Belgium

A well-balanced mix of conviviality, exchange and reflection... At the start of a "project kot", four young people enthusiastically launched this café-citizen where debates and other militant events are organized. The menu is praiseworthy and includes a number of seasonal specialities, both organic and home-made (pasta, quiches, soups, sandwiches...). With special beers and some cocktails from far away places. Nice decoration and concert evenings, including regular jam sessions. Don't hesitate to check their Facebook page for the calendar.

ABC Mateos mixes Brussels and Spanish tradition by offering delicious tapas (in a very popular Street Bar formula) directly linked to the daily arrivals of fish and shellfish. Sea snails, shrimp croquettes, fish soups, grilled sardines, fried smelts, paella, oysters, all accompanied by a glass of white wine... Small selection of Spanish wines to take away. You can lick your fingers and keep them clean to start a seafood platter, if ordered. In short, this is much more than a fishmonger's, welcome to Max's!

This is the place to go for vegetarian and vegan cuisine, but it's not just salads filled with lettuce and vegetables! In this small restaurant, you can enjoy new flavors in the more substantial form of burgers, falafels, quiches, soups, salads and daily specials that vary according to the season. We particularly like the seitan salad, a plant-based meat made from wheat protein, full of color and flavor. All superbly presented. In short, a great address in Kortrijk!

Vincent and his wife Ling, originally from China, offer local cuisine. Seasonal produce is sourced from their farm or from nearby farms. Madame is in the kitchen and sets the scene, sometimes with a more exotic touch... Egg rolls and noodles are made with vegetables from the farm. The rest of the menu is more classic and local: american, escabeche, charcuterie boards, brochettes... and some nice suggestions. The setting is rather contemporary. A good place to eat in the region.

The concept of this wash bar is to combine the useful with the pleasurable, or even the choreable with the pleasurable, as you watch your laundry run while enjoying a bagel or a slice of toast and listening to the gentle hum of the drums. If you're tired of washing your jeans with hotel soaps, don't bother! The sofas are soft, and the menu is plastered on the bottom of old drawers overlooking the tiled counter. Salads, bagels and burgers are packed with colorful, tasty vegetables, fresh, healthy, affordable, central and inevitably trendy.

The industrial decor of this organic eatery has a somewhat vintage feel. Very spacious and airy, it features well-separated tables and offers artists or collectors the opportunity to display their treasures or works. You'll receive a simple but sincere welcome and a smile. The philosophy of the place is slow food, using organic and seasonal products, with a vegetarian and even vegan bias. As if to put an end to clichés, the cuisine is refined, the plates pleasantly tidy and the prices very reasonable.

When veganism rhymes with haute cuisine! Nicolas Decloedt's establishment ticks all the right boxes. First of all, there is the location, next to the Place Flagey. The room is sublime with its high ceilings and frescos. The cuisine is based on 24 micro-seasons with organic products. Nothing is thrown away, the leftover vegetables are used in sauces or infusions for cocktails (Hortense was originally a cocktail bar). The plate is an explosion in terms of construction of the dishes, colors, flavors ... A reference of its kind!

It's worth the detour for the delicious organic and vegetarian bowls you can have fun putting together, and for its really reasonable prices. Right from the entrance, a buffet topped by a pretty wooden counter offers dishes with unexpected, healthy ingredients. The choice is dizzying, and you can also add some nice toppings (avocado, seeds, hummus, tofu, seaweed...). The Tibetan mama bowl with brown rice, curry and coconut sauce, steamed vegetables and kimchi (fermented Korean cabbage) was hearty and delicious. Kombucha and natural wines are also on the menu.

Introducing Verdō, which revamps the concept of brasserie dishes with a plant-based twist: no animal products are used in chef Benjamin Lagarde's recipes. To welcome you in a room all in minimalism, but full of warmth, you will find the co-owners, Krystelle Gérard and Gabriel Cloquet. At the counter or at the table, you'll enjoy a soup with the true taste of vegetables or a Verdō tartar. Our dish of the day was a homemade seitan, potato and mushroom parmentier that was just as satisfying (and gratinated) as the meaty version. Yum!

Located in Beloeil, Christophe and his wife attract customers from far and wide to their cozy tavern. A true moment out of time, where good humor is accompanied by home cooking that delights the senses. With plenty of local produce, generous portions and a vertiginous beer list. And above all, the kindness of our hosts, who make you forget the world's little and big cruelties for the duration of a meal. More than just a restaurant, Taverne Saint-Géry is practically a tourist attraction.

Mimi and Laurent offer healthy, tasty cuisine with seasonal and local produce, for flexitarians who love creative dishes bursting with vegetables. Many vegetarian and vegan options. The menus are small but always fresh. Starters include Greek-style eggplant confit in a terracotta pot, feta and oregano crumble; mains include pulled pork, apple and stoemp hash; and lasagne with scarmozza, raisins and walnuts. Comforting, all that!

Here, culinary specialties are served with Orval beer. And it's around Karel Van der Cruyssen that the restaurant forges its identity: First World War hero, priest then abbot(abt in Flemish) and, above all, creator of the famous local beer. No wonder the restaurant serves an entire menu based on this beverage (yes, yes, even the dessert!). You'll also be able to try the only Flemish chicken-based carbonnades, which are lighter and tastier. In summer, enjoy the sunny terrace, and in winter, the central fireplace.

There's nothing pretentious about Uncle Babe's, just a fine menu of gourmet burgers served on old-fashioned, enameled oval soup plates that hold huge portions. The bar is dressed in copper, and it's more than pleasant to settle your stomach with these behemoths topped with good meat and hand-picked noble ingredients. On the other hand, prices remain very reasonable, making this a highly recommended address. The menu also includes a number of fine salads. In the evening, continue with a glass of wine or a cocktail.

Enter the organic produce store and at the far end of the staircase, you're there. Chez Tan is the place to eat healthy, organic, vegetarian or flexitarian food: raw, marinated or cooked at low temperature, to preserve as many vitamins and original flavors as possible. Rare vegetables garnish the plates. Starters include fennel and avocado fettine marinated in lemongrass, with a purée of raw spring herbs, followed by a fillet of sea bass stuffed with spinach and wild garlic, with a cardamom emulsion of white asparagus. Culinary art!

L'Eau Vive is used to gastronomic awards. It has everything to please: contemporary décor in a romantic setting (former 17th century mill), superb terrace installed on the banks of the Burnot brook which unrolls its waterfalls. And above all, it has been awarded 2 Michelin stars, which undoubtedly gives it the title of best table in the Haute-Meuse. The plate offers new sensations all in delicacy. Pierre Résimont uses new techniques to showcase his products. A table d'hôtes for 8 people is set up in the middle of the kitchen.

An institution in Evere for three decades, the Lion Belge owes its good reputation to its numerous wood-fired grills and its well-stocked brasserie dishes. Dimitri, the owner, mixes in his menu the classics of the French-Belgian, Italian and Greek cuisine. In addition to the menu, there are weekly suggestions that change with the seasons, without forgetting the mussels. For starters, the mezze are particularly recommended. Bar and terrace for the occasional sunbeam. Pleasant piano bar on weekends. Reservation recommended.

It is a gastronomic restaurant with a festive atmosphere (themed meals, wine-growers' evenings,...) in an original setting. Its name comes from the base of the building which is a pile of blue stones, waste rock from the Forges which were very active in the 17th century and turned blue by the heat. Everything invites you to the table, worthy of good cooking. The motto: "Celebrate and feast in this Blue House". The cuisine is inspired by it, far from any standardization!

On Quai Notre-Dame, near the Grand-Place, Rive Gauche turns its bay windows towards the Scheldt, and the courtyard at the back is ideal for its calm. At the head of the team is Camille, always smiling and ready to help. On the plates, suggestions enrich the menu. A few examples: homemade foie gras, mixed grill board (rib's, braised bacon, chicken, country sausage), tartare, salads and burgers. Desserts are homemade and ice creams come from local artisan Atelier Saveurs. Regional beers and wines by the glass.

A butcher's and delicatessen that has been making all kinds of delicious local charcuterie by hand since 1955. Typically, people flock here to buy the IGP Ardenne ham for which La Roche is renowned, but also to taste it on the spot with other home-made charcuterie specialties. A tasting room doubles up as a restaurant, where you can eat on the go whatever appeals to you in the shop window, accompanied by a fine wine. Only open at lunchtime. Outside of lunchtime, you'll need to buy from the butcher's takeaway.

You will find the same sign in Ghent and Brussels. Amadeus' specialty: spare ribs at will. Trendy brewery atmosphere, with a busy decoration, with checkered tablecloths... The wine, payable according to what you drink from the bottle ("à la ficelle", as they say in Belgium), is certainly not a grand cru, but the formula seems to be a great success. Instead, we suggest that you choose a bottle to accompany ribs with honey and spices, which you will find difficult to finish on the first plate.

L'Ami Roger is known for its great Burgundian and Savoyard fondues. And almost as much for its fried mussels (the Belgian favourite in jumbo format). Alongside this, there are suggestions such as these tasty meats from Uruguay and Australia. The marinated prawns are a little marvel cooked on a plancha. Gian-Carlo has been at the helm of the establishment since spring 2019. He has transformed the garden terrace into a remarkable place. Note the owner's Italian roots, and link to his excellent risottos.

First of all, the setting: a panoramic view of the beach and sea at the end of the sea wall. Enjoy the sunsets over a cup of coffee, pick from the selection of snacks: oysters, homemade shrimp croquettes or opt for refined cuisine. De Witte Berg or "White Mountain" specialties: noble local produce set with vegetables and fruit and cooked to perfection, such as bouillabaisse à l'ostendaise, back of cod on creamy leeks and white wine sauce, as well as a menu of grilled meats and salads.

An address to recommend to carnivores. Luc Broutard treats his loyal customers to exceptional "grand cru" meats. The house specialty remains beef: onglet, entrecôte, tartare... and the refined rib of beef is rare and delicious. Seasonal dishes and fish balance the menu of this chic brasserie, where it's a pleasure to feast in a particularly plush dining room. With 400 to 500 references of wines and various other quality spirits (Scotch, Japanese, Swedish whiskies...), there's something for everyone.

Welcome to the Cardinal de la mer specialist! Joost Nollet and his wife Françoise have been delighting their many loyal customers for over 35 years. The restaurant seats just 30 diners, inviting you to enjoy the intimacy. Lobster is Ostend's undisputed expert when it comes to sublimating seafood platters and lobster. Situated opposite the Kursaal, the pleasant restaurant is an invitation to indulge: lobster à l'armoricaine, or with green pepper, saffron or tarragon, lobster stew with asparagus, etc. A real treat!

Translated from Swedish, Uppkök, means "Cooking cuisine". The restaurant entered Gault Millau less than a year after its opening. This restaurant quickly became a reference. The decor is very nature, as is the kitchen, partly based on organic products. To savour, the Pot to the yellow poultry fire, the Colour of vegetables in sour-sweet and ricotta ricotta, or the pure lamb fillet in crust of bread and pistachio…

The burgers, with their humorous names (Dikkenek, Federer, Bollywood...) come in a variety of flavours: with the famous "Giant" sauce, Italian or Indian and even vegetarian. Not forgetting the "burger of the month". All the burgers are served with fries at will! The menu also offers suggestions such as beef carpaccio, all-you-can-eat spare ribs and some salads. The decoration, which is difficult to describe, is both trendy and old-fashioned, rock'n'roll and cosy, all with a lot of taste just like on the plates!

This seaside Popeye brewery(Zeezotje in Flemish) has a good reputation. Here, you can enjoy local tapas (meatballs with Brugse Zot beer, scampi and lemongrass meatballs, herring fillets with Bismarck sauce)... or a more hearty bistro-style dish (meat, fish, salad or pasta...) or just a cheese board with wine. The Zeezotje salad with various smoked fish and horseradish sauce is a real treat. You get what you pay for, efficiently served, with a smile and Belgian humor to boot. We also like the flexible opening hours.

A restaurant with Zen decoration, white beams, wooden furniture and rattan, it's a really pleasant place with a lot of fish. Baked lobster, herb butter, basil linguini, cod back, potato, leek and shrimp stoemp, chives sauce, grilled tuna steak, tomato, olive and caper fetticini marmalade and green herbs, North Sea bouillabaisse with half lobster, chocolate mousse and pistachio ice cream, fresh fruit plate and Bourbon ice cream. A smiling and friendly service.

A restaurant-grill, located at the exit of Mouscron, which turns out to be a popular stopover for lovers of meaty meats. Indeed, the grill is running at full capacity - it is the largest Irish meat outlet in the region - and the butcher's cuts have been carefully chosen: beef comes from Ireland and lamb from New Zealand. You will find bone-in ribs, ribs, grills, tabs, skewers and a "Black Angus Burger". All accompanied by vegetables, potatoes and homemade sauces. It doesn't take much to convince the last reluctant ones, all the more so as the atmosphere here is quite convivial.

Facing the sea, the imposing building boasts a splendid view of the beach. The house specialties include cassolettes of North Sea fish and mussels in garlic cream sauce. Other fish, meat and lobster dishes are also available. For the suggestions of the month, a large blackboard sets the tone. What's sweet? Pancakes, fresh waffles, and to top it all off? A vast choice of wines, 7 beers on tap and 60 special bottled beers, to be enjoyed also in the afternoon on the sunny lounge terrace.

As its name suggests, this restaurant was born... in a former garage. The floor still bears the scars of this former occupation, the rough-and-ready spirit has been maintained and there's no lack of character. Fortunately, it doesn't smell of motor oil, but rather of grilled meat, because the specialty is the house steak. Matured meat, crusted just right, served with meat sauce. A real treat! Mussel and fish lovers are not forgotten, nor are vegetarians, with chef Tom Brys' famous veggie curry. A little gourmet tuning and you're on your way!

This small restaurant has decided to celebrate everything that can be coated with breadcrumbs in the form of croquettes. Whether you're a carnivore or vegan, you'll find what you're looking for at Smaeck: beef, chicken, shrimp, cheese, mushrooms, vegetables, green curry, there's something for everyone! To top it off, there are also lobster and Black Angus croquettes. You can accompany these delights with a good cup of soup or a salad or try the bieterballen, fried dumplings, a Dutch specialty. Warm interior with large wooden tables.

Have you worked up an appetite visiting the Cinquantenaire museums? Then come and eat at Le Pré aux Clercs. It looks like a village restaurant, with its small terrace and rustic setting of wood and grey-green velvet benches. Do you like meat? You're in luck, as grilled meats are their specialty. Matured or unmatured Aubrac entrecôte, Charolais steak... just served with salad and grilled potatoes. Just the smell of grilled meat will make your mouth water, and to make matters worse, your wallet won't go dry.