a delicious focaccia appetiser, dig into homemade pasta and subtle dishes such as beef tartare jazzed up with cream of anchovies. You can’t go wrong with French toast and buttermilk ice cream to finish. Choose your wine from the bottles on t2.1km
• Atelier Noun★ Michelin You will immediately feel at home in Bert and Sandra’s workshop. No sooner are you over the threshold, than you are greeted by a warm, snug interior done up in soft colours. The venue’s serene Japanese vibe is framed by the view of the pretty garden and the splendid summer terrace. This calm extends to the plate, although the deceptive simplicity hides a fiercely structured technical composition.Chef Castermans pays a highly personal homage to the ingredient. Free of fussy frills, his food is uncluttered, occasionally complex and often dotted with sensitively balanced umami nuances that are hi6.8km
• Bistro Tribunal "Chez Yf" Have you ever heard of a meat sommelier? Well, in this traditional bistro, one such will help you make your choice among the fine cuts of meat supplied by the prestigious Rondou butchers. A refrigerated meat display counter and a lobster tank catch the eye. Rather than prissy, complex preparations, you can expect spot-on cooking, freshly prepared sauces and regular refills of hot, crunchy French fries. The wine list (splendid selection of Bordeaux wines) is at bargain prices.134m
• Convento Wijnbistro Pick out a bottle from the wine shop, take a seat in the pleasant bistro-lounge and get ready to soak up the communicative enthusiasm of Convento. The sommeliers get a real kick out of explaining the wines, hence the low corkage fee. The straightforward, market-fresh menu is perfectly matched to the establishment’s stripped-back concept and stars a fine selection of veggies and authentic flavours.422m
• Zarza Zarza, an authentic cosy bolthole with a pretty town garden, is the type of place that inspires loyalty. Chef Cordemans pampers his diners with flawlessly sourced ingredients. The patriotic line-up of Belgian fare is jazzed up by the occasional dash of creativity, illustrated by masterfully cooked langoustine, paired with a gutsy shellfish jus and crunchy courgettes. Sophisticated yet full-bodied flavours. The lunchtime menus are always a safe bet!472m
• Guzzi This characteristic town house with a small garden is a stalwart champion of Italian simplicity. The chefs add a new, yet respectful spin to authentic flavours. The menu is devised according to the availability of fresh, preferably organic ingredients, occasionally jazzed up with a Mediterranean twist. We recommend their sourdough pizzas cooked in a clay oven – your tastebuds won’t know what has hit them!543m

Includes Michelin / Black Pearl / guide picks (reference quality, no prices); data from Overture, Michelin Guide and others.