Resto Wald

The story

Resto Wald, Leuven – Michelin Recommended Australian & Swiss Dining

A Global Journey on a Plate

Resto Wald, a Michelin Recommended address for 2026, sits quietly in Rotselaar, just outside Leuven. Here, chef Walter Bouterse and host Lisa Claes translate years of travel into a small, personal dining experience. The restaurant seats only about twenty guests, which keeps the atmosphere warm and unhurried—a deliberate choice to preserve what they call a "living room feeling."

From Rotterdam to the Alps and Beyond

Walter began his kitchen career in his hometown Rotterdam, drawn to the precision of French cuisine. That path led him to the Alps, where he met Lisa, then a Leuven-born host with a growing appetite for discovery. Together they set off on an extended journey: Australia, New Zealand, Central America, and Switzerland. Each stop deepened their shared passion for food. Now, back in Belgium, they combine those influences in a kitchen that is French-Belgian at its core, but unafraid to nod to the Australian sun or the Swiss mountains.

What’s on the Table

The menu changes with the seasons. A recent five-course offering (€99) began with amuses like soy sprouts with boemboe and John Dory with nori, then moved through kingfish with cucumber, pistachio, and goat yogurt; lobster in green curry with peas and zucchini; sea bass with morel, pata negra, and tarragon; lamb with garlic, parmesan, and green asparagus; and a strawberry dessert with timut pepper, elderflower, and yuzu. A cheese course is available as a substitute or extra. The kitchen accommodates dietary needs—shellfish, gluten, lactose, nuts, vegetarian, pescatarian—but does not offer vegan options.

The Setting

Authentic details meet modern touches in the dining room, and the open kitchen lets you watch the team at work. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday closed. Resto Wald is firmly farm-to-table in spirit, and the warmth of the welcome matches the precision on the plate.