Restaurant in Thisnes, Belgium
Easy to book, harder to fault.
Le P'tit Gaby is a Michelin Plate-recognised French contemporary restaurant in the Liège countryside, delivering precise, creative cooking from chef Leruth at a €€ price point. Easy to book, calm in atmosphere, and strong value against Belgium's pricier fine-dining tier. A reliable choice for a special occasion dinner within reach of Hannut.
Getting a table at Le P'tit Gaby is not a battle — booking here is genuinely easy by Belgian fine-dining standards, which makes the quality of what you find inside all the more welcome. This is a Michelin Plate-recognised restaurant in the Liège countryside, run by chef Leruth, where creative French contemporary cooking arrives at a €€ price point that undercuts almost every peer in this category. If you are within reach of Hannut and care about precise, thoughtful cooking without the €€€€ commitment, book it. The decision is direct.
Following a change of venue, Le P'tit Gaby now occupies a bright, modern interior in the heart of the Liège countryside — a setting that reads calm and considered rather than buzzy or scene-driven. The energy here is quiet confidence: the kind of room where you can hear your companion clearly, the service is personal from the moment the hostess greets you, and the focus stays firmly on what is happening on the plate. For a special occasion dinner, a date, or a celebratory meal where conversation matters as much as cooking, that atmosphere is exactly right. Loud, energetic dining rooms suit certain meals; Le P'tit Gaby suits a different kind of evening, one where the cooking is the event.
The room holds 270 Google reviews averaging 4.5 stars, which is a reliable signal that this is not a one-visit curiosity. Guests return, and word has spread steadily enough to build a meaningful public record for a restaurant in a village setting. The Michelin Plate recognition in 2025 confirms the kitchen is working at a level that inspires attention from the guide , a credential that, at this price tier, is genuinely rare.
Michelin describes chef Leruth's cooking as faultlessly thought out, meticulously prepared, and sometimes inspired by exotic influences. That is precise Michelin language, and it tells you something specific: this is not comfort-bistro cooking dressed up, but a kitchen with a clear point of view. The French contemporary format means structure and technique are the baseline, with creative detours that keep the menu from feeling predictable. At €€, you are getting a level of culinary intent that usually carries a heavier price tag in Belgium's better-known restaurant cities.
What the database does not provide are specific dish names or current menu pricing, so if you need that detail before committing, check directly with the restaurant. What the Michelin data does confirm is that the cooking has grown in creativity since the venue move , a positive trajectory, not a restaurant resting on an established reputation.
The wine list is not documented in detail in the available data, which means specific bottle recommendations or depth-of-cellar assessments would be speculation. What is worth noting is the context: a French contemporary kitchen operating at €€ in rural Liège province is likely to pair classical French wine choices with the food format, and the overall price positioning suggests the list is accessible rather than trophy-driven. If wine pairing is central to your evening, call ahead and ask , any kitchen working at this level of menu precision will have considered what sits alongside it. For reference, restaurants at comparable price points in the Belgian fine-dining register tend to hold focused lists built around Burgundy and Loire appellations rather than the encyclopaedic cellars you find at €€€€ houses like Boury. That is not a shortcoming here; it is appropriate to the format and price tier.
For a special occasion, a weekend dinner reservation gives you the most relaxed version of the experience , a countryside restaurant in Liège province is leading enjoyed when you are not watching a Monday work alarm. Spring and early autumn are the periods when Belgian rural restaurants of this type tend to show seasonal produce at its most interesting, and the countryside setting around Hannut makes the drive in (and out) more pleasant in daylight. If your group wants a quieter room with maximum attention from the kitchen, a mid-week booking during spring or autumn is worth considering, though weekend availability appears manageable given the booking difficulty rating.
Reservations: Easy to secure , book in advance but this is not a months-out situation. Address: Rue de la Croix Blanche 8A, 4280 Hannut, Belgium. Cuisine: French Contemporary, Michelin Plate 2025. Budget: €€ , competitive for the quality level; one of the more accessible price points for Michelin-recognised cooking in the region. Dress: Not specified; smart-casual is a safe assumption for a room of this calibre. Groups: No confirmed private dining or group capacity data is available , contact the restaurant directly for parties of six or more. Getting there: Hannut is in Liège province; the restaurant is accessible by car. Check current public transport options if arriving without a vehicle.
For readers building a broader picture of Belgian fine dining or planning a trip around the country's restaurant scene, Le P'tit Gaby sits in a specific and useful position: serious, Michelin-recognised French contemporary cooking at a price that does not require the full budget commitment of the top tier. Explore our full Thisnes restaurants guide for the wider picture, and see our Thisnes hotels guide if you are planning to stay overnight in the area. For context on where Le P'tit Gaby sits against Belgium's more decorated tables, L'air du Temps in Liernu and Hof van Cleve in Kruishoutem represent the upper end of the national conversation, while Bozar Restaurant in Brussels offers a city-based alternative for those who prefer an urban setting. Beyond Belgium, the French contemporary format Le P'tit Gaby works in is explored at different scales by Odette in Singapore and Amber in Hong Kong, both of which show how the format performs at the leading of the international register.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le P'tit Gaby | French Contemporary | Michelin Plate (2025); The bright modern interior of the P’tit Gaby is now located in the heart of the Liege countryside, following a happy change of venue. The hostess’s greeting is as warm as ever, while chef Leruth’s cooking has acquired added creativity. Each dish is faultlessly thought out, meticulously prepared and sometimes inspired by exotic influences. | Easy | — |
| Boury | Modern Frlemish, Creative French | Michelin 3 Star | Unknown | — |
| Comme chez Soi | French - Belgian, Classic Cuisine | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Castor | Modern European, Modern French | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
| Cuchara | Modern European, Creative | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
| De Jonkman | Modern Flemish, Creative | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
At €€ pricing with a Michelin Plate to its name, Le P'tit Gaby sits at a level where the cooking comfortably justifies the bill. Michelin specifically notes the dishes are faultlessly thought out and meticulously prepared — language they use selectively. For creative French contemporary cooking in the Liège countryside without paying Michelin-star prices, this represents solid value.
Bar seating is not documented for Le P'tit Gaby. The venue is a sit-down restaurant in a modern countryside setting, so plan around a table booking rather than a walk-in bar option.
Specific menu items are not published in available data, so dish-level recommendations aren't possible here. What Michelin does flag is chef Leruth's use of exotic influences alongside classical French technique — dishes described as sometimes inspired rather than formulaic. Ask the team on arrival what's driving the kitchen that week; the approach is clearly seasonal and creative.
Thisnes and the surrounding Hannut area have a limited restaurant scene at this level, so the nearest comparable options require a drive into broader Liège province or toward Brussels. Within Belgium, Cuchara and Castor offer creative cooking at accessible price points if you're building a broader itinerary. For a full fine-dining step up, Boury in Roeselare and Comme chez Soi in Brussels are the reference points, but at a different price tier entirely.
Group capacity details are not in the available data. Given it's a countryside restaurant that recently moved to a new venue with a modern interior, it's worth calling ahead or emailing directly to confirm whether the space suits larger parties. The address is Rue de la Croix Blanche 8A, 4280 Hannut.
Yes — it checks the key boxes: Michelin recognition, warm front-of-house (Michelin specifically mentions the hostess's greeting), a calm modern setting in the countryside, and creative cooking without the pricing pressure of a starred room. The €€ price range means a special occasion dinner here won't require the same financial commitment as a Michelin-starred alternative.
Menu format and tasting menu availability are not confirmed in the available data. Given the Michelin Plate recognition and the description of chef Leruth's cooking as faultlessly thought out and meticulous, a structured menu format would suit the kitchen's style — but confirm the options when booking. At €€ pricing, the financial risk of committing to a tasting format is lower than at starred venues.
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