Alter

The story

Alter Tongeren: Creative Cooking at Bilzersteenweg 366, One Michelin Star (2026)

Alter, at Bilzersteenweg 366 in Tongeren, is a creative kitchen that earned one Michelin star in 2026. Chef Jo Grootaers and his wife Lana Kelchtermans run the restaurant in the former municipal school of Riksingen, a short distance from the historic centre.

Chef and cooking style

Jo Grootaers cooks out of the box and works on instinct. He respects his ingredients and draws out as much flavour as possible without masking it. The restaurant started in 2009 as ALTERMEZZO, with three partners who shared the same vision. The current name, ALTER, arrived in 2023 when the second chapter began under Jo and Lana.

Dishes on the menu

The menu lists each course plainly. Recent examples include sea bass with smoked eel, pea and verbena, turbot with white asparagus, squid, yuzu and sake, and guinea fowl "Racan" with truffle, cherry and shiso. For dessert, the kitchen has offered apricot with carrot, vadouvan and saffron, or Crêpes Suzettes with yuzu and kumquat. A three-course market menu changes with the seasonal produce.

The former school

The dining room sits inside the old school building, and there is outdoor seating on the terrace. Gault&Millau awarded Alter 17 points in 2026, praising it as a special place where it is a pleasure to linger. Tea ceremony service closes many of the meals.