We were in Brugge for a couple of days. We were looking for a restaurant that opened on the earlier side and Bistro Zwart Huis popped up. The food was good. My family got the Filet Mignon and they all liked theirs and they were cooked to order. I got the Kangaroo steak (see photo). Everything was tasty. The Kangaroo is likely a dish I wouldn't get again as it just wasn't my thing. Perhaps it was just the sauce/gravy and the Kangaroo was good. I'm not sure. Service was a little slow and the restaurant wasn't that busy. I just don't think they were in a rush for anything. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation. read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - Kangaroo steak with port sauce, chicory, and croquettes - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV

Such a fun spot! We were starving, it was pouring rain, and we ended up at a cool Jazz House? We jokingly told them we wanted somewhere warm to sit, and the server sat us right under a heater. It was divine. We warmed up, had some beer, both ordered the risotto, which I wouldn't say was a risotto but was insanely good. It was a fun atmosphere, a cool spot, and perfect place to duck into. If we had had another night, it was our top place to visit again. read more

Once again, dear readers... I am torn between a 3 & a 5. The meal started as a 5. Iur seater/Aerver Maitre De sat us quickly (actualy we chose the table, but he was fine with where we chose). We were served a plate of olive tapenad, but the rolls didn't come for another 10-15 mins(?!). Then, our server did not come back for at least 20-30 mins. Again(?!). The beef stew, goat cheese salad, veg risotto, fries & seafood consumé were mind blowingly good. So... don't be in a hurry & you will enjoy it!! read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - Byron chillin'. - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV

Found this place on Yelp and liked the variety of food. When we stopped by they made a big deal about making reservations and then being out by a certain time for other people. So we were thinking this place was going to be awesome. Here is what I will say the place is super cool on the inside as far as ambiance and feel. The food I would say is average at best. For our appetizers we got their cheese plate and their olive plate. We thought it would be a variety of cheeses and olives. It was basically one type of cheese and green and Kalamata olives. It was good nothing to write home about. For dinner I ordered their "striploin" which is a NY Strip with French fries and a salad. The steak didn't have much flavor not like American steaks, if it wasn't for the herb butter it would have been bland. The French fries were fine but they cook it in the same oil as their seafood which changes the flavor. Their salad dressing was not my thing. My wife got their chicken caesar salad and she said it was good but it wasn't Caesar salad dressing as we know it in America. The thing this place has going for it is the ambiance otherwise the food is just alright. read more

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A very friendly and hard-working staff served out party of about 30 guests. The food was well prepared and tasty. there was a good selection of beer as well. The interior of the restaurant is a bit dark (it's painted black) but I suspect that is the vibe they are going for given the name. read more

Loved the food, loved the decor, the establishment in general, but staff could've been slightly nicer.. the menu wasn't extensive but we found things we liked. The seafood stew was amazing and the goat cheese salad came with a huge chunk of very well grilled wheel of goat cheese, among other things- which was delicious and super filling. Would've loved to have dinner again but unfortunately we had other plans. Btw, the water is bottled water only and costs 5€. read more

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Good food, good portions. Belgian classics. Be prepared to stay awhile. They have live music on Friday evenings (cover charge).

Just north of the Markt, Zwart Huis is an upscale restaurant located on a less touristy street. The restaurant is located up a flight of old, original stairs, so step carefully (but admire the flickering candles on the steps). Once inside you'll find the environment a little dark, but extremely inviting. Big windows at the front, jazz artwork on the walls, candles and chandeliers make the restaurant fun and cozy. We had a variety of mains but there were two standouts for slightly different reasons: the kangaroo and the rabbit. The rabbit was delicious. Moist, flavorful and cooked perfectly in Bourgogne des Flandres beer. It was served with an oven baked apple, which was a perfect pairing, and a side of croquettes. The kangaroo is one of their specialities, but it was a bit disappointing. Having never had kangaroo before we didn't know what to expect flavor wise: it was pretty mild flavored. However, it was also dry. Not sure if that's a refection of being overcooked, or not cooking it with something to add fat/moisture. But while interesting, it's not something any of us are likely to order again. Nevertheless, the location, the atmosphere, and the majority of what we ate would lead us to recommend Zwart Huis. read more

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It's been awhile since our visit, but Zwart huis was definitely one of our dining highlights in Bruges. We initially thought it would be a fun place to check out as we based a lot of our sights around the movie 'In Bruges' (duh) but were happy to discover that the food was actually legit. We walked in on an early evening during our stay and ordered a few different things to share. The steak with peppercorn sauce was excellent and I ended up ordering the steak tartare as a main since it's usually one of my favorite things and it was also delicious. I didn't think it was too fancy, but it is on the more upscale side of things so just be prepared for that. I look forward to a future Belgium trip and a visit to Zwart huis :) read more

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We happened upon this place while visiting Bruges and staying at the Hotel du Theatre. The most AMAZING food. Everything from the service to the atmosphere to the food is absolutely incredible. I was hesitant to try the kangaroo steak at the recommendation of the owner. I'm so glad I did! The steak was cooked perfectly. The sauce it came with was rich yet somehow light. The croquettes were delicious. I love this place and will definitely be back! It's a must try! read more

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Summary: Service is friendly and attentive, but initially came off as condescending. Flemish stew was chewy and unimpressive, but spicy Thai prawns and shrimp bisque were really good. Prices are a bit high, but food is filling and well portioned. There is live Jazz playing at times. My wife and I went here on a Sunday evening at around 5:45pm after concluding a tour around the city. We saw the reviews and thought that we'd give it a try. When we went up the stairs and entered the restaurant, we were greeted and asked if we had a reservation. We said that we did not, and the place (which was pretty large) had only two tables occupied with a couple of people at each, so we figured they should be able to accommodate us. The gentleman looked around and then turned back to us and said we could dine there, but we would have to relinquish our table by 7:15pm. Given that intro, we made it a point to be done as quickly as possible. We were soon seated right next to one of the two other occupied tables and given menus. Jazz music played in the background as we reviewed the menu and decided what to order. A few minutes later we were placing our orders for still water, shrimp bisque, the Flemish stew, and the spicy Thai prawns. Inside the restaurant, there is a dungeon-like feel. This is because of the black paint, real candles at each table, dark wood and metal, and black uniforms of staff. It wasn't off-putting, but it definitely had a vibe. Not too long after, the still water bottle and bisque were delivered to the table. The bisque was very fishy, but also very tasty. It was nice and hot, and a good portion, albeit very price at about 12 Euros. It took quite a while for the main dishes to be delivered, so my wife was very hungry by the time that they arrived. She absolutely loved her prawns, whereas I was not so excited with the Flemish stew, which I had had a better version of at Le Bistro in Brussels for about 2/3 the price. The beef was chewy and tough. The sauce and fries were good though. Throughout the meal, we were visited by multiple servers to drop off food, pick up dishes, ask how everything was, inquire if we needed anything, etc. I believe the manager even paid us a visit to check in. Despite that, by the time we left at around 7pm and 60 Euros poorer, the place had only increased by another 4 or so occupants, and the occupants of the table right next to us had vacated. Suffice it to say, it was a mixed experience for us, but the staff does seem to care about its patrons. read more

I recommend a reservation. We stopped in and were lucky to get a table. It was very busy. But I'm glad we were able to enjoy the food here. We had the scallop app and for entrees we had the rabbit and salmon. The scallops were a bit small but tasted very good. The rabbit and salmon were both yummy Enjoyed very much and recommend. read more

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Fantastic!! Found this place through yelp/written guides/recommendations from locals. You know there's hype when it comes from that many sources. It lived up to the hype. Came in around 7:15PM on a Wednesday, and there was still lots of open seating. Ordered not 5 minutes later, with a beer and dish recommendation from the waiter. I kinda narrowed my choices down by looking at yelp photos and what people next to me were eating. They swung by with complimentary tuna paste and house pickled cucumbers--this was quickly devoured, along with the bread and butter. Delicious. I would've paid for another one if I had the stomach space to fit it. Not a huge beer drinker, but got the Chimay triple (8.5%) based on waiter rec. He warned me it was strong, but I really liked it. Not too bitter. The owner came by a couple times to just greet his customers. Thought it was super sweet. I was itching to get out by 8:00PM to catch a tour, so I wanted food to be out quick. I didn't want to rush them, so I just sat and waited without letting them know my time crunch. Food came out at 7:48PM, and I was out the door by 7:59PM. Both a waitress and the owner came by to see if anything was wrong when I asked for the check so soon. They clearly care!!! Finally, the food. The waterzooi is so fucking delicious. I'm not a huge fish person, so I was worried that I might regret this dish, but the fish was delicious. It's some mixed seafood (fish, a single scallop, mussels, prawns) with some fingerling potatoes in a white wine and butter sauce. The sauce wasn't that heavy, like I imagined it would be. I ate every single drop of that dish up...in less than 10 minutes. I was so focused on eating, and honestly, I would eat this dish 6 dinners in a row. It was that good. Make this a stop on your trip! Just fit in more than 45 minutes for dinner to truly enjoy the European lifestyle. read more

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We had dinner here at a reasonably busy time on a Wednesday in mid April. They were fairly empty when we showed up, but were able to find us a table, and it filled up very quickly within the next 20-30 minutes... Very nice authentic old space. Dark, spacious, and relaxing minus a bit of excess noise. Decent service, but it was that floating/table sharing style that always seems to cause confusion at some point.  Not too hard to find, and was nice that it's not near all the crowds... All in, the place was OK.  Fell short of my expectations based on the Yelp reviews. Maybe a 3.5, but I can't see rounding up like I often do. Sure, the ambiance is great, and they apparently offer live music, but I wanted a good dinner, and that part fell short on both of our dishes. read more

Stopped in on a whim for dinner, we were going to eat downstairs in the more dark private looking dining room. Turn out upstairs is the same menu just wrapped in a larger more relaxed environment. We had a reservation for downstairs and cancelled it in favor of stand-by upstairs seating, however the manager upstairs was so great about getting us in and getting us a great table next to the window. The service: Prompt and attentive but almost invasive because they were busy...I didn't love that, I mean in Europe I like that you can have a relaxed dining experience. The Food: Well the mains were delicious, highly recommend the Tagliatelle with scallops, it was spot on and the scallops were cooked unbelievably perfectly! and the drinks, of course it's Brugge, the beer is great! read more

Yelp even works in Bruges! Would have never found this place without it. Tucked away on a cobble stone street. Didn't know what to order and asked the helpful server to choose. We had the fish stew in wine cream sauce and the meat stew along with the best Cesar salad ever. Really cool decor, friendly staff and cool vibe.... Definitely a must read more

They refused to allow my wife to eat an appetizer as a meal. They made cosmos that were fine... And were served on the rocks? Nachos were corn chips served with three tiny remekins; one with sour cream, one with avocado paste, one with sweet tomato sauce. It took 30 minutes to get said chips and 45 minutes to find out that the "chef" was refusing to make the appetizer. It seemed to be empty for a reason. Avoid this place like the plague. read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - These were cosmos.... I guess they are served on the rocks now. The only decent part of this creepy place. - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV

We enjoyed a wonderful meal here!! The service was super friendly and they spent some time chatting with us. We had the best seat in the house in front of the fireplace. Check this place out for its atmosphere and lovely decor, friendly service, Amazing Food and what else can We say...they served our favorite beers What's not to love!? I understand they have live music here, look into that and make a reservation! read more

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Great atmosphere, great food, professional service. This is a very popular place, for good reason, so it's best to make a reservation, especially on weekends during busy tourist season. We started with the escargot. Delicious!! For my entree I had the waterzooi (pronounced vatter-zoy) which was a yummy traditional fish dish. I wanted to eat something local and unique to Belgium. It wasn't as "watery" as I expected from the name. They refer to it as a fish stew so I was picturing it being more of a thin, soupy sauce, maybe served in a bowl. In actuality it was a collection of lovely seafood on a plate -- prawns, scallops, a piece of salmon and a filet of sole (I think) with some potatoes and a white sauce on top (not at all soupy). It was quite delicious and I would definitely recommend but I wouldn't think of it as "stew." I'm sure every place has its own interpretation of this Flemish dish. I never ordered it anyplace else so I don't know if it is ever meant to be "stewy" or if maybe Americans have a different meaning for stew. My husband had the Irish Ribeye which he really enjoyed. We also ordered a glass of wine and he had a Trappist beer, which he loved. This is a beautiful restaurant inside, really wide open and inviting, buzzing with people. Even if you don't come for dinner, come check out the bar and enjoy the atmosphere. read more

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This place is a locals hit barely off the tourist map. The owner is quite a character. Everyone is very nice. Great atmosphere. You can wait at the bar for your table while trying the best beer Bruges has to offer. The massive Caesar salad is anything but Caesar. It has bacon, chicken, eggs, olives, anchovies and 100 other things inside that taste amazing. Onion soup? AWESOME! My girl and I split everything including the salmon steak served up on a stack of delicious pesto pasta. This place is a hit. When in Bruges! Do it! read more

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Food is mediocre at best. Filet lacked flavor. No seasoning at all on food. Service needs help. Our table alone had 3 separate servers, almost as if they were short handed. A verbal fight ensued by some guy in a red shirt/host and a blond female server/hostess and she stormed out. Good and unique jazz music spot....but that is it. read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV

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The vibe inside this place is pretty cool! It's very speak easy prohibition type of looking place. The service was good. Even though we didn't have a reservation they were able to accommodate us. Brussels known for their beer we had to give it a try. The beer we ordered was beyond good and I'm not a beer person at all. The food wasn't the best. I had the beef stew and it just didn't cut it for me. Just to say I couldn't finish it. My friend had the fish stew and she couldn't finish it. I don't think I'll come back to this place for meals mostly for drinks. read more

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Zwart had a great vibe, which worked very well for our large group. It was dark inside, with a very relaxed attitude, and a lively crowd. Food might be a real life 3.5 star rating, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt because the food in Bruges wasn't very good, on the whole. We started with the escargots and the croquettes, which were both perfectly fine. I had to get the kangaroo, given the rarity of that item on American menus. I don't have much to compare it to, but this dish wasn't all that flavorful, although it was tender. Everyone in the group seemed happy enough, but no one was blown away. read more

Great place to eat and enjoy live music. Great Jazz and rock and roll band . The band played very good and the food was over our expectations from a place like that read more

Delicious! Best meal in Bruges so far. We started with some escargot, along with the complementary pork pate, house-marinated cucumbers and bread and butter. For my meal, I had the fish stew and it was mind-blowing. For dinner, I ordered the beef stew and fries from the kids' menu for my two-year old. Boy, was it amazing -- so tender and flavorful -- I think it's the exact same thing they make for adults but a smaller portion which was fantastic...and really big. I took the leftovers back to my husband and he had a meal out of it. My sister had the ribeye which she also enjoyed. All around, a great meal. Be prepared to be there for a couple of hours because the food takes a very long time to prepare. If you're bringing kids, the staff is super friendly to them, but bring your own crayons and paper or movies on your phone to pass the time. Cool atmosphere and the building is from the 1400s. We were downstairs and there's a very cool bar you can get to if you go next door (same restaurant). Fish stew. Fish stew. Fish stew. That is all. read more

I ordered the steak tartare and it was amazing. I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for authentic Flemish food. When we got here the seating area was completely empty, but by the end of our meal it had build up a little bit. Definitely a hole in the wall type of place, but it was worth the trouble finding. read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV

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Great experience. The service was very professional and friendly, felt like a valued customer. And the food was delicious. Enjoyed the atmosphere also. read more

Fabulous. The owner and the servers are fabulous. Food is spectacular and great tap beer selection. read more

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We enjoyed a very nice meal here. Good diversity of fish, salads, meat. The house salad was my preferred one. Children menus are also available. read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV

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I happened to go there because of yelp reviews. I had a wonderful time. I'm an older woman and I went by myself on Saturday night. I didn't have reservations but I did get there early. The staff was so wonderful. I felt like I had my brothers watching out for me. They were always asking me if everything was OK do I need anything else. The food was great and there was a lot of it. And the place ended up getting full and yet every person there, in my estimation, got wonderful service. I highly recommend it. I wish I lived in Bruges I would go more often. Five stars in my estimation. read more

FYI we had no reservation... Just arrived for day trip... wanted great food away from the square. This place was fantastic! Atmosphere was jazzy and relaxed. We started with the beef carpaccio... wonderful, whimsical and tasty... Husband had the Belgian beef stew... I had the salmon tagliatelle... both were comforting and delicious. Chef was absolutely lovely and the relaxed atmosphere was a great! Chef thank you for introducing us to "cocktail" sauce alternative to mayo or ketchup! We might never go back! Enjoy... warning:you might want to stay a while and enjoy the music. read more

Likely our best meal in Belgium! The Waterzooi was phenomenal - full of delicious seafood (fish, shrimp, scallops) in a delicious broth/gravy. We also had the puff pastry salmon, also super tasty - the pastry was light, crisp, and didn't get soggy in the sauce. Wonderful experience - we will be back when we visit Belgium in the future! read more

Great attentive service, great food, Kangaroo is Greta, good escargot. We went Saturday night and liked it so much we went back Sunday. Make a reservation, you'll need it. After spending a week in Bruges, this was our fav by far. read more

Kind service and great settings. We did not know what to expect since Bruges had some real tourist traps, but trust me, this is not one of them. For larger groups I recommend the upstairs medieval room, the place dates from 1400, downstairs is more intimate. Food a good, wine selection good. I'll be back read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV

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This place was a bit chaotic. We came in and no one really helped us. Eventually sat at the bar and got some menus. Food was very good. Highly recommend reservations! read more

First, definitely make a reservation if you plan to come here for dinner. The place gets packed, and busy, and a little loud, yet the service kept up with the pace and volume like the better American upscale casual restaurant chains. Individual waiter service didn't seem to slow things down, though as other diners have said, you have to "chase" someone down for a bill. I have found this tends to be a cultural thing. Continental Europeans often find it the height of rudeness to be presented a bill without asking for it. The food was pretty good and can be described as gastropub style. Hearty fare, and simple, with a few creative touches. I had a seafood pasta dish with a spicy twinge. Very tasty and perfectly cooked scallops. Candles on tables and the decor and high ceilings give the place a nice atmosphere. The conversation fills the room - it's a nice place to enjoy with your fellow conference attendees or family a few blocks away from Market square. Even a romantic dinner, just don't expect it to be quiet! read more

I've visited this place twice so far. Food has been very good. Staff provides excellent service and what appears to be the owner is one that definitely adds to the character of this place. Nice blues music, good free starters and nice decor. You'll miss this place if you judge it just by street. I've come later in the evening where maybe there is more of a bustle and leave after close, always sitting at the bar. read more

Loved this place! Great decor, atmosphere and fabulous wait staff. The Waterzooi was so amazing and cheap local beer. They were also so great with my kids. read more

Food was good; however, it took a long time fo our main courses to arrive after the appetizers. Service was OK. I was expecting a better experience for my investment and also based on existing reviews. The restaurant was busy so maybe that's why the service was just OK. read more

Excellent steak and frites! Drink was tasty too. Maybe a little pricey but I didn't care. read more

Bistro Zwart Huis - Mojito - Belgian Near Me - Bruges, VWV