Auberge De Poteaupre

dstc

Florida

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Loved this place, one of the best lunches we had while in Belgium. We toured the abbey in the morning which was an incredible experience, so peaceful and beautiful. There are trails through the woods to the restaurant/inn and I wish we would have walk but alas we drove. The place was rather empty on a weekday. We were a bit early for lunch though I guess. Nice shop on the right as you walk in selling Chimay goodies at incredibly reasonable prices. Walked past the bar and to a row of tables along the back wall of windows. Nice view of the fields behind and the pleasant Southern Belgian countryside. Just outside were more tables and a nice playground beyond.

I started with the Doree which they call Chimay Spéciale Poteaupré since it would probably be my only chance to do so. Nice brew. My wife, daughter and I had incredible lunches of cheese, salad, bread, 4 Chimay cheeses quiche & Chimay cheese croquette. Wow, awesome food. Midway I ordered a Chimay Blue and the server seemed happier with my choice nodding as if saying "yes, you finally chose the right one".

The place was spotless and inviting. Nice brew kettle in the middle for decoration and my daughter had a wonderful time on the playground as daddy say and enjoyed his beer.

Such a great spot. Chimay was the beer that got me into the Belgians and that is the reason I visited here over other places, as a thank you. Needless to say I was not disappointed. Wonderful abbey and incredible restaurant. Visit it if you can.

12-11-2009 03:17:10 | More by dstc

bernardus

Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

We stopped by this place for lunch after touring the Abbey of Chimay , 17JUL09. The place is actually a 1-2 mile drive from the actual Abbey and also rents out rooms in addition to being a restaurant/bar. When you walk in, a small store selling tons of Chimay merchandise as well as the three varities of beer and the 5 or 6 kinds of cheese the monks make. A bit further up to the right is the bar, and the main restaurant area opens up too. Old and new Chimay glasses and other merchandise make up the decor, and the place has a cool atmosphere to it.

The menu itself is huge (check out the attached website and scroll to the bottom for a look) but we started off with a Chimay white on tap and a cheese sample with 6 different kinds of cheese. All were incredible as was the beer, which is probably the best Chimay I've ever had. We then moved on to pate and cheese sandwiches before I finished my meal with a Chimay Blue. My wife got the Doree, an on tap only beer the monks drink that I assume is hard to track down anywhere else.

We told our server we were from the US and if there was anything she could send us back with. She came back with the imprinted napkins they use at the restaurant as well as a Chimay wooden coaster holder. We were pleasd to say the least.

If you're touring the Abbey anyway, a stop at the Auberge is a must with a huge menu, great prices, and obviously the outstanding Chimay beers.

09-01-2009 19:50:05 | More by bernardus