Dessert with a sunset thrown in for free

As our sun-drenched weekend draws to a close we decide that ‘dining out’ is the perfect end to such a lovely day. And so we find ourselves in Beluga, a stylish restaurant on the seafront in Ostend, just a stone’s throw away from the casino.

Beluga is a fish restaurant so we both choose a fish dish from the menu. Fresh fish with a sea view. This is what a holiday is all about. I order the suggestion of redfish fillet with a watercress pesto, fresh truffle linguine, a tomato coulis and Parmesan cheese (€ 29.50), while my guest and good friend Liesbet chooses the fresh tuna (€ 27.50).
Nachtisch mit SonnenuntergangAs we wait for our drinks to be served, we take a good look at our surroundings. The interior feels fresh and new. The style is original, bordering on the colonial and the tables are nicely spaced out, which we think is a plus. We are seated by a window, and I personally think that this the best seat in the house: the light pours in through the window and we have a stunning
panoramic view of the sea. There are a few brave souls sitting on the terrace outside, wrapped snugly in a cosy blanket. In the meantime our waiter serves a hors d’oeuvre: three amuse-bouches which only whet our appetite for more. What a lovely surprise! But now our expectations are even higher.

Ten minutes later our plates arrive and the food looks delicious. Beluga is much more than an ordinary brasserie. Here the cuisine is refined, the tuna is like butter and my redfish fillet is perfectly cooked. It doesn’t get any fresher than this. A fun detail is that even the plates look pretty. Beluga participates in an ‘art at your table’ project and so our plates are genuine works of art.

The sunset is a beautiful accompaniment to our dinner. But after our dinner we are not ready to leave just yet so we agree to have a dessert: I order a fresh mint tea, my friend Liesbet chooses a coffee and a crème brulée (€ 9,25). I can highly recommend the mint tea at Beluga: suddenly a large tray is placed on our table with an authentic tea pot, orange blossom and fragrant mint leaves. How wonderful! Even a simple mint tea takes on a refined appeal here. As the sun gently sinks into the sea and the sky colours red we ask our waiter for our bill.

Beluga,
Kemmelbergstraat 33,
059/51 15 88
You can book a table online at www.belugaoostende.be
Beluga is closed on Thursday.