Den Gouden Karpel — Restaurant in Bruges

The Service The service we received was simply fantastic. Efficient, communicative, helpful, and very friendly. Everyone at the restaurant was happy and lovely and we had all the bits we needed for a big seafood meal (plenty of little crackers and special forks and bibs etc.)

The Food Can't really speak highly enough about the meal. Coming from California I'm addicted to crab legs, these were fresh, cleaned properly, and served cut which makes the whole experience much more enjoyable in my opinion. I had scallops in shrimp broth which were perfectly cooked, nice large diver scallop slices. My boyfriend had the bouillabaisse which quite frankly blew his mind and the tastes I could steal were simply delicious. The wine selection was perfect for us and served perfectly chill white wine.

The Ambiance I normally wouldn't bother to speak about the appearance because you can see that from pictures, but honestly, it's worth remarking upon. It's clean, everything is very fresh (you don't get the same sea-smell of many fish restaurants). It's quaint, quiet, clean, and lovely.

Overall, I cannot recommend this highly enough. We're here for a week and likely to return. As far as value for money, this is the place to be honest. If you're going to have a nice meal with great service, this is the place.

UPDATE: This has become our special occasion restaurant, birthdays anniversary etc. It's perfect every time! The menu changes and brings new delicious things...

My last dinner in Bruges turned out to be a rather disappointing experience.

Tonite, as I wasn’t feeling well, I kept it simple and ordered only the fish soup and one bottle of sparkling water—no starter, no wine.

I also spent some time looking over the menu, which seemed to annoy both the owner and the waitress.

From start to finish, they showed no smile, and I could clearly feel the difference in how I was treated compared to the other tables.

After serving my soup and pouring water once, they never returned to check on me again.

Meanwhile, other guests were greeted warmly, with friendly conversation and constant attention.

When I asked the waitress why the other tables had bread but I didn’t, she replied curtly that there were potatoes in my soup, then added—still with a stern face—that bread could be ordered separately for two euros.

In the end, I ate only a few bites and left really depressing.

Ironically, the only warmth I felt that evening came not from the staff, but from the neighboring guests and the chef, who were the only ones to...

Den Gouden Karpel is a high-quality seafood restaurant that ensures the freshest possible ingredients. The chefs take great care to preserve the delicate flavors and textures of the seafood. It is a two minutes walk from the Basilica of the Holy Blood. This restaurant is a true hidden gem. From the moment you step inside, you'll be transported to a world of delicious cuisine and warm hospitality. The chef and wife owner are an absolute delight, and the staffs are friendly, attentive, and always happy to make recommendations. From the appetizer to the main course, it is absolutely delicious. And the portions are definitely worth the price you're paying - you will feel satisfied! We made a reservation for dinner and loved the experience so much that we returned for lunch the next day to try more dishes - and we were blown away once again. This restaurant truly is the best seafood...