We ended up coming to 't huidevettershuis for lunch largely because it was right across the canal from where we were staying - close and convenient and right in the heart of town. We got their slightly before they opened for lunch (at noon), but as soon as the door was open, we wandered in and asked if we could sit down. Given that the servers stayed mostly out of sight while we were there, they probably missed a good amount of business - several folks paused to read the menu but left when it seemed like it was empty - but the speed of the food coming out and the drinks being served was perfect. The brown dubbel beer from De Halve Maan was a perfect pairing for what turned out to be a stellar lunch (with a nice view to boot inside the cozy confines of the restaurant).
My wife ended up going with a la carte ordering, while I did the lunch special - an appetizer, main, and dessert for just 23 euros - a pretty solid deal. I started out with Flemish ham, which reminded me of prosciutto but a bit less fatty and moist and a bit more chewy. I liked it nonetheless, and it was a nice, light way to start. My wife's clams were absolutely delicious, though - the broth was extremely flavorful, and the clams themselves were extremely fresh. I went with the Flemish beef stew for the entree, and wow - I have to say that the stews here are marinated in such rich flavoring that is both sweet and savory, with a touch of sourness, that it is really hard to put into words. The meat was incredibly succulent as well, and it soaked up a lot of the broth, making each bite even more moist. I also got a side of fries that, while plain by themselves, made for excellent dipping instruments. My wife got the Bruges waterzooi - chicken, not fish, as the star - and I was blown away by how good it was. Using meat instead of chicken seemed to add a bit more depth and just a hint more heaviness to the broth, making it much richer than the version I had endured last year in Brussels. Dessert was an excellent finish to the meal - 2 scoops of chocolate mousse, with a dollop of whipped cream between them. The mousse looks like ice cream, but each bite reveals the delicious smoothness of the mousse, and when paired with the whipped cream, it was perfection.
This is definitely worth a visit for either lunch or dinner. As a casual dining spot that is a bit tiny (the dining room on the ground level is not huge, and I am not sure there is much space upstairs), it has a very cozy feel to it, and when you are chowing down on good 'ole Flemish cooking, you really do feel like you are having a truly authentic Belgian experience. Highly recommended, and a spot I will certainly visit if/when I am back in town. read more