The Pakhuis Restaurant’s slogan is One Place-Many Worlds. As we walked through the doors of what appeared to be a historic building in the heart of the old Ghent, we were pleasantly surprised to see the modern and innovative interior design blending well with the historical theme. This massive restaurant has a seating capacity for 200. Originally a warehouse, it has been transformed into a beautiful multi-level facility that includes a tearoom and bar. It is elegantly furnished and is full of natural light and live plants.
The Pakhuis offers several "menu" selections that include appetizer or salad, main course and dessert ranging in price from 21 to 27 Euro and a la Carte meals starting at 10 Euro. The fare is French/Italian style mixed with contemporary dishes. Oysters, shellfish and seafood are its specialties; vegetarian selections are also available. The wine list boosts wines from all over the world and I am told the bar is one of the best in Belgium.
We started with a fresh green salad, a mixture of several types of lettuce in a light and flavorful vinaigrette dressing. The main dish was a delicate broiled white fish in a light cream sauce with tender mussels. The fish was served on a bed of shredded cooked cabbage and a baked swirl of potato completed the plate. It was almost too pretty to eat. We topped off our meal with dessert and coffee and some wonderful conversation with our guide and a representative from the Tour Office, who had joined us for lunch. The service was excellent, the food delicious and the atmosphere memorable.
The Pakhuis was filled with both tourists and locals enjoying a business lunch or a relaxing mid-day visit with friends. The wide range of languages and dialects we could hear enforces its slogan of One Place-Many Worlds. The Pakhuis is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. weekdays and 2:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays. It is closed on Sunday.