Address: 43 Vlaamse Kaai

Tel: 32-3-257-5005

Aptly, L'Amitié is the brainchild of two friends—a chef and a sommelier—both of whom earned their stripes in Michelin-starred restaurants. The dining room, in an1831 building near the River Scheldt, is equal parts tavern and château: A lofty ceiling with a wrought-iron-and-crystal chandelier is juxtaposed against simple wooden furnishings and an olive green cabinet laden with cookbooks and porcelain roosters. Chef Thomas Baeyens's sublime Mediterranean-inflected French fare includes tender whitefish with fennel seeds, and fall-off-the-bone lamb chops with sage-infused gravy. The light but rich white chocolate mousse is laced with caramel and sprinkled with passion fruit seeds (entrées, $30–$77).