Belgians don’t shy away from looking abroad for inspiration. At Nyyo, Linh Nam blends the cuisines of both Belgium and Vietnam into his taupe-colored dining room featuring rattan suspension lights.
Dine on mussels (moules) served with grilled lemon and arugula or indulge in bloempanch – a traditional Flemish stew of pork cheeks in red wine sauce – washed down with a pint of lambic beer!
1. Pasta Pici
Pasta Pici, located right in the heart of Brussels, offers delicious homemade pasta dishes and unique drinks at unbeatably reasonable prices. Its interior design creates an intimate space which perfectly compliments its excellent menu.
Taste authentic Cacio e Pepe sauce and fresh pasta at this charming restaurant with friendly service that even offers you a complimentary glass of wine at the end of your meal!
I had both spinach ravioli and beef ragout with beef – both were outstanding! And don’t miss their tiramisu – absolutely divine! Indulge in their wide selection of beers like Tripel Karmeliet; its aroma will bring delight. Plus, the service and atmosphere were excellent! I will absolutely go back if ever visiting Belgium again!
2. Alberte
Alberte Bistro in Ghent was recently recognized as Belgium’s Sexiest Restaurant (ranked #1 by 2021) with a cozy environment and outstanding selection of natural wines. Their seasonal menu changes often, yet we especially enjoyed dishes like Hokkaido Pumpkin with Buttery Sauce & Pickles and Belgian Beef served with Bone Marrow & Sherry Vinegar. Don’t miss their cocktails either: the Strawberry Goat features goat cheese with strawberries Cointreau Peach Bitters while Navy Grog tiki-inspired combinations of Rum, Green Chartreuse & Falernum!
Antwerp’s newest casual dining spot features one of the city’s best natural wine cellars and serves delicious yet simple cuisine – we sampled kimchi-cheese croquettes, veggies with bagna cauda and sea bass ceviche to name but a few examples! Additionally, service is relaxed while friendly assistance awaits.
This restaurant in an old church is an absolute must for fans of fine dining. Chef Nick Bril uses local ingredients to craft unique flavors that will wow you, while the sommelier will introduce you to his extensive list of Belgian wines which complement each dish perfectly. In addition to main courses, there is also an assortment of appetizers and tapas such as mussels in clam juice, the popular Koninginnehapje vol-au-vent dish (Koninginnehapje is like vol au vents but without the flaky layers), and Stoofvlees (all reasonably priced). Google reviews give this restaurant high marks while prices make this spotless visit worthwhile.
3. Selecto
Belgians are well known for having highly evolved senses of taste and judgment. They place great value in eating food that reflects local heritage while using high-quality ingredients, and will quickly reject pretentious dining spots offering overpriced menu items with sauces lavished upon them.
This traditional restaurant provides comforting cuisine in a welcoming space with attentive yet unintimidating service, featuring French-inspired dishes like smoked quail salad, goujonnettes of sole, black angus beefburger and slabs of steak served with decadent, rich sauces.
At this iconic hut that has been serving Brussels residents for more than 50 years, you’ll find some of the tastiest fries anywhere! Their portions are generous, while their crunchy outside and soft inside fries come with an extensive range of sauce options – making this one of the top places in town to eat fries!
At this charming seafood restaurant in Brussels, the best mussels can be found. These succulent shellfish can be prepared several ways: fried, baked au gratin or steamed. Plus, there’s an impressive menu full of other Belgian specialities, all at prices that reflect quality ingredients and culinary expertise – it’s essential that any true Belgian seafood fan visit this eatery!
4. In t’Spinnekopke
Belgium is home to many incredible foodies and beer lovers, so their restaurant should definitely be on every visitor’s bucket list. Ranked #1 in Belgium and considered by many to be one of the finest dining experiences available anywhere, not too expensive yet providing unique meals such as carbonnade and vol-au-vent; plus plenty of Belgian beers that pair perfectly with its cuisine!
At this restaurant, one of its greatest strengths lies in being vegetarian-friendly. Instead of using beef fat to prepare their frites, they use vegetable-based oils instead. Their fries are both crunchy on the outside and soft inside, with many delicious sauce options to choose from – one of the top places in Brussels to get fries!
This estaminet can be found inside an historic building on Square Bloemenhof in the heart of Amsterdam’s city center. With wood paneling and tiled floors for comforting warmth, as well as old newspaper ads and vintage beer advertisements adorning its walls, this cafe makes an excellent stop on any pub crawl!
