We asked the woman running our lodging for her recommendations of the city, particularly for…read moredinner. Since we didn't have reservations anywhere (and they're very big on reservations), and we wanted to try the local cuisine, we chose Multatuli. She did call to get us a 6:30 reservation. The space itself is pretty charming, and fairly large and open compared to many places. We ordered the traditional local food, wanting to sample it our first night there. I got the waterzooi, and Jimmy got the stoverij. I was thrilled that my waterzooi was not just fish stew, but flaky, perfectly cooked fish with fresh vegetables (see the pictures!). It was perfect for a healthful, rejuvenating meal after traveling and dealing with jetlag. Jimmy's stoverij, served with frites and salad, was also good - hearty, tender meat with flavorful sauce. We got the house beers, as recommended with the dishes, and they did not disappoint. Service was friendly and spoke English well. We were tired and eager to get moving, so we paid at the host stand rather than waiting for the check at our table.

This place is situated outside of the city centre but is well worth the wander (besides Ghent isn't…read morebig so really it's only a 10 min walk). It's well worth it for a more relaxed local vibe and they serve traditional Belgian food in massive portions! I can highly recommend their venison stew and would also suggest not going for a starter as the portions really are massive - a big salad on the site and then a whole bowl of potato croquettes. The food isn't fancy - just good home cooking. The prices are about 15 euros for a main so not cheap but not expensive - really good value as my bf and I could have shared a meal between us! Unfortunately I was so full I couldn't even look at the dessert menu. A definite recommendation!