"Michael Vrijmoed turns vegetables into two-Michelin-star theatre on Vlaanderenstraat; book the €149 tasting to impress a client who has eaten everywhere."
The cucumber tagliatelle arrives uncut, and Michael Vrijmoed dresses it at the table with sea buckthorn berries and a herb oil, then sets a cream of Zeeland mussels beside it. That tableside finish is the house in miniature: French method, North Sea produce, vegetables given the lead role. Vrijmoed holds two Michelin stars at Vlaanderenstraat 22 in central Ghent, with dinner from €149.
Michael Vrijmoed worked as sous-chef under Peter Goossens at Hof van Cleve before opening his own room in 2014, and the kitchen reflects that pedigree: classic French sauce-work bent toward fermentation, pickling and the produce of Flanders. He earned his first Michelin star within a year of opening and a second star in 2024, a rare jump for a chef cooking this far from Brussels.
Vegetables carry the menu rather than garnish it. The vegetarian Purs menu is the clearest statement of intent, built on roots, alliums and ferments rather than luxury proteins. The signature cucumber tagliatelle with sea buckthorn and herb oil, finished tableside and paired with Zeeland mussels, samphire and razor clams, shows the range in one course. Dinner runs from €149 for six courses; a four-course lunch starts at €99 and a seven-course luxury lunch reaches €169. Wine is handled by a serious cellar that leans toward Burgundy and small Loire growers. For a two-star kitchen, the pacing is unhurried and the plates stay legible.
The dining room sits behind a discreet facade on Vlaanderenstraat, a short walk from the Kouter and Ghent's old centre. It seats a few dozen across a calm, contemporary space of pale wood, linen and low light, with tables spaced for private conversation rather than packed for turnover. The sound level stays at an easy hum, so a business table can talk without leaning in. Service is precise and warm, led by a floor team that explains each course without lecturing. There is no jacket requirement; smart dress is the norm. The tableside courses give the meal a sense of theatre without slowing it down.
Book Vrijmoed to impress a client because it does three things at once: it carries genuine two-star authority, it tastes like nowhere else thanks to the vegetable-led plates, and the room stays quiet enough to actually close the conversation. A guest who has eaten across Paris and Copenhagen will still find the cucumber tagliatelle a talking point. Pair the six-course dinner with the Burgundy flight and let the tableside service do the hosting. See our guide to the best vegetable-forward tasting menus and the wider best tasting-menu restaurants worldwide.
Not for a quick meal or a fixed budget: the shortest format is a six-course dinner from €149, and the kitchen sets the pace, not the table.
Yes, for anyone who takes fine dining seriously. Vrijmoed holds two Michelin stars and cooks vegetable-led menus you will not find elsewhere, with dinner from €149 for six courses. The value sits in the originality and the tableside theatre rather than luxury proteins. Treat it as the evening's main event and book a few weeks ahead.
Moderately hard. Vrijmoed seats only a few dozen and takes reservations through its own site at Vlaanderenstraat 22, typically a few weeks out, with Friday and Saturday the first to go. Weekday lunches are easier to land and cheaper, from €99 for four courses. Book early if you need a specific date or a larger table.
Smart, with no jacket requirement. Most guests dress for an occasion given the two stars and the price, but neat smart-casual is perfectly acceptable and tidy denim is fine. The room is contemporary rather than formal, so comfort matters more than a tie. Aim for the level you would wear to a serious business dinner.
Dinner starts at €149 per person for six courses before drinks. A four-course lunch is €99 and a seven-course luxury lunch is €169, which makes lunch the value entry point. Add a wine pairing and a couple should plan for roughly €450 to €600 all in. The menus are set, with vegetarian and dietary versions on request.
Yes. The room is quiet, the service hosts the table, and the cooking gives clients something memorable to discuss, which is exactly what a deal dinner needs. See our best restaurants to impress clients for more options. Book the six-course dinner and request a corner table when you reserve.
Via vrijmoed.be · book 2-4 weeks out
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Vrijmoed proves a two-star kitchen can lead with vegetables. See where it ranks among the world's best vegetable-forward tables.
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