Steve_McGarry Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 Just got back from Wipers... Last night my chums and myself decided to pop into Vivaldis restaurant for the famous Flemish stew we all loved from days gone by..... Shock Horror its all changed .. Ah well as long as the flemish stew tastes the same we thought.... Sadly it didn't....... is it under new ownership ?... can anyone recommend another restaurant that does an decent flemish stew,... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 Steve Den Anker - based on experience of a couple of weeks ago. They do a set "Flemish menu" for, I think, 16 Euros. Shrimp croquette to start (meal in itself), a mountain of stew with chips and salad, and ice cream. I was full - very full. Place was packed on a Sunday night (and not all tourists by any means). Everywhere else looked pretty empty. It's always a good sign John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 On a previous thread I mentioned a visit to the Vivaldi just after its extension/redecoration a year or so ago. I ordered the stew which had been recommended on the forum and it was atrocious. I hoped that this was just a blip but perhaps not. There have also been claims that the much-loved Cyper has deteriorated as well since its internal revamp. Is this the curse of the craze for minimalist redecoration? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 Must agree that the stew in Vivaldi a couple of weeks ago with the Pals was only average - and I also didn't like the new decor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 Steve Den Anker - based on experience of a couple of weeks ago. They do a set "Flemish menu" for, I think, 16 Euros. Shrimp croquette to start (meal in itself), a mountain of stew with chips and salad, and ice cream. I was full - very full. Place was packed on a Sunday night (and not all tourists by any means). Everywhere else looked pretty empty. It's always a good sign John <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry to quibble: is it not Het Anker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 Sorry to quibble: is it not Het Anker? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Robertson Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 Must agree that the stew in Vivaldi a couple of weeks ago with the Pals was only average - and I also didn't like the new decor. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The new decor you refer to was Robbie in her pink hat! I must agree with you though Ian, the stew was very poor. However, I dined at "Den Anker" last year and I can recommend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinglma Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 I dined in Den Anker at Easter - good meals 3 nights running. Particularly enjoyed sharing the T-Bone steak (for two) one evening. Also the wine was good - the St Emilion and Macon Rouge were both very drinkable... Hic! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 8 May , 2005 Share Posted 8 May , 2005 I found my stew great and Kates was aswell, but then i am a pig and have nothing to compare it to as having never had it before. There was certainly nothing wrong with the quantity either! regards Arm. Ps would have liked dumplings though!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie Posted 8 May , 2005 Share Posted 8 May , 2005 The new decor you refer to was Robbie in her pink hat! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ooo, I nearly missed this swipe, Derek. Kate and Martin, I am delighted with the pink hat, thank you. I am told it suits me VERY well. Every time I put it on, Tommy (dog) goes mad barking and jumping around! Robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piscator Posted 13 May , 2005 Share Posted 13 May , 2005 No John <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thats John, concise and to the point. Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 13 May , 2005 Share Posted 13 May , 2005 Flemish beef stew at Vivaldi was my favorite meal in Ieper. I can never remember the names of restaurants there, what is the one, one past the nearest to Cloth Hall? I had terrific Flemish beef stew there too. There was a really good restaurant in Langemarck, the owner was killed or badly injured. What's the status there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 13 May , 2005 Share Posted 13 May , 2005 Paul There's one next to the Cloth Hall which is, I think, something like Stadthuis. Den Anker is next to that. But for a really, REALLY good meal, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Ecurie. You'd need to make a reservation, particularly if a Saturday. Best meal I've had in town, bar none! (Thank you Gwyn & Patrick for the original recommendation) John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyOfficer Posted 14 May , 2005 Share Posted 14 May , 2005 John: I second your recommendation for Ecurie, its very good. I also like T'Ganzeke; the food there is very, very good and the collection of old Ieper travel posters are worth the trip alone. Theres a really small restaurant on Boterstraat (south side) that has a good menu and seems rarely visited that looks good, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 14 May , 2005 Share Posted 14 May , 2005 The Korenbloom in Langemarck: sadly , as you say Paul, the co-owner was killed in a motorcycle accident a couple of years ago and his sister badly injured. The cafe was taken over by a young couple and was much as before when last visited in October, same good bar meals although the decor was less crowded. Where is the Ecurie? T'Klein Stadthuis is good but can get very smoky when full inside. The Sante on Botterstraat does good food and good beer and you can watch British footie (and even cricket probably). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain mchenry Posted 15 May , 2005 Share Posted 15 May , 2005 Hi Mark, Walk up Rijselstaat (Lille St) from the town square, keeping on your left. Go past the KBC bank, you then come to a junction with a street on your left linking you with D'Hondstraat, which runs paralell with Lille St. On the corner of the junction is a bar called "Silveren Hoofd" (Members of the Flemish kind will berate me for my probable misspelling here!!) Turn left at the junction and the Ecurie is located directly beside the "Silveren Hoofd". It is a great restaurant, I use it for special occasions. As John says if you are visiting on a Friday or Saturday night (or public holiday) I would go in, in advance, and reserve a table. Hope this helps. Best regards Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 15 May , 2005 Share Posted 15 May , 2005 vivaldi calls himself nowerdays "French Style cuisine high claas restaurant".. Right... The only thing who is high class there are the prices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 15 May , 2005 Share Posted 15 May , 2005 Hi Mark, On the corner of the junction is a bar called "Silveren Hoofd" (Members of the Flemish kind will berate me for my probable misspelling here!!) Iain <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Iain, As a "member of the Flemish kind" allow me to berate you ! It is : Zilveren Hoofd ! With a Z ! On the other hand, allow me to congratulate you as well. You immigrated 2 months ago (= we allowed you to immigrate), and only one letter wrong (out of 13) ! That makes a score of 92% ! Many of our French speaking politians have a far lower score ! May I, in passing, point out that this Silver Head (as it is portrayed in the front of the bar, over the front door I think) is our WW1 king Albert I, the man who led the Belgian and British Troops to victory in the final Offensive. (Members of the British kind will berate me for my probable historical error here ! Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 15 May , 2005 Share Posted 15 May , 2005 May I, in passing, point out that this Silver Head (as it is portrayed in the front of the bar, over the front door I think) is our WW1 king Albert I, the man who led the Belgian and British Troops to victory in the final Offensive. (Members of the British kind will berate me for my probable historical error here ! Aurel <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My understanding is that he had British 2nd Army as part of his "army group" in the final offensive, but not the other British armies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 15 May , 2005 Share Posted 15 May , 2005 Thanks, I shall hunt the Ecurie out when I visit this summer. I shall be visiting with a colleague whose grandfather won the MM at Gheluvelt during Third Ypres. Unfortunately her partner has to stick to a low cholesterol diet, not the easiest thing in Flanders! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain mchenry Posted 15 May , 2005 Share Posted 15 May , 2005 Aurel, Thanks mate, my confidence grows as I await my Dutch language course!!! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 16 May , 2005 Share Posted 16 May , 2005 Is Ecurie fancier than the others? You know some years ago, 98, Sultan was good, I think all the Grote Markt places I have eaten, and that's most of them are good, Old Tom was too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 17 May , 2005 Share Posted 17 May , 2005 My opinion , from two to three visits a year, is that the quality of food in the Grote Markt restaurants has declined somewhat. This could be a result of cost-cutting, e.g. cheaper ingredients to meet the growing tourist demand or could be just me getting jaundiced and too familiar with what's on offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 17 May , 2005 Share Posted 17 May , 2005 I suppose it's inevitable that some of the restaurants on the Grote Markt will seek to exploit their position. It's a shame if the inevitable rise in prices is also accompanied by a fall in quality. I must say I though I had also detected this tendency but based on a small sample of meals , it must be said. We will all have to venture into the hinterland more to eat, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 17 May , 2005 Share Posted 17 May , 2005 Is Ecurie fancier than the others? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I wouldn't describe l'Ecurie as fancy, or pretentious. It seemed to me very natural, efficient without being cold, the staff were friendly and informative, the decor had character but not sentimentalism, and the food was lovely. It isn't expensive, against comparable meals in the UK. I wouldn't have been interested in any of the places specialising in meat-based dishes. This was one reason that an Ieper native recommended l'Ecurie to me. I also like Stadthuis (sp?) because I have always found something good on the menu there. Antwerp (the city) is another wonderful place in which to eat and Del Rey has better chocolate than anything in Ieper! Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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