Jardin Public

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Historic House with a Convivial Character

The building at Lodewijk Van Berkenlaan 146 has its own story before the first plate ever left the kitchen. Designed in 1911 by Emiel Van Averbeke — the city's chief architect at the time — it was originally the live-work home of painter Joris Nauwelaerts. Jardin Public takes its name from the small public park nearby, and since opening in 2009 it has made the space its own: warm, unfussy, and squarely focused on taste and quality.

Chef Ben Van den Wijngaert

Ben Van den Wijngaert has been at the stove since day one. His cooking draws from the Belgian-French tradition while leaving room for personal, sometimes unexpected creations — refined without being rigid. The kitchen runs continuously from midday, which means the same care applied to a Friday evening dinner is there for a quiet weekday lunch.

Three Rooms, One Address

The ground floor holds three distinct dining spaces, each with its own atmosphere. There is a lively bar area, a sitting-room-style space with a fireplace and a view into the open kitchen, and a quieter, more intimate dining room. The brasserie side of the house welcomes guests from 11:30 for drinks — coffee, a beer, or a glass of wine — alongside a lighter menu of snacks. In the afternoon, freshly made pancakes are a fixture.

A Wine List Worth the Recognition

The wine list at Jardin Public has earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — a recognition the restaurant has received five times. With more than 250 references on the list and 25 wines available by the glass (including higher-end bottles opened via Coravin), the French cuisine on the plate is matched by serious depth in the cellar.