Don’t let the silly sunflower signage or the fact that you have to walk through the front bar to get to the restaurant dissuade you. Upon entry, you will immediately be put at ease. The well-balanced combination of modern white tables and walls with rugged wooden floors and flannel-wearing staff makes it clear that this restaurant might be modern, but it is also comfortable.
Since its opening in 2001, Rock Fort has been packed. This is the place where chefs go on their night off, not only because it’s open on Mondays (and closed over the weekend) but because the food is nothing short of perfect. It’s a hotbed in the Bruges gastronomy scene; I saw no less than three local chefs having dinner there.
Besides the food, Rock Fort has something obvious going for it: it’s a fine dining experience sans exorbitant price tag. The four-course tasting menu is €49 and features a tuna tartar with a smooth wasabi sorbet over minutely diced cucumbers. Seared scallops followed that simply couldn’t be improved. The main course of pigeon and foie gras was rich, filling and complimented by upscale kroketten that would please royalty and kids alike.
A dessert of mango coulis, coconut sorbet, fresh pineapple and vanilla yogurt was light, refreshing and the sweet finish the meal needed. My table ordered a bottle of house red from Spain that seemed worth more than its €17.50. If you don’t opt for the tasting menu, the Rock Fort salad is a must-try. A scoop of Roquefort cheese ice cream melts over fresh greens and dried Spanish ham. The result is a rich blue cheese dressing that melts luxuriously over salty ham and spicy lettuce. Different and divine.
One element where many eateries fail is the customer service, but, again, Rock Fort was a stand out in its subtle yet genuine service – never intrusive but always friendly. A few other details complimented our experience: the tableside olive oil was of good quality, and the snacks of tuna tapenade and savoury popcorn made the short wait a small culinary adventure.
The bread was varied, fresh and quickly replenished but, even better, was smartly served in a brown paper bag that saved space on the small table. Be sure to book in advance.
Your opinion matters!
Did you already fill out our satisfaction survey?
Flanders Today is a 
