Craenenburg — Restaurant in Bruges

Just another review coming by calling the service here very poor.

It may appear that this restaurant has a respectable rating on review sites, but if you sort reviews by most recent, it seems that in recent months reviews have been disproportionately negative with particular emphasis on the bad attitude of the waiters and waitresses. Incidentally, earlier this year, this restaurant changed ownership (it is no longer owned by the family who owned it for decades; the website is defunct).

I have patroned this restaurant multiple times before in years gone by as a place for lunch and, just as the older reviews would suggest, I enjoyed it.

But never again.

This time, I was perfectly polite upon entering the restaurant, addressing them in Flemish. But I ended up getting up and leaving before ordering anything because the older, brunette, long-haired scowling waitress exhibited nastiness by patronisingly calling me rude (in the ugliest tone of voice) and telling me to stop merely for raising my hand to try and attract her attention (apparently she was very stressed and busy within the half-empty restaurant). Then, as I was getting up to leave, she subjected me to ageist insulting, calling me a 'high-schooler' (I am significantly older).

Her reasoning was that in Belgium it is considered rude to raise one's hand in a restaurant. She then gave the classic 'when you visit another country, you should learn that country's culture'. Firstly, that isn't. I've visited Belgium over a dozen times in my life, that claim is simply untrue and I can't find anything about such a custom online. Secondly, even if her claim was the case, she's working in a major tourist hotspot with visitors from all over the world thus ought to anticipate different cultural customs.

There are countless other restaurants in the square and nearby. Don't let your desire for a good view or whatnot spoil your day by leaving yourself subjected to nasty treatment by such...

If you're thinking of dining here solo, I highly advise to go elsewhere! Very disrespectful behaviour from the service. Just wanted to get dinner by myself. They sat me at a small table. Midway through my meal, waiter's asking me to move tables because they want to join my 2 person table for a 6 person group. The restaurant wasn't even that busy. They could have sat that group just below where I was or arranged other tables but no just move the lone brown guy somewhere else, he surely wouldn't mind right? Fine. Then right after I got moved to another table, another waiter runs over and gives out to me saying that this table is reserved! Seriously?! I just got moved by one of your own colleagues to this table! What are you even on about mate? Did he think I just walked in with plate in hand off the street or something? No apology from that guy at all, he just walked off. Horrendous. That waiter then had the audacity afterwards to lean right behind me and talk loudly for ages to some guy who wandered in off the street for a chat. Very disrespectful behaviour! Something I'm sure he wouldn't dare do if I had company or, sadly to say, paler in appearance. Case in point, the white couple sitting next to me were doted upon by that same waiter. Didn't even get a moment to enjoy the food at all, just felt like leaving asap. It was clear they wanted me to leave asap too from their brazen behaviour. Food was mediocre and overpriced but that was to be expected for a touristy restaurant on the square. But some decency from the staff would have been nice. Just cause I'm dining alone should not warrant a second class service. The only reason I'm not 1 starring is the original waiter did apologise...

Enjoyed Bruges a lot, but went to this place for a bite to eat on my departure day and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. Literally and physically. Upon arrival I was greeted by a rushed waiter who immediately spoke to me in Flemish, fair enough, we're in Belgium. I politely said, "Sorry I don't speak Flemish" to which he responded, "YEAH, WELL IT'S NOT WRITTEN ON YOUR FOREHEAD." I wanted to tell him what was written on his forehead, c*. He proceeded to dismiss us and only at the end answered some questions we had, (poorly).

We ordered a plain croissant and 2 coffees with milk. Eleven euros. Even at a tourist cafe I expect at least mediocre service for those prices.

You'd genuinely be better off getting a takeaway coffee from McDonalds and sitting in the square a safe distance from this place, musing about the victims that they're actively swindling and berating as you sip from your bad, but still...