Restaurants

Another one of those typical places which are always pretty packed because the food they serve is very very good!!

The list of quiches is never-ending (and with a choice of vegetarian dishes) and they are always served with salad and bread. If you can’t decide which one to eat, just go by the counter and check them out. Just be careful, if you pass in front of the cakes fridge you will not be able to avoid ordering a big piece of one of them. The strawberry one it’s just fantastic. If you can’t live without them, you can also order them take away!

There’s a good choice of beers (Hoegaarden served with lemon slice, just the way I like it) and tasty freshly squeezed orange juice.

The staff is always rushing and sometimes a bit “hard” but they will always find you a place! Sit at the ground floor or the terrace: service is definitely better there!

Opened a few years ago, Mamma Roma is one of the meeting points for quick and healthy food in town for any time of the day. There are now 6 shops in Brussels plus 1 in Waterloo. 4 are located near 4 of the main apero squares in town (Chatelain, Flagey, Jourdan and St Gilles Parvis), 1 (Bondael) in the university area and 1 right in the center next to St. Gery. They serve sliced pizza (pizza al taglio) in 10 or more different flavors.

You choose which one, you choose how much and there you are: your quick dinner is ready. It’s good, really, I’m Italian and I have some knowledge about pizza. It’s cheap too. The ‘lunch’ is 2 slices plus a drink, and it’s just € 7.90 and all day long you can have a dessert menu (2 slices and 1 dessert) for € 8.90. And for take away it’s the same price.

The only downside… it’s always crowded. My favourite is the one in pl. Jourdan: it’s bigger and has a nice terrace for the summer.

This Peruvian restaurant is also a shop. You can buy Inca cola, beers, medicinal tea (their sleeping tea is especially miraculous) and other items. The food is traditional and to me it is all very new. I have never tried some of these dishes before. The interior is beautiful with so many objects to look at. The lighting is great and the colors of all the decoration and products is very nice.

Dimension – Latina’s menu consists of tapas (empanadas, quesadillas and chorizo..), Entrees (fish, guacomole,..), main menu (fish, chicken, ..) and desserts (meringue, ice cream, cookies,..). I definitely recommend going there. It’s right in the center not far from the grand market place.

A good restaurant with a beautiful interior. Centrally located near la Bourse it offers a quiet place amidst the crowded and busy area. I adore the bar and the intimate atmosphere. They have fish, meat and pasta. The meals are excellent and the desserts are fantastic. I like talking with the owner who has lived here for a long time and knows all the changes the city center has experienced over the year.

Since most restaurants in the center cater to a big tourist community the quality is often not that high. With this restaurant you can’t go wrong. Visited by people who come back here often and tourists that are in no way disappointed, this little place is worth your visit. When it’s warm you can sit outside, but I think sitting inside with a loved one will be a more romantic experience.  

Great place, great food and an excellent service!

I have to admit I preferred the restaurant before the renovation. It was great to go there and see all the chess players on long tables playing for hours. In the evening it was a nice to place to go to.

So now they cleaned the place up it’s a fancy restaurant with waiters in costumes and fancy food. But it is still in a great street where it’s fun to sit outside during the summer. Next to it there is the restaurant ‘fin de siècle’ which offers even better food and a lovely interior.

Across Greenwich there is a nice bar ‘Lord Byron’ where you can spend hours drinking wine, talking and seeing the people across the street trying to get a table at one of the two restaurants. It might be a good idea to make a reservation!

At Greenwich there is typical Belgian – French food at reasonable prices and good quality drinks. There are also magazines and newspapers to read. I recommend sitting outside there are not too many cars passing by which makes it a quiet place to relax.

The street is lined with other bars, restaurants, a biological shop and macrobiotic restaurant, second hand fancy clothes shops, gift shops and a Japanese futon furniture shop. And the houses are magnificent. Check it out!