Brussels Review

[vjparee]

I've just returned from two and a half days in Brussels with my husband, and I always find good recommendations on this board, so I figured I should let you know what I thought!

Day 1:
Lunch at Mer du Nord: fantastic! The atmosphere was fantastic, the place was packed, probably the busiest place we visited outside of tourist land. We had the croquettes, grilled sardines, mussels and scampi a la plancha. It was all delicious, but the scampi was our favorite. Wine by the glass, and very reasonably priced. I could have eaten every single meal there!

We visited many pubs the first day, ones that stand out are and A La Mort Subite, the Cafe Kafka, and also kitty corner from Kafka, the bar/restaurant with the open kitchen on the second floor.

We had dinner the first night at In't Spinnekopke. We shared the boudin sausage entree (delicious), I had mussels with curry sauce, husband had a carbonnade. While it was fine, and the terrace was pretty, the food was forgettable.

Day 2:
Drinks at Cafe Belga, great atmosphere, and view, and interesting list of beers. Lunch was frites and waffles at the Place Flagey. Probably should have eaten at the Cafe Belga, but I really wanted to have some frites.....

Had a drink at the Falstaff, and loved the interior and the very friendly service, couldn't figure out why anyone would sit on the patio with the stream of tourist busses stopping in front.

Anyone interested in beer should visit the Musee de la Gueze. Self guided tour and then tasting at the Cantillon family brewery, where they brew authentic Lambic beer. Very different, not at all like any beer I've ever tasted!

Dinner was at Re-Source, and was great. We were the only ones in the restaurant for the first half hour, and there were only two other tables by the time we left around 10pm. The emptiness was odd, I assumed a result of the season and the fact that it wasn't touristy, but the food was quite good. We did the tasting menu with wine pairings, it was all delicious. Two cold 'sodas' and a vegetable amuse bouche, tasty and innovative. Fried sardine entree, delicious, paired with a 2008 Macon Villages. The wine was very young, but went well with the fish. My main was fletan with hazelnut and vanilla, delicious and perfectly cooked but I found the red cab/sauv wine match to be an odd match with fish. Husbands veal and ris de veau was to die for. Desserts were good, but I think they were trying too hard. I had pain perdu, and husband had grape aspic, which he didn't enjoy at all.

Day 3:
Had a quick lunch at the restaurant on the top of the Instrument Museum, in the museum area. The building is beautiful, the view fantastic, and the 10E plat du jour was delicious. I can't imagine doing better in such a touristy area. A nice way to end the trip.