Crisp breadcrumbed croquettes filled with a hot bechamel studded with North Sea grey shrimp, fried golden and served with deep-fried parsley and a lemon wedge. The defining Flemish coast starter.
Garnaalkroketten are rooted in Belgium's North Sea fishing culture, built around the tiny grey shrimp, Crangon crangon, that have long been caught off the West Flemish coast and even harvested by fishermen on horseback at Oostduinkerke. Hand-peeling the shrimp is slow work, which is why a good kroket is prized. In Bruges the dish lands fresh from the Zeebrugge boats and the Vismarkt stalls, and it anchors the starter list at classic rooms across the city.
3 editor picks for Garnaalkroketten in Bruges, ranked by editorial score. All Bruges signature dishes · Garnaalkroketten across every city.
De Stove ★ 4.4
markt · Kleine Sint-Amandsstraat 4, 8000 Brugge
De Stove in Bruges has cooked fresh Zeebrugge fish since 1998, a few steps off the Markt. The room seats barely twenty, so the kitchen stays personal.
Breydel-De Coninck ★ 4.2
markt · Breidelstraat 24, 8000 Brugge
Breydel-De Coninck on Breidelstraat in Bruges is the mussel and eel house with the strongest reputation in town. Seven mussel preparations, all with frites.
Assiette Blanche ★ 4.1
burg · Philipstockstraat 23, 8000 Brugge
Assiette Blanche near the Burg in Bruges is a classic restaurant under Stefaan Timmerman, running Franco-Belgian dishes and regional grey-shrimp plates.