New Team Transforms Old Stanny Cafe into Cafe Service, Bringing Fresh Concept and Classic Touch

From crowded cafes to renovated star restaurants: the new team behind the project in the old Stanny cafe creates a beautiful fullness. They bring all their knowledge with them.

“In Café Service we want to combine café and fine dishes in a spontaneous way.” With their years of catering experience, operators Daan Gooiker (25) and Tessa Kersten (25) now shine in their own room.

A sense of neighborhood

The tables will be reserved, but the bar must be an accessible corridor for customers and bar hangers from the neighborhood. “Small bar snacks are also available, and if you want to eat a full meal at the bar, that’s also possible,” Daan explains. “We just want people to be able to pass by and say: walk around the block and then come back, the guy at the counter is still drinking his coffee.” They target a total of 52 location settings.

That smooth passage is unique to charming French bistros. “When we were traveling, we noticed that we missed that in Antwerp,” said Tessa. “We are not going to create hot water, but we just want to provide delicious food with a refreshing taste. Classic dishes in a fresh, new look, with a dollop of butter,” laughs Daan.

“Billie’s beer shop will ensure we can offer an original rotating tap. And we also collaborate with Tommie Sjef, a natural brewer from Den Helder in the Netherlands. That naturalness continues in the wines we serve.”

Tessa Kersten

Coffee service

With a great love for the neighborhood, they really want to stay the neighborhood restaurant. “We have to preserve the spontaneity of the Stanny.”

seasonal

Foraging knowledge flows through the veins of all four. Behind the stove are the two Lauren Vergeyle (29) and Robin Gielens (28). Together with Robin, Daan built the summer bar of the Veranda and prepared the kitchens of Meliefste and Sail and Anchor Lauren for this adventure.

“We work with farmers and are guided by the seasons. So our menu changes quite often as we work with what the suppliers have to offer. That immediately challenges our creative brains,” explains Lauren. “At the same time, we also want rubbish counter For example, we can give a farmer who only has three pieces, which would otherwise be thrown away, in three sections for a special praise for the evening service,” said Robin.

Authentic product

Not only do the dishes that customers like have an authentic origin, but this also applies to the drinks. “Billie’s beer shop will ensure we can offer an original rotating tap. And we also collaborate with Tommie Sjef, a natural brewer from Den Helder in the Netherlands. That natural quality continues in the wines we serve. And the Rush Rush Roastery, famous for their coffee bar in the Lange Altaarstraat, will bring our delicious coffee,” says Tessa.

So real products are the weak point of this enterprising couple. To know the product inside and out, Daan also worked for a season at Aurélien Lurquin champagne house. “That’s where you really feel that the wine is their life. I learned so much from these people, they even let me make mistakes. But above all my respect has grown. The weather affects their production so much that a hailstorm keeps them awake all night.”

A new jacket

The iconic neon letters on the front have been largely preserved. The rest of the place got a makeover. The classic paneling, tiles with floral patterns and stainless steel wine buckets on the wooden tables make you feel like you are in a charming French bistro.

Cafe Service is set to open its doors on Wednesday, May 22. “It’s just one big playground for the four of us, we’re looking forward to it.”