On 25 March, we were unquestionably immediately on hand at the green heart of Antwerp for the grand opening of the Lunet restaurant. The Lunet team is headed by Anthony Pierards. Pierards is an experienced restaurateur and general manager of Mercure Antwerp City Centre, the hotel of which Lunet is a part. At Lunet you experience a real encounter between professionals and their environment, with a wink to the park. Dried flowers, green accents and botanical wallpaper are interspersed with brass lamps and marble tables for a trendy boho vibe. This is a great place to curl up after a day of shopping in the city. But the interior is not the only thing inspired by nature. The kitchen, too, charmed us with seasonal dishes prepared from local ingredients. And we certainly enjoyed it!
Three Corners of LUNET
The central park of Antwerp has a rich history. The triangular shape of the park is a remnant of Fort Herentals, one of the fortresses that guarded the city in the 16th century. The lunette of Herentals was part of the Spanish defence wall built to protect the city and consisted, among others, of four protective barriers. These barriers had a roughly triangular shape, which was taken into account in the design of the current City Park. It was the start formore green in the heart of Antwerp. Green is also found at Lunet restaurant, as well as the number three in the form of the three motives:local, nature and passion. Everything at Lunet is the result of human craftsmanship.
DURABLE KITCHEN
The kitchen of Lunet buys as much as possible from local suppliers from Antwerp and Belgium and serves modern and seasonal dishes with French and Mediterranean influences. The chefs only work with fresh ingredients which are used entirely to leave a minimal footprint and waste. They alsodon’t serve endangered fish or caged eggs. So we could eat here with confidence. The elegant cuisine has a strong identity, where simplicity and strong taste are central. For example, you can order sea bass with potato cream, mushrooms and asparagus or crown of lamb with herb crust. Or would you prefer the four-course discovery menu like us?
DISCOVERY MENU
A warm welcome awaited us with a glass of champagne and a delicious trio of hummus. Then came the crescendo of the evening: theroasted manchego topped with fig pieces and coarsely chopped pistachios, excellently paired by Chacalli Wines, with a light, citrusy and fresh Italian white wine with a salty almond aftertaste called the ‘Ruffino Orvieto Classico Bianco 2020‘. One word: heavenly!
And that was just the beginning… As a starter, we were served smoked duck with a sweet berry coulis and walnut crumble, deliciously complemented by a salmon pink rosé wine from the Spanish winery Garzón, the ‘Pinot Rosé de Corte 2020′. Delicate, elegant and fresh in the mouth with striking tones of cherries and strawberries. In addition, they also take into account dietary requirements. For example, the vegan option is a carpaccio of courgette and aubergine with pine nuts, topped with a mild paprika sauce.
A calf medallion with candied onion, trio of vegetables and potatoes or a vegan southern salad of red quinoa with hummus and croutons, what would you choose? Both not only look delicious, but they were delicious too! Both main dishes went very well with the Spanish red wine ‘Ramón Bilbao Rioja Crianza 2018’. This wine was aged for 14 months in American oak barrels, giving it the necessary complexity and releasing beautiful aromas of red fruit, cocoa and a hint of spice.
We ended the evening with a sweet treat. A crème brûlée with apple orange and rosemary melted our taste buds. But the sweet-toothed among us who don’t want to wait for dessert can go to the counter and enjoy a delicious artisan ice cream from the Antwerp cremerie Germaine, ideal for a summer picnic in the City Park.
HOTEL MERCURE ANTWERP CITY CENTRE
After we had eaten our fill, it was time for a quiet night’s rest and for that we stayed in the next hotel Mercure Antwerp City Centre. Our room was very spacious, with a view of the City Park and had all facilities, including a small snack. This hotel is the ideal base for everyone, whether you are a fanatic shoppers or a professional, as the main shopping street, the railway station and the Flanders Meeting & Conference Centre are within walking distance. In the morning, you can let yourself go at the all you can eat breakfast buffet, but don’t forget the biggest plus, the brand new hotspot for local dishes, Lunet!
PRACTICAL INFO
The kitchen is open from 17:30 to 22:00 and the bar from 10:00 to 01:00. Lunet will open for lunch in May 2022.
More info can be found on the Lunet website: https://lunetantwerp.be/
And more food and travel tips can be found here: https://puredeluxe.be/purefood/
