Someone wrote: > >It appears that I am destined for a trip to Bruxelles. >Can someone recommend some "must try" places while I am there? Just returned from a couple of weeks in Belguim. You're in for some good and some expensive eating. First off, get thee to Brussels only 3 star restaurant, Chef Pierre Wynants Comme chez Soi - 23 Place Rouppe. You'll need reservations and figure on $150 to $200 a person, depending on the wine. More reasonably priced and serving excellent traditional Belgian fare - both Taverne du Passage, close to the Grande Place and Falstaff across the street from the Bourse (stock exchange). Better selection of beer at Falstaff, but the food was a bit better at Taverne du Passage. Another must, and you can do this as part of a trip to Bruge, is Si Versailles restaurant in Knokke-Heist - a small seaside resort on the North Sea, maybe 40 km from Ostende. Si Versailles serves the best mussles in all of Belgium, which means they serve the best mussles in the world. I had a pot of mussels cooked with cream and watercress. And, perhaps, the finest fare I had in Brussels was my daily afternoon snack of a paper cone of Pommes Frites (the ultimate french fry) topped with a dollop of mayonaisse from the corner stand across from the Bourse. Then again, I never had a single bad meal in all of Belgium. Try to get to the Bouillon area in southern Belgium, too. Good french cooking at great prices - and a beautiful part of the country. A tour of the Chateau (fort) overlooking Bouillon is also a must. Have a bowl of waterzooie and a mug of Duvel for me. Enjoy, Holly Moore. From [email removed] Tue May 20 20:12:27 EDT 1997 Article: 33351 of rec.food.restaurants
Belgium
Bruxelles recommendations
Someone wrote: >It appears that I am destined for a trip to Bruxelles. >Can someone recommend some "must try" places while I am there? >-- >L R Allen, Last of the Horsefeather Hippies. >The chief problem about death, incidentally, is the fear that there may >be no afterlife-a depressing thought, particularly for those who have >bothered to shave. Also, there is the fear that there is an afterlife >but no one will know where it's being held. > - Woody Allen Without Feathers. If you have the time, I would also recommend at trip north to Antwerp. There are a number of interesting museums: Museum of Fine Arts, Plantin Moreteus Printing Museum, Vlees Huis Museum, Steen Shipping Museum, and of course the Diamond Museum. Architecturally there are some interesting gems, the Cathedral, St. Charles Church (Baroque style), the Guild Houses of the Grote Markt (Old City Center). Also there are a couple of bars in very old cellars: The Pelgrim, on the Pelgrimstraat, and De Cluyse (13th century), on the Suikerrui. (Although De Cluyse has been closed the past few weekends, I am not sure if this is for renovations, vacation, or for good. Will keep you posted.) In Brussels, the Grand Place/Grote Markt is the most exciting area. Around here you will find Guild Houses, the City Hall, the Brewers House (good museum and great restaurant!) I would recommend a drink in the Roi de Espagne located on the Grand Place as it has an interesting decor. You should also consider a walk through the gardens on the Rue Royale/Koningstraat. If it is open a tour though the palace is also interesting. I would also recommend a trip by the Palace of Justice, it is a grand building and to me quite impressive. The art museums of Brussels are also interesting. Across from the Grand Place, in the opposite direction of the Mannekin Pis is a large covered shopping mall. The mall itself is quite interesting. This leads to the rue de Bouchers which is famous for fish restaurants. Just a walk through this area is interesting as all the restaurants display their fish elegantly arranged on ice beds outside their door. Of course in the summer you can eat outside so the street is fairly congested. There are two very good restaurants on the Sablon. One is Lola a small bistro. The second, on the Petite Sablon, is Duque d'Aremberg. The latter is a popoular place among the consulate generals and political types. Expensive, but good. Menus vary depending upon the season. Here are a listing of restaurant my wife and I enjoy in Antwerp and Brussels. Some of those in Brussels are recommended by my wife's boss. He is the president of the European operations for Komatsu, so he entertains a lot and has more experience with Brussels that we do. Enjoy! CAM ***************************************************************** Antwerp Restaurant Possibilities (In no order of preference) ***************************************************************** Fascade Conscienceplein 18 B-2000 Antrwerp BELGIUM T: (32) 3 233 5931 F: (32) 3 255 2404 Bistro style. Various daily menu's. Botanica Leoplodstraat 24 Antwerp BELGIUM T: (32) 3 225 1004 Spice Garden, Swiss style house from 1850. Ciro's Amerikalei 6 Antwerp BELGIUM Tel: (32) 3 238 1147 Great Steaks! Not much on ambiance, just good food. Dockx Cafe Jordaenskaai 7 Antwerp BELGIUM T: (32) 3 226 6330 Oyster Bar, Seafood, Brasserie. Great internal decor. Estro Armonico Oude Kornmarket 216 Antwerp Belgium Tel: (32) 3 226 0890 Grill restaurant in 14th centruy cellar. Located in old part of city. Specializes in lamb and beef. Hollywood Witloof Hofstraat 9 Antwerp BELGIUM T: (32) 3 233 7331 Varied daily menu. In cellar. interesting decor. Las Mañas Ankerrui 36 B-2000 Antwerp Belgium T: 03/231 7220 F: 02/234 0274 Great Spanish restaurant. Good tapas, and merzuela. Many people trythe paella, but I don't think it is so good. Has typical Spanish feel, stainless steel bar, wandering musicians, nosiy! Pasta Pelgrimstraat B-2000 Antwerp Fresh Pasta and frshly made sauces. I would recommend eating upstairs, this is where the locals eat. If possible, try to get a table ont he top floor as it has a glass roof and a nice view of the cathedral. Pizzeria Toni Oude Kornmark Antwerp BELGIUM Tel: (32) 3 226 0300 Typical Italian dishes and pizza. Good for lunch and Tony's a trip! Preud'homme Suikerrui 28 Antwerp BELGIUM Tel: (32) 3 233 4200 One of the best restaurants in Antwerp. Top Class fine dining. Closed Tuesdays. Rib's Cafe Oude Kornmarkt 22 B-2000 Antwerp Belgium Tel: 03/234 0332 All you can eat BBQ ribs! Sir Anthony Van Dijck Oude Kornmakrt 10 Antwerp BELGIUM Tel: (32) 3 233 9125 Perhaps the best restaurant in the city. In the oldest street of the city. Reservatiosn a must. Closed Saturdays and Sundays. Yarnayu Santatsu Ossenmarkt 19 Antwerp BELGIUM Tel: (32) 3 234 0949 Japanese specialities. Great sushi. Closed Mondays. Zuiderterras E. Van Dijckkaai 37 Antwerp BELGIUM Tel: (32) 3 234 0254 Great location right on the River Schelde. Bistro style. Does a great sunday breakfast. Hungry Henrietta Sint-Jacobstraat 17 B-2000 Antwerpen BELGIUM Tel: (32) 3 232 2928 Unique Menu, good food. Varies menu daily. reservations recommended ****************************************************************** Brussels Restaurant Possibilities (In no order of preference) ****************************************************************** Bistro des Gorets 6 rue des Teinturiers B-1000 Brussels BELGIUM Tel: (32) 2 514 5646 Great place for a quite bite to eat. Great wine, cheese and breads. Grillange 7 Avenue E. Pirmez B-1040 Brussels BELGIUM Tel: (32) 5 649 2685 Fax: (32) 5 649 2685 Spanish style. Great variation on Spainsh recipes. Les Porte des Indes 455 Avenue Louise Brussels BELGIUM Tel: (32) 2 647 8651 Fax: (32) 2 640 3059 Indian Style food. again an ecclectic style and adaption of classical Indian. Armes de Bruxelles Rue des Bouchers 13 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/511 5598 Seafood. Closed Mondays. Chez Francois Place St. Catherine B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/512 3277 Seafood. Closed Mondays Chez Leon Rues des Bouchers 18 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/511 1415 Famous place for Mussels. Should make a reservation. Comme Chez Soi Place Rouppe 27 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/512 2921 Closed Sunday and Monday Ecailler du Palais Royal Rue Bodenbroeck 18 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/512 8751 Seafood. Closed Sunday. Fontaine de Jade Ave de Tervuren 5 B-1040 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/736 3210 Not near Center. Closed Tuesdays Maison du Cygne Grand Place 9 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/511 8244 Classic dining. Closed Saturday noon and Sunday. Mon Maege a Toi Neerveldstraat 1 B-1200 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/770 0238 Closed on weekends Rugbymann 1 Quai aux Briques 4 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/512 5640 Seafood, known for lobster Rugbymann 2 Quai aux Briques 12 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/512 3760 Second restaurant from same owners. Again seafood, known for lobster Samurai 1 Rue Fosse aux Loups B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/217 5639 Japanese/sushi. Closed Sunday Noon Tagawa Avenue Louis 279 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/640 5095 Classic Japanese The de Pekin Rue de la Vierge Noire 18-24 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/513 4642 Villa Lorraine Chaussee de la Hulpe 28 B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: 02/374 2587 Closed Sunday, Monday. Due to a high volume of unsolicited spam, I have had to alter my log-in e-mail address. To contact me via e-mail, please remove the "." from the address. The proper address should read "[email removed]". From [email removed] Sat Mar 29 17:20:26 EST 1997 Article: 32036 of rec.food.restaurants