At the End of the Road, the Beautiful Inn

For some, happiness hides in glitter and extravagance. At La Fermette, it prefers restraint. It lingers in the crackling open fire, in the local stone façade, and in that rare feeling that time here never tries to rush forward.

To reach Falaën, you leave Dinant behind, climb the Mosan hills and accept to slow down. The fortified farmhouse appears, timeless and still, before the village quietly unfolds its calm. There, along a road that feels almost painted by hand, La Fermette continues to embody something increasingly precious: the true country inn, deeply human and sincere.

For years, the house has evolved quietly, yet with remarkable consistency. Old stone walls, warm atmosphere, generous tables… nothing here feels designed to impress artificially. Everything seems built to last.

Inside, the fireplace still sets the rhythm, while in the kitchen Michael Vancraeynest continues to follow a philosophy rooted in terroir and proximity. The chef works with reality: seasons, local producers and honest ingredients. A cuisine that is clear, generous and coherent, where technique always serves immediate pleasure.

The seasonal menu perfectly reflects this philosophy. The French-style pea salad with fresh grey shrimp and shrimp ice cream, green asparagus from Ferme de la Couture, watercress-wasabi condiment and Maltaise sauce opens the meal with freshness and precision. The red scorpionfish fillet with white asparagus and guanciale, lifted by a wild garlic espuma, brings a broader and more vegetal expression.

Then come the veal fillet with piperade, chorizo and reduced homemade red wine vinegar, or the house signature: wood-fire grilled ribeye with béarnaise sauce and spiced potatoes. Cheeses from Falaën and beyond continue that deep connection to the region, before a delicate finale of meringue, Granny Smith apple, kiwi, white chocolate and mascarpone chantilly.

But at La Fermette, one cannot overlook the legendary lobster menu, eagerly awaited each year by loyal guests who sometimes travel across Belgium just for it. A true house tradition that has become almost mythical over time.

From May 10 to June 30, lobster is celebrated here with generosity and finesse: claws in court-bouillon with peas, rhubarb and beetroot; roasted tail with sweet onions and parmesan crisp; lobster cappuccino; then wood-fire grilled lobster with fresh thyme, before strawberries from Falaën bring the meal to a gentle close. An emblematic menu that perfectly captures the spirit of the place: generous, convivial, precise and deeply devoted to hospitality.

And then there is Sarah. Present with the discreet elegance of a true hostess, she accompanies each table with sincere attention and warmth that gives the house its soul.

A deeply human address where simplicity, kindness and authenticity reign. A favourite that returns again and again, without ever losing its charm.

LD · Eating · June 2026