Côté Préféré

The story

Côté Préféré in Jabbeke – French Cuisine with Michelin Recognition

Côté Préféré: West Flemish Roots, French Kitchen

In Jabbeke, chef Tim Versyck runs a restaurant that feels both grounded and refined. Côté Préféré — “your preferred side” — is a place where the bounty of West Flanders takes centre stage. Bordering the North Sea and blessed by the polders with farms and passionate producers, Versyck and his team work with fresh, honest, local ingredients. Their cooking is a classic, playful French cuisine with a rough edge, letting the product speak.

Versyck learned his craft at the legendary “De Karmeliet” under chef Geert Van Hecke, a debt he acknowledges with gratitude. He continued his career at “De Jonkman,” where chef Filip Claeys instilled in him a deep love for local produce. That philosophy is now the backbone of Côté Préféré.

The setting is calm and cosy, with a lounge for aperitifs before the meal and a digestif to linger over after. In summer, the south-facing garden offers a tranquil spot for dining. The restaurant’s quality has not gone unnoticed — it has earned a Michelin Recommended distinction, a testament to Versyck’s consistent, ingredient-driven work.

The menu changes regularly, but recent offerings show a clear focus on seafood and meat from the region. A lunch menu might start with a beef tartare from the Berugi selection with kataifi and red curry, followed by smoked pork cheek with wild garlic risotto and broad beans. The evening menu features dishes such as langoustine tartare, pollock with ratatouille and choron sauce, and calf sweetbread with peas, morels, and jus. A spit-roasted poussin with green bean gratin, broad beans, wild garlic purée, and tarragon sauce is a hearty main. Desserts include a classic Dame Blanche, crêpe Normande, and an eclair with lemon cream, raspberry, and white chocolate.

For those who prefer to choose, à la carte options include tataki of Berugi beef, North Sea crab with white asparagus, and a fillet pur of Berugi with fresh fries and pepper sauce. A selection of five Belgian cheeses from the cheese trolley is available as an alternative to dessert.

Côté Préféré is a restaurant that honours its terroir with skill and sincerity, offering a French culinary experience that is unmistakably West Flemish.