Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
7
Places to Eat in . . . Brussels, Belgium
With more Michelin-star restaurants per capita than any other city in the world—yes,
even more than Paris—Brussels doesn't have to take a back seat to anyplace else
when it comes to food. The Bruxellois are passionate about eating, whether they're
patronizing the gastronomic palaces around the Grand-Place, the ethnic eateries
along narrow cobblestoned rue de Bouchers, or the humblest corner stand. Don't
expect dazzling trendsetters—Brussels is a deeply traditional culinary town—but
with traditions this flavorful, it can afford to be.
Eating well in Brussels doesn't have to mean booking a table at a hot restaurant-
of-the-moment. It can also mean indulging in two of the most delectable street foods
anywhere. Thick, square Belgian waffles,
loaded with powdered sugar, are offered at
waffle stands all over town; locals swear by
the slightly sweeter Liege variety sold by the
Belgaufra
chain, with several city
branches. Then there are Belgian
frites,
per-
haps the world's best french fries, twice-fried
for an intensely crunchy crust; the city is pep-
pered with stands selling
frites
in paper
cones, typically topped with mayonnaise
(though many other sauces are offered as an
extra). Generally you can carry your fries into
nearby bars to accompany your drinks—look
for signs saying
frites acceptés.
Every local
has his or her favorite, but one standout is
Maison Antoine,
on Place Jourdanplein
close to the European Parliament.
Brussels's other great local dish is steamed
mussels (mussels from Brussels—it even
rhymes!), served in huge bowls, typically in a
white-wine-and-garlic broth. Huge, jam-packed
Chez Léon
(rue des Bouchers 18;
&
32/
2/511-14-15;
www.chezleon.be) has been
the city's top spot for mussels since 1893.
Though it has spun off several branches, this
noisy hall on rue de Bouchers, with its check-
ered paper tablecloths and open kitchen, still
Comme chez Soi is a time capsule of Art
Nouveau design and classic French cooking.