LiJo

The story

LiJo Maldegem – Seasonal French Cuisine in a Stately Townhouse

A Homecoming to Maldegem

After years cooking at Michelin-starred restaurants and working on private yachts, chef Jochen and his partner Lien returned to their roots to open LiJo in Maldegem. Housed in a stately townhouse on Noordstraat, the restaurant is the realisation of a long-held dream: a place where refined cooking meets an unhurried, welcoming atmosphere. “Fijnproeverskeuken in een ontspannen sfeer – met oog voor detail en zonder gedoe,” they write – fine dining without pretence.

That approach has already caught the attention of the Michelin guide, which awarded LiJo a Recommended distinction for 2026. It’s a recognition that speaks to the quiet confidence of the kitchen: seasonal French cuisine, executed with precision and served in a setting that feels both elegant and approachable.

Seasonal French Fare

The menu changes with the seasons, drawing on the best produce of the moment. A lunch formula offers a two-course choice for €39, while the evening menu presents three or four courses built around dishes such as carpaccio of scallop with pumpkin, pomegranate and basil vinaigrette, or Nicolas potato with smoked eel, samphire and Zeebrugge shrimp – with the option to add Royal Belgian caviar. Main courses range from glazed duck breast with sweet potato, forest mushrooms and pointed cabbage, to turbot with Zeebrugge shrimp in a white wine herb sauce, or a classic Tournedos Rossini with foie gras and truffle.

The kitchen also offers a vegetarian option – a mushroom tart with duxelle and parmesan – and a selection of desserts that includes amarena cherry with vanilla and meringue, chocolate mousse with hazelnut crumble, and a cheese plate from local farmhouse producers. Each dish reflects the team’s commitment to detail and to the purity of seasonal ingredients.

An Invitation to Slow Down

LiJo is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, with reservations available up to three months in advance. The dining room, with its counter seating and outdoor tables, invites guests to settle in and let the meal unfold at its own pace. Whether you come for a quick lunch or an evening of several courses, the spirit is the same: genuine hospitality, clear flavours, and a sense that this is a place where the owners are truly glad to have you.