Zilte
Antwerpen, Belgium
⭐3 Stars
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
Zilte strives to offer a global emotional experience, starting with the view of the city skyline from the top floor of the Museum aan de Stroom. The understated designer interior is elegant and cosy, offset by the chef’s old record player which adds a nostalgic jazzy note. Everything is spot on from the gracious welcome and the wine waiter’s savvy tips to the sweet treats served with coffee. Viki Geunes has stripped his restaurant of everything but the essentials, starting with outstanding quality ingredients as he harnesses his creative flair to make each dish a masterpiece of excellence. For example, Geunes may add a tempura of sea urchin, thinly sliced hearts of palm, cream of celery and an unusual mandarin-flavoured miso to immaculately cooked langoustine. He may then also craft a second dish with the same ingredients, surprising us with a whole new repertory of textures. This fastidiously meticulous chef delicately plays with each texture and flavour, conjuring up food that is complex and gutsy, yet free of fussy frills. Now add sauces to die for and exotic side dishes with a surprising, yet mild spicy note and the portrait of Viki Geunes’ consummate skill and talent is complete.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Nostalgic Jazzy Note with an Old Record Player
Despite its modern and elegant designer interior, Zilte uniquely incorporates an old record player that adds a nostalgic jazzy atmosphere to the dining experience, blending contemporary style with a touch of vintage charm.Panoramic Skyline Views from the MAS Museum
Zilte is located on the top floor of the Aan de Stroom (MAS) Museum, offering guests breathtaking panoramic views over the Antwerp skyline and the Scheldt river, making the cityscape an integral part of the dining ambiance and culinary journey.Culinary Focus on the Sea’s Iodic Essence
The restaurant’s name, "Zilte," means "iodic" in Dutch, reflecting its culinary philosophy centered on the scents and tastes of the sea. Chef Viki Geunes emphasizes working with ingredients that evoke this maritime essence, creating a unique sensory experience tied to the sea.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin three-star restaurant Zilte in Antwerpen include:
Sea Urchin: Used in a delicate tempura form, sea urchin is paired with thinly sliced hearts of palm, cream of celery, and mandarin-flavored miso to complement immaculately cooked langoustine. This combination showcases the chef's skill in balancing textures and flavors with a touch of exotic sweetness.
Langoustine: Immaculately cooked langoustine is a highlight, often featured alongside the sea urchin tempura and other refined accompaniments. It exemplifies the restaurant's focus on precise cooking and premium seafood.
Hearts of Palm: Thinly sliced and used in combination with sea urchin and other ingredients, hearts of palm add a unique texture and subtle flavor to signature dishes.
Celery (Cream of Celery): Cream of celery provides a smooth, vegetal element that balances the richness of seafood and the brightness of mandarin miso, contributing to the layered complexity of the dishes.
Mandarin-flavored Miso: An unusual and creative ingredient, mandarin-flavored miso adds a mild, fruity, and umami note that elevates the seafood dishes with a surprising twist.
These ingredients reflect Zilte's emphasis on outstanding quality, creative flavor combinations, and meticulous technique, resulting in dishes that are complex yet refined, with a harmonious balance of textures and tastes.
Menu & Pricing
Current Offerings & Prices
Tasting Menus
- Puur Zilte (6 courses): €195
- 8-gangen menu: €250
A La Carte
- Carpaccio: €25
- Fruits De Mer: €45
- Calamars: €35
- Thon: €40
Signature Dishes
- Blue Lobster: €95