The Castle of the Counts rises in central Ghent, surrounded by a city that continued to live and cook long after its counts. An inscription over the entrance attributes its 1180 construction to Philip of Alsace; today the visit includes ramparts, rooms and an audio guide with a less than solemn tone. On leaving, two nearby streets lead to tables that give substance to Flemish words common on menus: waterzooi, stoverij and shrimp croquettes. One restaurant is within Patershol, the other on Burgstraat.
Secure your castle visit before thinking about lunch
The castle administration includes an audio guide with admission, and the tourism office explains access arrangements. A long visit may push lunch past 14:00, when many kitchens close their first sitting. Conversely, a later admission can make dinner more sensible. Neither table should be chosen solely because it looks close on a map: their lunchtime openings differ by day. Shape the route from Sint-Veerleplein towards Patershol or Burgstraat according to when you finish.
’t Klokhuys: brasserie dishes within Patershol
't Klokhuys, at 65 Corduwaniersstraat, serves Flemish stew with chips and chicken waterzooi, as well as croquettes and seasonal suggestions. Wood, mirrors and lamps extend the historic scale of the quarter without turning the restaurant into a museum. It opened in 1995. The website says it closes Monday and normally serves lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Tuesday to Thursday are evening sittings. Stew and staff attract praise, although opinions on cost and comfort in hot weather are more mixed.
Mémé Gusta: family classics on a detailed menu
Mémé Gusta, at 19 Burgstraat, began in 2016. Its menu describes pork stew cooked with beer, shrimp croquettes, vol-au-vent and a vegetarian version with seitan in useful detail. That range helps groups with different diets, but the house asks for one main course per person and limits the number of distinct dishes per table. It serves lunch Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Sunday is closed. Diners value the flavours and service, while some find certain dishes expensive for the experience.
If the castle visit ends on a Friday lunchtime and you want waterzooi, ’t Klokhuys offers a short route into Patershol. If your group wants several classics with a plant-based option and is happy to walk towards Burgstraat, Mémé Gusta has a more flexible menu. Sunday demands another decision because Mémé Gusta closes; on any day, check the sitting and table before building the visit around a restaurant.
For classic waterzooi in Patershol, check ’t Klokhuys’s sitting; for family recipes with a plant-based choice, try Mémé Gusta.
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't Klokhuys is in the Patershol quarter, a few streets from the Castle of the Counts. The brasserie opened in 1995 and keeps a setting of wood, mirrors, Art Deco lamps and small marble tables. Its decoration does not stand in for cooking: the menu states a commitment to Flemish and Belgian dishes, f
Waterzooi and stew in Patershol
Mémé Gusta operates at 19 Burgstraat, just beyond the immediate area around the Castle of the Counts. Nele and Jan opened the restaurant in 2016 with an explicit idea: serving Flemish classics of earlier generations in a current, relaxed dining room. “Mémé” evokes a grandmother, but the house need n
Stews, croquettes and family dishes near the castle
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of 't Klokhuys ↗
Primary source
Brasserie ’t Klokhuys · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of 't Klokhuys ↗
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Brasserie ’t Klokhuys · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Mémé Gusta ↗
Primary source
Mémé Gusta · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Mémé Gusta ↗
Primary source
Mémé Gusta · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Mémé Gusta ↗
Primary source
Mémé Gusta / TableFever · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Visit Gent · Accessed October 11, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Historische Huizen Gent · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
’t Klokhuys · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Mémé Gusta · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Valoración de Corduwaniersstraat ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 4.3/5 en 1081 reseñas de ’t Klokhuys, Corduwaniersstraat 65; consultado 11/10/2026.
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Valoración de Burgstraat ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 4.5/5 en 2292 reseñas de Mémé Gusta, Burgstraat 19; consultado 11/10/2026.