STORM

STORM is a small fine-dining restaurant on the Hendrik Baelskaai, on the east side of Ostend’s harbour, looking out over the fishing docks. Michiel Rabaey runs the kitchen and Nathalie Hiele the dining room; both grew up in Ostend, and they opened STORM together in 2018 after Michiel left teaching at a hotel school.

The kitchen cooks North Sea fish from head to tail, including lesser-known species that rarely make it onto restaurant menus, with seasonal vegetables and the occasional Asian or Scandinavian touch. There is no à la carte. At lunch you choose between Laagtij (low tide, four courses) and Hoogtij (high tide, five courses); at dinner only Hoogtij is served. The menu changes regularly with the catch, and a matching wine pairing is available.

The dining room is intimate, so booking ahead is essential, especially at weekends. STORM is a member of the North Sea Chefs network and is rated 14.5/20 by Gault&Millau (2026).