Restaurants in Belgium
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Kokob
Meals at this airy Ethiopian bar/restaurant/cultural centre are based around small, shared dishes, like spiced eggplant or finely ground spinach and cheese, spooned onto a central injera (pancake), with more pancakes provided for you to rip apart and use to scoop up your meal. If you order a pot of Ethiopian coffee (€8), be prepared to wait 15 minutes while the beans are roasted, and to be wired all night.
reviewed
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De Gekroonde Hoofden
Spare ribs (in honey, natural, and the house version, sweet and sour) are the speciality of this large, airy restaurant situated footsteps from Ghent's castle. You can fill up on them à la carte (from around €15) or as part of all-you-can-eat menus (around €24.20 to around €37.70), finished off with chocolate mousse. Staff are welcoming and genuine.
reviewed
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Lombardia
A legendary health-food shop and café located at the heart of the pedestrianised Quartier Latin shopping district. It's run by a hip crew, the décor's way out and the food's all bio (organic). Sells a bit of everything, has English-language newspapers, snappy service and a few tables for diners (plus a huge summer terrace under a shady tree). Bio milkshakes (either beastie or vegan), fresh juices, and there's a range of salads, vegetable pies and sandwiches.
The sign above the counter asks that customers 'Do not spit' - now that's health conscious.
reviewed
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Dansing Chocola
Things get loose at this old-fashioned café, with staff grooving behind the bar or vaulting Tarzan-like up to the wrought-iron mezzanine railing to take orders from upper-level tables, while busking violinists serenade diners. Dishes - Belgian and a few international options like spicy Thai soup - are simple and incredibly filling (go for the 'small' portions unless you're ravenous), and there are sensational fries (around €3 for a bowlful). The kitchen closes at 22:00.
reviewed
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Am Sweet
Spiralling over two floors and several rooms, this charming salon de thé/confiserie on a village-like street resembles a Parisian apartment, with small metal tables, chairs in striped calico slip-covers, shelves of well-thumbed books, and framed watercolours resting against the walls. Not only is it a delightful spot for brunch or a fragrant tea, but the ground floor stocks an enticing array of sweets, including Laurent Gerbaud chocolates.
reviewed
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Comocomo
At this much buzzed-about spot, pintxos (Basque tapas) such as octopus or bite-sized ham sandwiches, glide past on an 80m-long sushi-train-style conveyor belt, and are colour-coded for easy identification (purple for pork, blue for fish and so on). But most diners’ eyes remain fixed on the passing fashion parade outside the big picture-windows.
reviewed
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El Pintxo's
Antwerp's first pintxo (the Basque version of tapas) bar has a cool, sober interior lorded over by a big red bull. The pintxos variados dinner menu includes five cold and four warm servings - great for satisfying those who want to test the lot.
reviewed
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De Foyer
Convivial brasserie on the 1st floor of the Publiekstheater, near the tourist office. Overlooking St Baafskathedraal, dine on an array of Flemish meals and snacks including wicked pancakes. The three-course lunch menu (Monday to Friday only) is great value.
reviewed
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Belga Queen
A couple of years old but still wearing the crown around town. This big brasserie/restaurant occupies a 13th-century warehouse with a prized canal-side position. Seafood lovers, vegetarians and carnivores are all copiously catered for.
reviewed
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Au Stekerlapatte
The grungy façade hides a cavernous bistro where the approach is casual, the menu extensive and the portions large. Meat, fish and fowl - cooked in traditional Belgian ways - are the staples. Well hidden but definitely known.
reviewed
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Brasserie Henry
Sociable brasserie that's become an institution among Namur's late eaters. Expect well-priced Belgian cuisine (vegetarian offerings, too), efficient service and spacious surroundings. It's child friendly and highly recommended.
reviewed
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Marco Polo Trattoria
Part of the Italian 'slow food' drive, combining organic produce and candlelit surroundings. Both the atmosphere and the well-priced meals are highly recommended.
reviewed
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La Quincaillerie
The gleaming brass interior gives a clue to this brasserie's former life as an ironmonger's shop. It woos with seafood specialities.
reviewed
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Frituur No 1
Makes the city's finest frites (fries). Close to the Grote Markt.
reviewed
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Imanus
Best sandwich bar in town.
reviewed
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Gin Fish
Didier Garnich knew it was risky closing his seafood restaurant De Matelote and relinquishing its Michelin star. But he longed for the pre-Michelin days, when an open kitchen allowed him to laugh with the people whose meals he was preparing, and there was no mandate to slavishly follow classic formulas. So he took the gamble and opened Gin Fish. Same address, same attention to quality, same devotion to fish… only this time he's doing it his way.
There's no exhaustive seafood menu, as out-of-season fish is not an option. Instead, only the freshest catch is cooked, and only one menu-of-the-day is offered: two entrées, a main and dessert. Each evening has three sittings -…
reviewed
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René
Deep in the heart of Anderlecht, overlooking a tree-lined square and the local gemeentehuis (town hall), is Brussels' most authentic family friterie-restaurant. It's the Dirk and Dorine Piolon show. Dad, Mum, offspring and in-laws, frying and refrying the frites, preparing a succulent filet américain and dishing up steaming cauldrons of mussels and other Belgian specialities to an appreciative local audience.
Turn up here at lunchtime on Saturday, as the market vendors on the facing square pack up their wares, and you'll find it's full house - only the rickety green metal tables decorating the footpath are unoccupied. For that quintessential Belgian experience, and not a…
reviewed
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Taverne du Passage
Consistently keen service and faithful Belgian meals are the pivotal points of this Brussels institution. Located in the sublime Galeries St Hubert, it has been around since 1928 and stepping through the draped doorway is like zapping away a century. An all-male middle-aged crew strut their stuff in slightly crumpled penguin uniforms, serving ample portions of Belgian classics such as moules-frites (mussels and chips) and waterzooi (cream-based chicken or fish stew).
With some daring, this could be the place to try filet américain (raw minced beef). No matter how busy it gets, the blokes are unfailingly friendly. In summer, tables line up in the gallery outside, and…
reviewed
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Kaffee Pergola
Follow the fairy lights to this most romantic of outdoor addresses, hidden among greenery beside a quiet and very picturesque stretch of canal right in the centre of Bruges. Book one of the four tables perched along the canal, and settle back to the sound of birdsong and the glow of fading light as evening mellows. A limited range of delicious Belgian specialities is offered, and the service is attentive.
This place is owned and operated by the discreet top-end Hotel Die Swaene, located across the canal, and though relatively new is highly popular.
reviewed
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Het Pomphuis
Monumental restaurant-brasserie-bar that occupies an old pump house located on a spit way to the north of the old city centre in the surreal world of Antwerp's mammoth harbour. Inside it's one big glassy space, overseen by eclectic architectural features, including Art Nouveau elements. Enter and come face-to-face with a 7m deep pit where the pumps once turned. The restaurant does Belgian and world cuisine, and the service is friendly and attentive. If you're without a car, a taxi's a must.
reviewed
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De Kleine Zavel
De Kleine Zavel Gezellig (cosy, convivial atmosphere) bistro-style décor and an informal atmosphere belie this restaurant's standing as one of the most sought-after and reliable eateries in the whole country. Fusion cooking with an accent on fish and Mediterranean flavours are the go. For wine lovers there's an extensive world list, and those into beer will find old wooden crates incorporated into the rustic décor. Parking is handy on the nearby quays.
reviewed
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Gin Fish
In the absence of printed menus, diners congregate around the bar facing the open kitchen to watch chef Didier Garnich create gastronomical feasts from the day’s freshest market ingredients. Garnich famously relinquished his formerly Michelin-starred establishment De Matelote, and Gin Fish now has its own newly minted star. You’ll need to book at least two weeks ahead on the weekend, but if you’re lucky you might be able to snag a midweek seat the same morning.
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Walrus
Modern atmospheric eetcafé (eating café) at the southern end of 't Zuid, in an area ripe to take off. Its out-of-the-way location means few tourists come here - this is local central. Sit on the terrace to see the sails of the controversial new Justitiepaleis, or dine inside on dishes any Belgian Mum would be proud to serve. Very kid friendly, too. To get here take tram 12 (direction Bolivarplaats) from Gemeentestraat near Koningin Astridplein.
reviewed
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Metin
One of many little Turkish restaurants strung along Chaussée de Haecht, this is a good spot for a bite after visiting nearby Maison Autrique. They started in the mid '70s, about 15 years after the first Turkish immigrants moved in, and continue to draw plenty of local diners. Start with an iskembe corba (tripe soup), followed by a boat-shaped pide (Turkish pizza), and wash it down with a glass of ayran (buttermilk).
reviewed
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Den Dyver
Not only are the seasonal dishes at this elegant restaurant individually paired with beers, they’re also cooked in Belgium’s favourite nectar. One delicious example is the hare, turnip and cranberry ravioli cooked in Oude Gueuze, which is served with a Petrus Winterbier. Three-, four- and five-course menus can be ordered with a beer accompanying each course. There’s also the option of pairing with wines, but that would be missing the point.
reviewed