Bistro De Schilder, Brugge

FORTUNE favoured us on the evening that we happened upon this lovely Jan Van Eyckplein restaurant after a frustrating search for restaurants on a bitterly cold February evening. Sheltered from the biting wind, we went on to enjoy one of the most simple, delightful meals for which one could hope.

The venue was empty save for the husband-and-wife proprietor and one table of locals enjoying a glass of local beer. We were seated next to the window and - gladly - a radiator. The gentleman proprietor was prompt in taking our drinks order for a heavy, frothy Belgian beer and a hot chocolate - both ideal antidotes to the temperatures outside.

Foregoing a starter, I enjoyed a supremely tender, perfectly-cooked Filet Mignon served with fries and salad. My partner opted for a Coq au Vin which arrived with croquettes and a pear salad.

Both meals were sensational. I asked for my steak to be cooked 'medium', hoping it would be slightly on the pinker side. Indeed it was. The juices flowed abundantly, the meat's colour was spot-on and the flavour was remarkable. Across the table, the Coq au Vin went down just as well. The pear salad, a trifle unusual, added a mouthwatering sweetness to the rich dish and the entire serving was flavourful and indulgent, just as Coq au Vin ought to be.

Having relished every second of our delightful mains, we opted to see if de Schilder's success would pass on to their desserts. I plumped for a creme brulee whilst my partner went for a perennial favourite of hers in the chocolate mousse. Certainly not to my liking, the mousse was a triple chocolate affair which left my partner's mouth alive with every bite. The way to a woman's heart is through chocolate. And this was love at first bite.

My creme brulee was shallow but bursting with strong flavours and a touch of cinnamon. The serving size, given the richness of the dish, was ideal and left me feeling pleasantly satisfied and full of plaudits for the dish's delivery.

The meal and drinks came in at a touch over €50 which, for Bruges, is not an overly expensive tab, especially when taking it on delivers you a meal as good as the one at de Schilder. Happily, the restaurant filled up towards the end of our meal and as we left at 9.00 p.m., there was a queue forming for tables.

Clearly a success and deservedly so, de Schilder is an easy option for great food done properly. It would appear reservations would be necessary if travelling in season or on a Saturday night. But do make a reservation. This is somewhere to be taken seriously.

Just out for the main shopping area on the edge of a quiet canal this Bistro type restaurarnt provided a relaxing first night place to eat very close to our hotel (Bryghia). The waiter was lovely and helpful, the moules fresh and really good - perhaps they all are in Brugge, but these were the best I've had. When there's as much choice as there is in Brugge it was good to realise we'd picked a good one. We ate outside as the evening was warm - very pleasant.

Favorite Dish: Moules - in white wine, with fairly average frites. I'm guessing at prices as I'm not sure of US exchange rates. Less than 20 Euros for moules - probably the high side of average - but worth it.

I am living in the Netherlands at the moment, and was in Brugge with my mother, who was visiting me for the holidays. We passed this lovely looking tea room restaurant several times walking by Jan van Eyckplein, and finally stopped in for lunch. It's a very cute, warm place and we were very hungry. After 45 minutes of waiting for our food, watching others who came in after us be served, and trying to get anyone's attention we finally spoke with an older man, who perhaps was the proprieter. I can say with utmost sincerity that I have never been treated so rudely nor so unfairly, not to mention he was also rude to mother!

I have lived all over the world from Southeast Asia to Europe, and I can say I will never go back to this restaurant. We simply asked where our meal was, and he stated loudly that his son, our waiter, had forgotten to put in the order. That's ok, people make mistakes, but he went on to yell at us that we weren't the only people in the place, and that it wasn't his fault and if we didn't want to wait then we could just pay for our drinks and leave. This is all without us saying barely a sentence. I was appalled. It was completely uncalled for, and I sincerely hope other visitors will boycott the place and teach the man a lesson.

His place of business depends on tourists, and I am mortified that he can get away with treating customers in this fashion. His son actually ran to us as we were leaving and begged us to stay, and we told him the only reason we were leaving was because his father had been so incredibly rude to us -- not because we had to wait for our food.