The initiative comes from on-line restaurant guide DiningCity.com, which manages to pull in more and more participating locations every year. Between 14 and 20 March, top restaurants offer gastronomic meals at affordable prices, giving restaurants the chance to attract new clientele. Diners, in turn, are able to discover new places where they perhaps otherwise wouldn't go due to a restricted budget.

The concept is simple; reserve a table online, then take the reservation code with you to the restaurant. Enjoy a three-course dinner for just €27.50 or a three-course lunch for €22.50 (not including drinks). Interested parties (of maximum eight people) are advised to move quickly, as some restaurants are already fully booked.

There is a small disclaimer - restaurants with 15-16 points in the GaultMillau guide or a Michelin star charge €10 extra; those with at least 17 points or two Michelin stars charge €20 extra. Still, this may be the only chance to experience a starred restaurant without blowing your restaurant budget for the entire year.

Check the restaurant's website or call to find out exactly what they have planned for the special menu during Restaurant Week, although some prefer to keep it a surprise. And don't hesitate to contact them should you have specific dietary needs or are vegetarian; they will accommodate.

Below are some good bets for set dinner menus from participating restaurants.

Restaurant Bellefleur, Antwerpsesteenweg 253, Kapellen (Antwerp province) 03.664.67.19
www.blflr.be
- House-smoked salmon with marinated black radish and cucumber
- Roast suckling pig with green asparagus, whole- grain mustard sauce and celery root cream
- Vanilla ice cream

Resto Mistral, Donklaan 148, Berlare (East Flanders) 09.367.59.10
www.resto-mistral.be
- Duo of smoked eel and ray wing with herbs and fennel
- Pollock (white fish) with spring vegetables and lobster mayonnaise
- Carpaccio of pineapple, cassis sorbet and strawberry-pepper coulis

De Gempemolen (pictured above), Gempstraat 56, Sint-Joris-Winge (Flemish Brabant) 016.48.73.07
www.gempemolen.be
- Veal carpaccio with Belgian pickle foam and spring herbs
- Lemon-poached halibut in a mousse of white beer from Haacht and cauliflower-dill purée
- Vanilla parfait with a Gempe orchard pear and almond crisp

Kurt's Pan, Sint-Jakobsstraat 58, Bruges (West Flanders) 050.34.12.24
www.kurtspan.be
- Vitello tonnato, yellowfin tuna and scallops with capers and yoghurt
- Hop shoots (+ €20 supplement) with poached egg and hollandaise sauce
- Lamb from the polders of Damme with asparagus, morel mushrooms, truffle juice and small potatoes OR Fish of the day
- Frozen nougat with forest berries and cookie crisp OR Selection of cheese from master cheesemonger Van Tricht with nut bread, jam and balsamic vinegar (+ €8 supplement)

www.restaurantweek.be

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