262083 Thu Nov 21 06:28:16 -0800 2002 7 26 International 0 1384732 Dear All I am going to Belgium in early December. I would like advice and addresses of the best friteries to visit in Brussels and Antwerp. I would like to eat the best of Belgian fries not ones that have been refried five or six times. Any other informal dining options in those cities I will be pleased to hear, including street stands. Thank you Thu Nov 21 06:28:16 -0800 2002 0 Regular Eater 1 1384734 I was in Brussels a couple of weeks ago and had some great frites near the EC. I'll try to find the address and post it. I also had a couple of great meals at Vincent on the Rue de Dominicians. Very traditional Brussels brasserie and a bit more casual than Aux Armes de Bruxelles (and much better IMHO). I had excellent sole meuniere one night and my wife really loved her mussels and frites. The second night, I opted for their fillet of beef flambeed in cognac and cream -- yum! Old fashioned tableside service and reasonable prices to boot. I also had two very fine lunches at La Roue d'Or in rue des Chapeliers, a brasserie a couple of blocks off the Grand Place. Very good roast margret of duck and an excellent hangar steak in an extremely reduced shallot and red wine sauce. The decor is appropriately Art Nouveau/Surrealist. Also moderate and casual. Thu Nov 21 06:46:35 -0800 2002 1384732 0 Mogsob 2 1384737 De Gouden Ecu in Antwerp serves great, traditional Flemish food, accompanied by traditional Augustijn beer! The owner/chef is quite the colorful character. Casual, but reservations required. Thu Nov 21 08:04:24 -0800 2002 1384734 0 Jim Dorsch 3 1384976 There is a sunday flea/antiques market on the Sablon plaza where I had an unbelievable Belgian waffle with ice cream from a truck parked right by Rue Ernest Allard (the side of the Plaza opposite Wittamer chocolates). Tue Dec 03 11:36:07 -0800 2002 1384737 0 Alexandra Wald 1 1384746 For a good dinner or lunch, stay away from the many restaurants along rue des bouchers. Instead, walk a few blocks west to the Ste. Catherine neighborhood and take your pick. Thu Nov 21 11:13:18 -0800 2002 1384732 0 Bob Libkind 1 1384748 I have heard of Maison Antoine in Brussels (Pl. Jourdan) does anyone know what fat they fry the frites in? (thank you again) Thu Nov 21 12:04:50 -0800 2002 1384732 0 Regular Eater 1 1384782 By all means, go to Maison Antoine! The frites there are absolutely excellent (I believe they're fried in vegetable oil) -- piping hot, crispy golden outsides and lush creamy insides. Zowie -- we generally go every couple of weeks, just to fulfill the craving. It's also worth noting (particularly given the, shall we say, less-than-perfect climate in December) that if you don't want to stand around outside wolfing them down, you *can* take your cornet of frites into any of the bars around the place, order a blanche or a kriek, open your frites and have at 'em in warmth. If you're looking for other informal dining options and want something typically Belgian, go to Le Corbeau near the Place du Sablon and have a pita. I'm serious -- you can't go more than a block in this town without tripping over a pita stand -- they're practically the plat national, and Le Corbeau's are some of the best. Other faves, in order of increasing formality: - Volle Gas (Chaussee d'Ixelles on Place Fernand Cocq). Belgian dishes in a very laidback setting. I *highly* recommend the stoemp saucisse (sausage with potato/carrot/broccoli puree), and their moules frites are pretty good. Stay away from poultry, as it tends to be dry. - In 't Spinnekopke (Place du Jardin aux Fleurs, southwest of Place St Gery). This is our "must hit" restaurant for friends visiting from out of town -- they specialize in cuisine a la biere, the building itself dates from the late 1600s and the waiters are a total crackup. Their waterzooi is sinfully creamy and their mussels with garlic are great. - La Table de Mamy (Rue des Cerisiers). This is a bit far from the center (definitely need a cab), but it's great: "grandmother's cuisine" with a twist. Rabbit with prunes and smoked bacon, meatloaf (pain de viande)made to order, shoulder of veal with tomme de savoie, bean-celery root-potato-smoked sausage soup ... I second the recommendation to avoid Rue des Bouchers at all costs. I would also say that, in my experience, it's much easier to eat well for not much money in Paris than here in Brussels. Mediocrity tends to rule here -- so we eat out very rarely (Antoine's frites excepted)! Enjoy your visit. Fri Nov 22 03:45:56 -0800 2002 1384732 0 Kelly 2 1385627 Was in Brussels last week and got to tried out Maison Antoine. Can't tell what oil they use but whatever it is, it makes excellent fries! Definitely the best fries I have ever had and would go back every week if I weren't half a globe away. Should have read this board for Kelly's advice first since it was -7 degree outside and my gf and I were freezing our butt off as we wolf down the fries. Thu Jan 16 05:36:06 -0800 2003 1384782 0 HKTraveler