Jos Theys Boerderij — Restaurant in Holsbeek

I’m seriously starting to question how some people review this restaurant. The food was OK, but the “experience” was below all standards, especially if you look at the type of upscale restaurant they supposedly “want” to be, and how they want it to appear. And don’t get me started about the pricing. Way overpriced.

The most appalling was the way the owner lady behaved. For example, the bearnaise sauce was bland. When we mentioned this, the lady immediately started arguing with us, telling us that we are wrong, that we don’t know what we are talking about. The only thing she had to do was show some compassion and understanding. Next to that, the quality of the food was OK, but not worth the hefty premium price. The service was mainly given by young students, which was OK, but again, not up to the standards you would expect for the image and price. Another way to make more money of their customers. And not to forget, it was very cold. it's winter time and the temperature in the restaurant was low. They don't seem to be able, or willing to, heat the veranda. another cost saving ?

And this is the red line through the entire restaurant. As mentioned, the owner is acting like they are this great fancy restaurant, but the simple truth is that they are putting up an façade that covers a lot of “wanne-be’ and apparently frustrations and problems behind the scenes. The glory days of this restaurant seem to be over, and I was really motivated by their behavior to write this negative review. If they would have been polite and caring, I would have given a higher score and showed some forgiveness for the lower quality standard of their food. But not caring about your customers, only taking their money and even being disrespectful ? That is a line you do not cross in hospitality. And yes, I use the word “hospitality”. Maybe you can google it ;o)

So overall, a very unpleasant experience and trust me, I know what I am talking about. Maybe you can think twice about being rude to your customers, and especially when they live in your neighborhood, are working with Google Maps, and have a level 9 status with more than 18.500 contributions, +550 reviews and +88 million views… I will guarantee you, we will never come here again and we will make sure everybody is aware ! I suggest you get your act together, drop the fancy attitude, improve the quality of the food, and become humble and appreciative of your customers. In the end, they are paying for all your salaries and way of life. If not, I don’t see how this establishment will survive.

I’m really looking forward to the friendly and humble response :0)

UPDATE: I am very disappointed that the owner did not take this opportunity to be humble and understanding, recognizing that there are potential points of improvement. Instead, they called my father, who is not Social Media savvy and I helped him writing a review, and went in full defense mode. They do not understand that their customers are their most valuable source of income and are the people that pay for their salaries and lifestyle. Next to the phone call, they replied to this review and again, seems to have a hard time doing some self-reflection and not recognizing there are some points of improvement. More excuses, not addressing some points like the cold, the reaction of the lady owner etc And the funny thing is, I went there to eat a while ago, so I did experience their restaurant. So that excuse won't work ! (just didn’t have had the time to write that review yet.) PS: did you notice they hardly reply to any review, Good or...

✨ A True Gem in Our Neighborhood ✨

Yesterday we returned to one of our absolute favorite places nearby: Jos Theys Boerderij. This restaurant is unlike any other, not only because it’s run by the legendary Jos Theys himself, but also because it’s deeply rooted in his own unique creation – Junior Beef. Junior Beef is a trademarked method developed by Jos, resulting in tender, juicy, low-fat meat (comparable to veal) that’s red, mature, and packed with flavor. What makes this place so special isn’t just the food. It’s the laid-back, homely atmosphere: you’re literally dining on the farm, surrounded by fields, yet experiencing cuisine that could easily rival Michelin-starred restaurants. It’s elegant but never pretentious, and it always feels like...

The place to go if you want amazing quality Belgian steak. Located on a farm with their own butchery, the meat can't be any fresher. Very friendly staff as well, we felt very welcome. All ingredients were fresh, down to the fries and salad. You do pay for the quality though. You easily spend €100 per person for an aperitif and a main with some wine. Will I visit...