Brussels Belgium Food
3. Vismet
Another classic Belgian establishment is Vismet, a seafood restaurant where everything is made in-house by a classically trained Flemish chef. The specialty of the house is croquettes aux crevettes (shrimp croquettes), made with brown shrimp and béchamel. I know what you’re thinking, but Belgian brown shrimp is a delicious local delicacy. The process of peeling the one-inch shrimp is known to be tedious, and each chef has their own techniques when it comes to peeling the stuff (some even ship the stuff all the way to Morocco, where labor is cheaper). But at Vismet, the chef’s mother peels pounds of shrimp a day. It’s that kind of place. Sint-Katelijneplein 23, 1000 Brussels, +32 2 218 85 45
4. Caffé al Dente
Nestled on a quite road is Caffé al Dente, an Italian restaurant that serves two daily specials (one fish and one meat), a few pastas and a handful of appetizers.
You can see all the cooking happen behind the bar, where a hefty Italian nonna (who speaks no English, French or Dutch — just Italian) stirs large pots on a massive antique stove. Her sous-chef is a stocky young man who looks like he arrived from Napoli yesterday. Between the two of them, there’s lots of yelling in Italian, resulting in some of the best Italian food you’ve ever had. The dishes are simple, straightforward and delicious. Rue du Doyenné 87, 1180 Uccle, +32 2 343 45 23
5. Friture René
Step into Friture René and you’ve stepped back in time. This gem is located in a somewhat out-of-the-way neighborhood, but definitely worth the trip. Here, everything is as Belgian as it gets, from the beer and fries to the waiters. The décor is perfect: Outdated bulky wood furniture, a well-stocked antique oak bar and black and white tile floor. Everything on the menu comes with a dish of perfect Belgian fries, which the waiters keep refilling. Bottomless Belgian fries? This is not a typo. The highlight of the menu is a 12-ounce horse steak (also not a typo), which arrives with several sauces to choose from. I skipped the sauce and thought that the meat was perfectly seasoned and tendered on its own. If you only have time for one restaurant in Brussels, go here. Place de la Résistance 14, 1070 Anderlecht, +32 2 523 28 76
6. L’Archiduc
Longtime favorite L’Archiduc is located right in the center of Brussels and has been a popular bar amongst locals for decades. The bartenders are famous for their classic cocktails, so grab your favorite and sit in the courtyard with a full view of every angle of the bar. As with any respectable bar in Belgium, choose from more than 200 beers and ee a jazz concert featuring local talent on the weekends. 6 Antoine Dansaertstraat 6, 1000 Brussels, +32 2 512 06 52
