The Jane, located in Antwerp, is once again the only Belgian restaurant to be included in the anticipated list of the world's 50 best restaurants. This is the third consecutive year the establishment is listed alongside other iconic restaurants.
The Michelin-starred restaurant run by chef Nick Bril – who himself was crowned Gault&Millau's Chef of the Year in 2022 – has again been featured in "World's 50 Best Restaurants", a British list of the 50 best restaurants in the world. The ranking's 22nd edition places The Jane in 36th place – up from 39th last year but still down from 23rd, its ranking in 2022.
"The Jane has been re-fitted to feel like a true temple to gastronomy and is no doubt among the most architecturally beautiful restaurants in the world," the jury's opinion on the restaurant reads, also calling it a "church to fine dining".
"Diners enjoy a well-balanced set menu, mostly composed of (raw) fish and shellfish with delicacies such as the signature lobster with dashi butter," it added. The menu favours seafood to honour Bril's Zeeland roots while paying tribute to French classics and drawing inspiration from Asian street food culture.
Antwerp's culinary jewel is located in the former chapel of the city's military hospital dating back to the 19th century. The eatery is again the only Belgian one to make the top 50 this year.
When looking at the expended list of the top 100 restaurants in the world, of which the results were published two weeks ago, one other Belgian restaurant is featured: the Bozar Restaurant, located in the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, which also has two Michelin stars. It slipped to 63rd place.
The "Disfrutar" restaurant in Barcelona tops the list, followed by "Asador Etxebarri" in the peaceful Basque village of Atxondo (Spain) and "Table by Bruno Verjus" in Paris.
