Mommy's Bastards

Mommy’s Bastards is a foodbar on Dwarsstraat in the centre with a self-declared New York City vibe: an industrial interior of green tiles, exposed brick, a steel spiral staircase and a wall painted with colourful hearts. It is open all day except on Wednesdays, with the kitchen serving lunch and dinner and lighter bites in between.

The ‘little bites’ are the reason to come for sharing: loaded nachos, burrata with focaccia, Mommy’s meatballs, crunchy prawn balls, artisanal shrimp croquettes, calamares, Asian bao buns, buffalo wings and oven-baked camembert, mostly €13–19 each. From 14:00 to 17:30 there are simpler snacks such as nachos with guacamole or Ostend dry sausage. Mains run from lasagne and Flemish stew to Thai curry, and the burgers use Belgian white-blue beef from local butcher Burggraeve; any burger can be made vegetarian.

Drinks include cocktails, G&Ts and local beers such as Ostend’s Watson blond. Book online – there is no phone line – or just walk in. Good for a relaxed, noisy-in-a-good-way evening with friends.