Minerva

The story

Minerva Antwerp: Pure French Cuisine Says Goodbye in 2026

A historic setting

Restaurant Minerva occupies a former garage built in 1936, just a stone’s throw from the original Minerva automobile factory, a Belgian legend. What appears enigmatic from the outside reveals itself inside: a warm, unpretentious welcome and an interior that is cosy, tasteful, and timeless. The industrial character, layered with memories of a bygone era, sets the stage for a classic French dining experience.

Classic French cuisine

For more than 25 years, An and Philip Iserbyt have been “sleutelen aan een culinaire ervaring” – tinkering with a culinary experience that lingers. Their kitchen is rooted in the pure, classic French tradition, using only fresh, carefully selected ingredients. The menu reads like a homage to the canon: house-marinated Scottish salmon, langoustines with butternut and bisque, roasted halibut with dijonnaise, and a fillet pur with bordelaise and tarragon. For two, the barbarie duck à la Rouennaise or the sea bass baked in coarse sea salt are dishes that demand sharing – and time.

The restaurant’s Michelin Recommended status reflects the consistency and integrity of this approach. Every dish is the result of passion, experience, and teamwork.

A final chapter

With a mixture of pride and melancholy, An and Philip have announced that Restaurant Minerva will close its doors on 1 May 2026. “We are not closing a restaurant,” they write. “We are closing a chapter of our lives.” For twenty-eight years, the dining room has witnessed first dates bloom into marriages, regulars become friends, and generations gather around the same table. The decision comes after long days, early mornings, and holidays spent in service – a beautiful but intense journey.

Until that final date, the kitchen continues to serve its classic cuisine with the same warmth and precision. Lunch or dinner, the experience remains pure and hospitable, just as it always has been.