In Profondeville, between Namur and Dinant, Löctave is no longer just a promise. It is already a certainty.

Since opening last autumn, the restaurant has found its rhythm with quiet confidence. Perched above the Meuse, the house continues to offer a welcome pause from the world. Time slows naturally here, the light still glides across the water and brushes the tables. Nothing has changed. And yet, everything has fallen into place.

In this former manor house, now transformed into a boutique hotel, understated charm has taken root. Deep greens, wall frescoes and high ceilings create a setting that does not seek to impress, but to envelop. You step inside and immediately sense that the place has found its balance.

On the garden level, the sixteen covers now reflect a reassuring consistency. Loïc Thirion has established his signature. Trained in distinctive establishments, including the legendary La Pyramide in Vienne, he is now entirely at home here. His modern, sensitive cuisine has gained maturity. It still seeks neither noise nor showmanship. It moves forward calmly, yet with a conviction that grows stronger with every menu.

The plates have the clarity that marks a promising beginning now coming into its own. Each dish forms part of a fluid composition in which nothing feels out of place: hamachi, green beans, lemon, hazelnuts and pomegranate; beef chuck in an open ravioli, onions, calamansi, dashi and miso; haddock, cauliflower, broccoli, aged Comté and watercress; or duck breast, beetroot, red cabbage, pistachio and poultry jus. A selection of cheeses from La Voie Lactée precedes the final course: kiwi with fresh cheese, almond and green shiso.

Vegetables provide the structure, the seasons set the pace, and the whole menu feels coherent. You sense a chef cooking with confidence, without rigidity, but with a clear sense of direction.

In the dining room, Faiçal Rhayou carries this momentum forward. His experience at Brussels’ two-Michelin-starred Chalet de la Forêt translates into service that is precise, attentive and welcoming, with a natural elegance. Everything runs smoothly, yet the human touch remains.

What stands out just a few months after opening is the consistency. Löctave does not feel like a young restaurant still finding its feet. It feels like an establishment already rooted in its place, already imbued with character.

And what began as a promising debut already feels like the start of a remarkable journey.

LD · Eating · october 2026