Carte Blanche

Carte Blanche is a lunch-only bistronomy restaurant on Kerkstraat in the city centre, a few minutes’ walk from the Kursaal and the promenade. It opened in March 2026 behind a handsome black corner frontage with gold lettering and the motto “bistronomie en toute liberté”. Chef Marc Lejeune made his name in Brussels before moving to the coast, and runs the place with his partner Peter Aerts.

The kitchen is open from noon to 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday, and works from a short menu built on regional and North Sea produce that changes with the seasons. You choose a main course on its own, three courses, or the full four with the chef’s appetiser. The autumn menu runs from a grey shrimp wonton with miso and yuzu mayonnaise and a beef tataki with horseradish cream to salmon glazed with Rochefort, duck parmentier and Zeeland mussels in saffron cream, with a vegetarian starter and main on every menu. Desserts include a key lime pie on a speculoos base, and a plate of cheeses from a local cheesemonger can replace or follow dessert.

Inside it is white tablecloths, velvet chairs and a dark bar, with a small terrace on the pavement when the weather allows. With only a lunch service and a small dining room, booking ahead is wise, especially at weekends.