Restaurants in Brussels (Brussels)

Member Name: derhally

Product:	Brussels
Date:	28/09/00 (2234 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent Variety

Disadvantages: Climate is terrible

Note: Estimations based on 3 Course Meal without Alcohol. But include water and soft drinks.

Restaurants

Indian

Indus Valley-37, Pl. St. Gery-1000 Brussels. Tel 512 6389. Metro Bourse or Gare Centrale. From 12 to 3 and 7 to 12:00pm. Closed Monday. Next to the fashionable square that hosts PP Café , Zebra and Mappo Mundo this Indian has a good grease free variety of dishes, from Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori dishes to an excellent variety of vegetarian options like the Tarka Dal, Sag and Okra. 800 BF.

Les Feux de Bengale-rue des Eperonniers 69-1000 Brussels. Tel. 513 5163. Metro Gare Centrale. From 6:00 to 12:00pm. Next to one of the best Lebanese restaurants Al Barmaki this place is cozy and straight forward. Excellent Biryani dishes and good for vegetarians as well. 750 BF

La Porte des Indes-455 Avenue Louise-1050 Brussels. Tel. 640 30 59. Closed Sunday afternoon. They bend over backwards at this establishment. Give them 24 hour notice and they will make the dish you want if its not on the menu. I personally love the Indian rice pudding known as Kheer. The manager Santock did not disappoint and it was worth going out of the way for! Specialties include succulent Crab Malabar, Roganjosh, Chicken Tandoori and a variety of vegetarian options. Several menus from 450, 650, 980. Al Carte 1500 BF. Buffet every Thursday and Saturday evening at 980.

Middle Eastern

Al Barmaki- It is a shame they are not open for lunch and are closed on Sundays, very well be a reflection of the popularity of this establishment. Unless you are going to be there at 7:00 p.m. sharp-you’d better book. Undoubtedly the Fattouche Salad is to die for as is the Baba Ghanouj, spinach fatayer, Falafel and the Shish Taouq. Aside from that the place has a good selection of wine and although no Chateau Musar they do stock Chateau Kefraya. Tony, his wife and Sami will never fail you-deserves a Michellin star! 800 BF
r>Orientalia- Chausée de Mons 129-1070 Brussels. Tel 520-75 75. Metro Clemencau. From 9:00 am-7:30p.m. daily. Closed Sunday. After Noura in Paris and Maroush in London this is perhaps the best Lebanese Traiteur in Europe! Extremely authentic food, including; Moussaka, Taboule, Kibe, Shawerma, Humus, Falafel, Mezzes and to die for deserts like Aish Saraya, Mamoul and Lebanese Crepes Katayef! Extremely cheap and you also have a choice of several set menu at 650, 850 1000, 1250. Otherwise you can get by with 250 BF!!

L'Express- 8 rue Chapeliers, BR1. Tel.: 512 8883. Metro Gare Centrale or Bourse. Closed Mondays.
Elie, Abou Zooz, Jameel and Roy make this place an excellent escape from the hassle of the Grand place’s tourist crowd. From most of the areas’ tourist traps, Express offers authentic Lebanese sandwiches-a choice of beef chicken and for vegetarians falafel. 120-300BF

Rotisserie Persane-rue H. Wafelaerts 50, 1060 Brussels Tel . 538 3766. Closed Mondays. In the St. Gilles district this Iranian rotisserie has classic Persian delights from the usual roasted-grilled chicken with yogurt on the side to delicious bread. 1000-1500BF.

Sahbaz-Chausée de Haecht 102-104-1030 Brussels Open daily. Tel : 02/217.02.77 One of the oldest and perhaps few places in Brussels that offers authentic Turkish cuisine. The usual grilled meat and chicken dishes and Baklava. 1.000-1.500 BF




KASBAH-Rue A.Dansaert 201000 Brussels Tel. 502.40.26 Metro Bourse or Brouckere. Closed Saturday noon. Right next to the fashionable Bonsoir Clara and the excellent Vietnamese Da Kao this is probably one of the best Moroccan places in town. The beautiful setting with couches, rugs, and lanterns throughout, make it extremely a charming place. Several options of couscous as well as tagines. A good selection of oriental and European deserts. 800-1000 BF

Thai Cuisine

The Blue Elephant-Chausée de Waterloo 1120-118
0 Brussels Tel. 374 4962. From 12: 00-3:00 and 7:00-12:00. Closed Saturday afternoon. Without doubt this establishment synonymous with refined, exotic cuisine in a cozy, romantic and jungle like setting. The Owner Karl Steppe founded the first Blue Elephant in Brussels in 1980 and its sister La Porte des Indes in 1983. The Blue Elephant can now be found, in Beirut, Copenhagen, Dubai, London, New Delhi, Lyon and Paris. The variety of food-from soups, chicken, beef, fish and vegetarian should suffice any palate. Try the fish cakes Tod Man Pla, the shrimp Tom Yam Khung soup or the succulent steamed chicken Soufflé. If you have enough room left, conclude your meal with a Tarte Jasmine and some mint tea. Fixed Menus at 450, 650, 980, and 1800 BF. ala carte 1300BF-2000. Open Buffet every Sunday 980 BF.

Les Perles de Pluie-rue du Chatelain 25, 1050 Brussels Tel 649 6723. Metro Louise. From 12:00-3:00 and 7:00-11:30p.m. Closed Saturday lunch and Monday. Incredibly gorgeous and charming restaurant decorated with palm trees and everything from the floors to the tables and chairs are wood. Like the Blue Elephant this restaurant offers excellent Thai dishes from a choice of seven Siamese starters to classic green curry chicken to a seafruit soufflé in a banana leaf! If you plan ahead and are a group of four or more persons call and reserve one of the Kanthoke dining rooms. It can be a bit formal in the evenings. 1250 BF. Open Buffet every Sunday non-stop from 12:00 to 11:00 p.m. at 945 BF.

Tom Yam- Chausée de Boondael 341, 1050 Brussels Tel 646 6404. Bus 74. From 11:00-2:30 and 6:00-11:00. This place is just as elegant as its competitors and even delivers free of charge! Although, the portions are not as generous the quality of the food is not compromised. An excellent range of soups, cold and warm starters, chicken, beef, fish and vegetarian options as well. 750 BF.


Italian

Al Piccolo Mondo-rue Jourdan 19, 1060 Brussels Tel
538 8794. Metro Lousie. Open daily. 12:00-3:00 and 6:30-1:am. Possibly the liveliest Italian restaurant in Brussels. Leo the owner is almost always on the premises to seat you, and some times even tries to take each customer’s order personally. Try the Carpaccio of Salmon, the Penne Arrabiata, the 4 kinds of Pasta with the four kinds of cheese and end with a tiramisu, sorbet or an Illy espresso! 1300BF.

Fellini-Place du Chatelain 32, 1050 Brussels Tel : 534 4749. Closed Saturday and Sunday noon. is another Italian place that is just incredible. The antipasti is superb as is the Penne and Tagiatelli with salmon. If you do go, it should be on a Wednesday for dinner when the Chatelain outdoor market takes place up to 7:30pm. And ask for a table on the upper floor. 1200-1500BF

Intermezzo-off rue Neuf and Tel 218 0311. Metro Rogier or Brouckere. Excellent, authentic, home-cooked Italian pasta. 550BF.

International

BAZAAR-rue des Capucins 63, 1000 Brussels Tel : 02/511.26.00. Metro Porte de Hal. Open from 7:30 pm - late Closed Monday. Extremely lively place on Friday and Saturday evenings. Moroccan atmosphere with a cosmopolitan ambiance. Anything from tagines and couscous, to satay and salads. Good cocktails and wine. Incredible atmosphere. 800-BF.

LA MANUFACTURE- rue N-D du Sommeil 13, 1000 Brussels Tel 502.25.25. Metro Bourse or Brouckere. Closed Saturday and Sunday noon. This place thinks a bit too much of itself but the food is really really really good. The service can be a bit wacky as some the waitresses are a bit overconsumed with how they look and the waiters think they are good enough to be in GQ. The food is a mixture of Asian, French and European cuisine. The menu a bit limited but the quality makes up for that. The sushi nothing special-the Legume Salad is quite good as are ALL the deserts. 700-1000BF.

LA CANTINA CUBANA-rue des Grands Carmes 6, 1000 Brussels Tel : 02/502.65.40. M
etro Bourse or Tram to Lemonier. Closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday noon. As the name says Cuban- Very good. 900-1300BF.

LE MAJESTIC-rue du Magistrat 33, 1050 Brussels Tel 639 1330 Open Daily. This place which doubles almost like bar/club in the evenings is the place to be on Saturday evenings if you want to enjoy good cocktails and some music. The Caiphirnias here are as good as Café PP. The food on the other hand is a mixture of everything so don’t be surprised when you see a Pizza Foie Gras! Cocktails at 250-350 BF Food at 1000-1500 BF.

LA CANNE A SUCRE-des Pigeons 12, 1000 Brussels Tel 513 0372. Closed Sunday and Monday. Close to the Sablon this Caribbean place is quite cosy. Unless you are familiar with food seek advice! 1000-1500BF.

LA TRUFFE NOIRE
Bd. de la Cambre 12, Brussels Tel 02/640-4422
Luigi Ciciriello's Black Truffle attracts a sophisticated clientele with its modern design, well-spaced tables, and a cuisine that draws on classic Italian and modern French cooking. Carpaccio is prepared at the table and served with long strips of truffle and Parmesan. Entrées may include Vendé pigeon with truffles, steamed John Dory with truffles and leeks, and leg of Pauillac lamb in pie crust. The restaurant also has a garden. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch Sat. Closed Sun., Easter wk, 2nd 1/2 of Aug., Christmas wk. Jacket and tie.

Seafood

LA QUINCAILLERIE- rue du Page 43-45, 1050 Brussels Tel 538 25 53. Closed Saturday and Sunday noon. The restaurant very close to the Chatelain area, and housed in a former warehouse is a Brussels institution. If you go to this place it should not only be for the excellent food but the architecture. Try the filet of Salmon and the superb deserts. An excellent variety of wine. 1400 BF


Belgian-French Haute Cuisine

COMME CHEZ SOI (#1 Place in Belgium)
Place Rouppe 23Brussels Tel 512-2921
Pierre Wynants Art Nouveau style exemplifies t
he exquisite and sumptuous experience of dining here. As with the first class cuisine you will find a selection of fine wines, complemented very humble service.. Wynants is ceaselessly inventive, and earlier creations are quickly relegated to the back page of the menu. One all-time favorite, fillet of sole with a white wine mousse line and shrimp, is, however, always available. One minus: ventilation is poor and it can get very smoky. AE, DC, MC, V. 3000-5000 BF

MAISON DU CYGNE R. Charles Buyls 2 Brussels Phone: 02/511-8244
With decor to match its classic cuisine, this restaurant is set in a 17th-century guildhall on the Grand'Place. It's the place to go for power dining. The paneled walls of the formal dining room upstairs are hung with Old Masters, and a small room on the mezzanine contains two priceless Bruegels. Service is flawless in the grand manner of old. Typical French-Belgian dishes include cocotte d'écrivisses et petits gris de Namur (shrimp and crayfish), and agneau pavillac à Cygne (lamb). AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch Sat. Closed Sun. and 3 wks in Aug. Jacket and tie.

OGENBLINK Galerie des Princes 1Brussels Phone: 02/511-6151
This small, split-level restaurant, in a side alley off the Galeries St-Hubert, has all the trappings of an old-time bistro: green-shaded lamps over marble-top tables, sawdust on the floor, and laid-back waiters. There's nothing casual about the French-style cuisine, however: chicken with sweetbreads and goose liver, millefeuille of lobster and salmon, saddle of lamb with spring vegetables. The selection of Beaujolais is particularly good. AE, DC, MC, V. Open until midnight.


Cafes-Bistros

Passiflore- 97 Rue Bailly, BR 5. Tel.: 538 4210 Off Place Chatelaine. Good warm goats cheese salad; great for desserts and café on weekends with a gorgeous view of the church in the area.

A’ Malte-rue Berckmans 30, 1060 Brussels Tel. 537 0991. The atmosphere is extr
emely cozy with the mix of furniture from Africa, Middle and Far East. Definitely a place to visit if you want to unwind and relax after a hectic day around avenue Louise. Good for vegetarians. Sandwiches, Salads, tea and good deserts. 650-800 BF.

Caprices d’ Ambiances-Avenue Louise 173, 105 Brussels Tel. 649 9474. The ambiance here certainly is striking. You may not want to leave once you arrive. The interior is a mix of crème and off-white, complemented by rugs and wooden floors. The food is light French/Belgian, from Nicoise, Salmon and other salad varieties with some quiches and sandwiches. Downstairs in the basement is a shop that sells anything from picture frames and rugs to sofas. A charming place to forget yourself. 650 BF.

Glacier Le Framboisier Dore-rue du Bailli 35, 1050 Brussels tel. 647 5144. From 11:30am –11:00pm daily. Excellent place to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. A good Selection of teas to accompany a variety of ice cream and the endless flavours of sorbet. Perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon. 150-400BF.

Wine Bars etc.

Chelsea Wine-Bar Restaurant-Chausée de Charleroi 85, 1060 Brussels Tel. 544 1977. Metro Louise. An excellent place to visit if you are a wine connoisseur. You can sample wine by the glass or purchase bottles as some cannot be sampled. They have an incredibly good selection of New World wines, such as Australian Shiraz, Chilean and South African Wines, Organic and Lebanese wines. The food ranges from a mixture of salads, pastas, tapas and Belgian classics. This all in addition to the cosy atmosphere, which aside from the wooden furniture and oriental carpets includes a cigar bar and an art gallery with non-stop-music!

Wine-Not- rue Saint Ghislain 55, 1000 Brussels Tel. 513 4774. Metro Porte de Hal. A most intimate place to escape on a Saturday or Sunday if you are on the crowded antique streets of rue Haute and Blaes. You can sample a variety of cheese
and wine. Fixed menus that combine the two with a dessert at 1200 BF.

Mig’ Wine World- Chausée de Charleroi 43, 1060 Brussels. Tel 534 7703. Metro Louise. Incredibly resourceful owner. Aside from stocking wines from Australia, France, Chile, South Africa and after much pestering Chateau Musar from Lebanon Mig’s world also has a regular tasting ritual every Saturday.