De Lieve is one of the better traditional restaurants within easy walking distance of the Markt. The menu centres on Flemish classics: stoofvlees (beef braised in Liefmans oud bruin), rabbit with prunes, and seasonal game from the surrounding countryside. The cooking is honest and unpretentious, and the portions are generous enough for cyclists who have spent the day in the hills.
The dining room is small and books up quickly on race weekends. On a normal evening it is relaxed and friendly, with a good selection of local beers alongside the food. The stoofvlees made with Oudenaarde's local brown ale rather than a generic Belgian beer is worth ordering for the regional connection alone.