The story
Café Service is a bistro at Stanleystraat 1, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium, and Gault&Millau awarded it 13 points in 2026. It took over the space of the former Café Stanny, where the kitchen now serves small plates in a bistronomy style.
Robin Gielens cooks small dishes with vibrancy and clarity, and Lauren Vergeyle works the kitchen alongside him. Le Fooding picked out homemade rillettes, a brandade croquette served with a generous dollop of shrimp mayo, and a caramel flan.
Daan Gooiker and Tessa Kersten kept the turn-of-the-century tiling and the long wooden bar when they renovated the old estaminet. Guests can book a table in the dining room or walk in for a counter dinner on one of the dozen barstools by the window or at the bar. Daan selects the wines, and beers come from Billie's Bottle Shop.
Recognition
Details
History
We barely had a chance to dry our eyes after the closure of Stanny, the bistro institution on the outskirts of Berchem, when the brilliant Café Service was announced as its worthy successor. Its heirs? Tessa Kersten (ex-Nage) and Daan Gooiker (ex-Café Commercial), who renovated this old estaminet with some good old-fashioned elbow grease, preserving the turn-of-the-century tiling, the long wooden bar and the place’s rebellious spirit. The same goes for the cuisine, as Lauren Vergeyle (who also worked at Nage) and Robin Gielens (ex-Veranda) bang out an amorous feast in the form of small plates, washed down with lively wines unearthed by Daan and beers sourced from Billie’s Bottle Shop. The result? Some very tasty homemade rillettes; a brandade croquette to dip in a huge dollop of shrimp mayo; an assembly of fresh peas, pea velouté, anchovies and ‘nduja jus; juicy cockles with beurre blanc sauce, purslane and salmon roe; and an incredibly moreish caramel flan. The added bonus: you can book a table in the dining room, or simply turn up off the cuff for an impromptu counter-top dinner perched on one of the dozen barstools along the window or the bar. · Sugar Kowalczyk
In the former Café Stanny, Daan Gooiker and Tessa Kersten have opened a bistronomy restaurant that pairs charm with authenticity. Chef Robin Gielens opts for small dishes with vibrancy and clarity. Homemade leek arrives at the table...
Location