The best restaurants Welkenraedt

For thirty years, Le Thème has been creating a buzz. And with good reason: Michel Bebelman changes his "theme" every two years, in collaboration with a team of decorators. The atmosphere is warm and romantic, and the cuisine original, fine and well adapted to the themes. The menus change every month, always in keeping with the setting of the moment and accompanied by their selection of perfectly matched wines, as the owner is a trained sommelier. We go there as lovers to share a moment out of the world and out of time.

Two very courageous owners have embarked on this original and exotic project, which is a welcome change from traditional Liège cuisine. Ndeye Mour N'diaye is Senegalese and masters her cuisine perfectly: acras, moambe or oclombo chicken, duck with mango, thieboudienne, grilled sea bream with Senegalese herbs... The sun (even in the middle of winter) and the flavors of Africa and the Caribbean are reflected in the dishes, which are copious, appetizing and affordable. As for service, Fabienne Servais is on hand to advise guests. What's more, the mixed-race setting is very cute.

One of our favorite addresses in the beautiful Pays de Herve, amidst the orchards of the plateau. The chef clearly likes to cook with an exotic touch: vegetarian wok with noodles and crunchy vegetables, grilled and spicy Thai beef salad, lamb mouse confit and tajine-style vegetables... We're fans of this cuisine, which moves from bistronomy to zenitude. The wine list caters for all price ranges. There's also a magnificent south-facing terrace on the garden lawn. The large dining room is also very welcoming. A must-try establishment.

The restaurant at Le Moulin is an impressive sight in front of the abbey. In the tasting rooms, tavern and terrace on the first floor, you'll enjoy plates garnished with local produce such as Herve or des Moines cheeses, served under cloche, as well as vol-au-vent or omelette du Val, a delicacy washed down with a beer. All are happy to meet here: loyal lovers of the place, locals and tourists alike. A great Belgian getaway, whatever your choice of stop. Don't forget to take a look at the mill's impressive trough wheel.

Attention, original concept! The idea is simple: compose your salad as you wish. You choose the base (iceberg, arugula, rice, pasta, quinoa, etc.), then the dressing and the ingredients that will make it a marvel. There's a vast choice of fresh produce (tomatoes, avocado, pine nuts, feta, bacon, chicken, grilled eggplants, walnuts...). A few suggestions are on the menu, such as the Caesar salad with its special anchovy vinaigrette. The place, with its industrial allure, is an ideal stop-off point for a quick, healthy lunch.

Frédéric Maquin is one of the most discreet, focused and perfectionist chefs in Liège. The menu changes regularly with the seasons, accompanied by a suggestion of the moment. Inventive and imaginative, it revisits the classics. Dishes that reflect her cuisine include filet de biche served with poivrade, cranberries, parsnips, chanterelles and chicon, or cod with cabbage, charlotte crush, ginger and peanuts. The lobster menu is available by reservation only, and must be ordered 48 hours in advance.

Thierry Marée has been at the helm of this Liège-style Lyonnais bistro for almost 20 years. The warm decor of this thatched cottage with its copper pots and pans. Sitting on one of the wooden benches, you'll be tempted by pork snout remoulade, genuine Liège-style meatballs, some of the best in the city, oven-baked knuckle of ham... A must-try is the truffled oeuf cocotte with foie gras mouillettes, a real delight. A fine menu of traditional dishes washed down with fine vintages or Lyonnais pots.

This is one of the most pleasant addresses with its large terrace on the banks of the Meuse in the summer. At the head of the updated sign, Max Guldentops and Gregory Franchi. Here the decoration is modern, very clean and bright, offering an absolute view of the river. A place that offers dishes ranging from the simplest brasserie dishes (prepared American, scampi friti, vitello tonato...) to the noblest such as lobster or cod back and other fresh fish, so that you can open their menu to all wallets and desires.

Here's an old mansion transformed into a wine bar, offering nearly 70 wines by the bottle and 25 by the glass. The room is decorated in a chic recycled style, with a cosy, trendy feel. From here, the open-plan kitchen offers permanent show cooking (which you can visit if you wish), as well as a vegetable kitchen. The à la carte menu includes momenties, tapas combining French and Mediterranean cuisine, and a bistronomic menu offering 3 or 5-course menus, including an entirely vegetarian menu featuring seasonal vegetables.

Here, no Asian kitsch decorations. The atmosphere is muffled and the setting current. Shanghai (open since 1963) offers refined dishes. We let ourselves be tempted by the lobster sauté flavoured with ginger or by the matchstick beef sautéed with onions, house specialties. The outstanding wine list offers more than 40,000 bottles in a ripening cellar located under a church. We don't say whether the wine is blessed there, but the hygrometric and temperature conditions reach the heavens! Each dish is thus matched to the wine that suits it best.

Taken over at the end of 2023, this institution of Liège's gastronomic landscape has benefited from a refreshment while retaining the unique style of the place. The traditional Art Deco brasserie is unique in the region. The kitchen offers a variety of lobster dishes. The menu evolves with the seasons. The seafood platter features oysters, clams, mussels, langoustines, half clams, shrimps and periwinkles. You'll also appreciate the shrimp croquettes, considered the best in the city, as well as the genuine Liège coffee.

We love a fondue specialist! We're not in Savoie, but on the edge of the Hautes-Fagnes. La Faitafondue offers no less than fifteen different types of fondue, from the most classic to the most unexpected. Prices vary according to choice, but the fondues are always all-you-can-eat. Another original feature is that the staff's decor and costumes change every four months. No doubt to make you want to return more often. And to round things off, the meals continue, in costume, on the dance floor!

If you're in a hurry, don't bother: here, you'll find time to enjoy a wide range of dishes, often late into the night. The establishment is nestled in a pretty villa in a shady park. This is real cooking, just the way we like it. Spaced-out tables offer the comfort and discretion appreciated by a clientele of regulars. Service is friendly, efficient and attentive throughout the meal. The establishment has four comfortable guest rooms. Definitely an address not to be missed in the Condroz.

Its name comes from the first owner, whose father was a veterinarian. She is said to have put a pig fetus in a jar of formaldehyde! In April 2017, Thierry Vanbrabant and his wife Sandra took over this old establishment dating back to 1747. They kept the name - but not the jar! - and decided to fit out the rooms with exposed beams and a vaulted cellar. The menu is traditional, with homemade dishes and, wherever possible, local produce. It's best to book in advance to avoid disappointment.