Chalet Robinson – Eat on an isle

How many restaurants offer the possibility of eating on an uninhabited island? Chalet Robinson does just that. With a name evocative of the Swiss Family and Mr. Crusoe, both of castaway fame, Chalet Robinson lies on a tiny islet in the middle of Bois de la Cambre, Brussels’ biggest park.
 
The restaurant offers a mixture of brasserie food and more international dishes. My favourite is the meatballs in red sauce and I tend to stick to that each time I go! The food, however, is only part of the experience. The place offers a unique getaway experience only a stone’s throw away from the city centre. To reach Chalet Robinson you have to take a barge that ferries you across the 50-odd-metre stretch of water. But that short distance is enough to provide a buffer from the hectic city life just outside the park perimeter. My children love the adventure! Not to mention that the islet is also home to colonies of swans and ducks with a few rabbits and plenty of space to run around! 
 
As one might expect there is also plenty of room for eating outside and the Chalet even has a sun deck with deck chairs strewn among the greenery. Brussels might not be the sunniest of cities, but on those occasions when the sun shines, Chalet Robinson is definitely one of be places to be.
 
Ah, and don’t forget to take a sherbet from the captain’s treasure chest after the boat trip!