Spaans Dak Restaurant in Oud-Heverlee

We had dinner at Spaans Dak on Sunday 10 June. It was a rather random pick for the Restaurant Week organised by DiningCity.

The restaurant is located in Oud-Heverlee, close to Leuven, and it is set in a traditional building overlooking some beautiful ponds.

As we walked in, we were welcomed with a smile by Michel, the owner/manager of the place, who accompanied us to our table. Throughout the meal, the waiters were all professional and spoke fluent French and English.

Mise en bouche: Harengs nouveaux, crème, moule, pomme et radis. Méringue de légumes au sésame et tapenade d'olives noires

Bloody Mary, base de consommé de tomate et vodka

Whole-wheat bread

Interesting start to our meal, although I was not so impressed by the meringue.

Starter: Trio de saumon, asperges confites, beurre d'orange, graines de tournesol grillées

Pleasant starter, although a little too sweet.

Main course: Morue, nobashi, coque, moules bouchot, homard, coquille St. Jacques, aioli, bouillabaisse, fenouil grillé, mousse au Pastis

Despite its nice presentation, the theatrics of the bouillabaisse being poured at the table and the mousse slowly melting, this was the biggest disappointment of the night. The cod was too undercooked to be enjoyed, plus it had barely been seasoned. Cod aside, the overall dish was quite dry and it seemed that something was missing.

Selection of cheeses: Fromages anglais sélectionnés et leur préparation

This was the highlight of the dinner. Great presentation; some good English cheeses well paired with some nuts, fruits and pickles. The big fried dough is actually some grilled cheese. The nem was filled with cheese, thyme and fig.

Dessert: Textures de cerises

A refreshing dessert with some in-season cherries, although the crème anglaise made it somewhat ordinary. Here, the chef missed an occasion to impress.

Coffee: Mocha, mignardises

We were offered a refill, always a nice touch.

Petits fours: Praline avec ganache liquide

In the glass, a mix of ice cream/amaretto/nuts (can't recall exactly)

Marshmallows dipped in chocolate and sesame

Overall, a pleasant meal at a reasonable price. This restaurant has plenty of potential and could earn a Michelin star if some improvements are made. The chef needs to focus more on the quality of his cooking and ensure consistency rather than overly elaborate presentations. The chipped glasses need to be replaced, and the waiters could be instructed to keep an eye on glasses on the table and refill them more promptly once empty.

Restaurant Spaans Dak
Oud-Heverlee, Belgium
www.spaansdak.be