Modest

The story

Modest, Opglabbeek | Michelin-Starred Modern French Cuisine by Chef Sander Spreeuwers

A Name That Speaks Volumes

In Opglabbeek, Belgium, a young chef named Sander Spreeuwers has opened a restaurant that matches its name: Modest. But there is nothing ordinary about the cooking here. Since opening in February 2022, this modern dining room has earned a Michelin star and a Gault Millau score of 15/20, placing it firmly on Belgium’s fine-dining map.

The nickname “Modest” has a personal origin: during hotel school, classmates gave Sander the name after the fictional sidekick from a popular children’s show (his father was mayor of Opglabbeek at the time). The word also means humble, reserved, discreet—and Sander, now a young chef of extraordinary talent, embodies that simplicity. His cooking, however, is anything but.

Training at the Highest Level

Sander Spreeuwers grew up in Opglabbeek and studied at Hotelschool Ter Duinen in Koksijde, where he specialized in world gastronomy. His internships read like a who’s who of modern fine dining: de Slagmolen () in Opglabbeek, deLibrije () in Zwolle, Tickets () in Barcelona, and El Celler de Can Roca () in Girona—then the world’s number one restaurant. After school, he spent nearly five years under top-chef Gert De Mangeleer at Hertog Jan (*) in Zedelgem. Since 2019, he’s worked as a freelance chef before launching his own restaurant.

The Dining Experience

The restaurant offers a modern, welcoming space where both young and old can enjoy a gastronomic menu or à la carte. Menus are available in three, four, or five courses (the three-course option is lunch-only, not on Saturdays). Prices start at €70 for three courses and go up to €115 for five courses, with the same menu served to the whole table.

While the cuisine follows a Modern French direction, guests with allergies or dietary needs are asked to notify the team in advance—the kitchen does its best to accommodate, though a supplement may apply. The overall atmosphere is comfortable and designed for pure enjoyment, without pretension.

Modest is open Wednesday through Saturday, for lunch from 12:00 to 13:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 19:30. Reservations are taken online or by phone during specific hours. There is a chef’s table available for up to ten guests, bookable by phone.

For those seeking modern French cooking rooted in intense training and genuine humility, Modest in Opglabbeek delivers a quietly remarkable experience.