Tessa and Daan transform Café Stanny into Café Service: “Classic dishes in a new, fresh look, with a knob of butter”

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Refined dishes with seasonal products, served with a local drink: experienced catering couple Tessa and Daan bring everything together in Café Service. The doors of Stanleystraat 1 – formerly Café Stanny – open on Wednesday, May 22.

From crowded cafés to refined star restaurants: the new team that is putting its weight behind the project in the former Stanny café forms a beautiful whole. They bring all their experience with them.

“In Café Service we want to combine café and refined 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.

Neighborhood feeling

The tables will be by reservation, but the bar must be an accessible passage for customers and bar hangers from the neighborhood. “There are also small bar snacks available, and if you want to eat a whole meal at the bar, that is 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 man at the counter is still drinking his coffee.” They aim for a total of 52 place settings.

Daan and Tessa open Café Service. Lauren and Robin stand between them. Photo: Margot De Clercq

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

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

Tessa Kersten

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

Seasonal

Catering knowledge flows through the veins of all four and the love for their products radiates from it. Behind the stove is the duo Lauren Vergeyle (29) and Robin Gielens (28). Together with Robin, Daan built the summer bar of the Veranda and the kitchens of Meliefste and Sail and Anchor prepared Lauren for this adventure.

“We work with farmers and are guided by the seasons. Our menu will therefore change very often because we get to work with what the suppliers have to offer. That immediately challenges our creative brains,” explains Lauren. “At the same time, we also want to combat waste. For example, we can process a farmer who only has three pieces on offer, which would otherwise be thrown away, into three portions for a special suggestion for that afternoon service,” Robin adds.

Authentic products

Not only the dishes that customers enjoy have an authentic origin, this also applies to the drinks. “Billie’s beer shop will ensure that we can offer an original rotating tap. And we will also be working 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, known for their coffee bar in the Lange Altaarstraat, will provide our delicious coffee,” says Tessa.

Chefs Robin and Lauren are ready to let their creativity shine with seasonal products. Photo: Margot De Clercq

Pure products are therefore the weak spot of this entrepreneurial couple. To really get to know the product inside and out, Daan also worked for a season at champagne house Aurélien Lurquin. “Then you really notice that their wine is their life. I learned so much from those people, they even allowed me to make mistakes. But above all my respect has grown. The weather has such an effect on their product that a hailstorm keeps them awake for a whole night.”

New jacket

The iconic neon letters on the facade were largely retained. The rest of the place got a makeover. The classic paneling, the tiles with floral patterns and stainless steel wine buckets on the wooden tables make you feel like you’re in a charming French bistro.

Café Service wants 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.”