Spaghetti lovers, get ready to drool. Mister Spaghetti is coming to Kortrijk. The 140-seat restaurant will open in the second week of July on the lower banks of the Leie. “It’s a location that exudes charm,” say owners Veerle Jacobs and Samuel Van Opdenbosch. Bad news for competitors Petit Paris and ’t Fonteintje? “We’re not worried at all.”
Mister Spaghetti already has restaurants in Bruges, Roeselare, Aalst, and Antwerp. The fifth restaurant will open in Kortrijk, at Handboogstaat 10 on the lower banks of the Leie. “We’re converting the two ground-floor apartments of an apartment building into a restaurant with an open kitchen, offering 70 seats inside and another 70 on our terrace along the Leie,” says Veerle Jacobs. “The enthusiasm of the people of Kortrijk has won us over (the Mister Spaghetti Kortrijk Facebook page has already received nearly 4,000 likes, ed.). And it’s a location with a lot of charm and appeal, which will help us easily reach a large audience.”
Don't lose customers
The arrival of Mister Spaghetti is a blessing for fans of this popular dish. But isn’t there some competition in the air? After all, there are already two places where you can get “the best spaghetti in Kortrijk.” At Petit Paris on Rijselsestraat, there’s no sign of panic. “I don’t feel like I’ll lose customers to Mister Spaghetti,” says owner Vincent Vermaut. “There will certainly be customers who’ll go there to eat out of curiosity during the first few weeks. But I think Mister Spaghetti will attract a younger crowd than Petit Paris,” says Vermaut. At the traditional pub and eatery ’t Fonteintje at 12 Handboogstraat, they’re not worried either. “Mister Spaghetti will be our new neighbor here, on the lowered banks of the Leie,” says manager Niels Lybeer. “We’re not going to lose any customers. We’ve been an established fixture here for so long. And people don’t just come to ’t Fonteintje for our spaghetti—they also come for the atmosphere and the conviviality. As far as I’m concerned, the lower Leie embankments can be packed with restaurants and bars. Because crowds attract even more crowds. I wish the folks at Mister Spaghetti the best of luck,” says manager Niels Lybeer.
22 different types of spaghetti
Work on the interior of Mister Spaghetti is already underway. “We’re opening in the second week of July,” says Veerle Jacobs. “The concept is identical to our other locations.” For those unfamiliar with the restaurant: the menu features 22 different spaghetti dishes, including seven varieties with Bolognese sauce and, for those looking for something a little more special, options with scampi in a lightly sweet-and-sour sauce or with chicken and tarragon. “We serve large portions—that’s what we’re known for. And we always let customers take leftovers home, if they’d like. It’s convenient for our customers and helps reduce our waste,” continues Veerle Jacobs.
Open 7 days a week
“Another perk: we’ll be open seven days a week in Kortrijk, both for lunch and dinner. That’s because we’re in a prime commercial location. And, just like in our other restaurants, we’re launching an XL Challenge here, which is getting a lot of attention everywhere. Anyone who can eat 2.3 kilograms of spaghetti with sauce within 30 minutes gets that serving for free, plus a certificate and a spot on our wall of fame. 2.3 kilograms seems impossible, but there are people who manage to do it.”
JOURNALIST:
Peter Lanssens
SOURCE:
https://www.hln.be/in-de-buurt/kortrijk/mister-spaghetti-komt-naar-kortrijk-we-kiezen-voor-de-verlaagde-leieboorden~a6d37bd5/?fbclid=IwAR3p_BeVyQDRShN3IShfP1ieBWRTB_vSPSBEXCzHOvNHlf0VJtc55q2zS5g
