Belgium

Le Petit Futé couldn't miss a food court named after its mascot. Located on the first floor of the former Belgian Royal building, in a brightly-lit space, several brands offer world cuisine, from breakfast to dinner. Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern cuisine, pastries.... And of course, a vast bar. Particularly noteworthy are Lova, by Top Chef's César Lewandoski, with its fine Asian street food, and Coast, for its fish and seafood. In fine weather, the pretty terrace is often packed to the rafters.

The panoramic view of the Époux-Clément restaurant is perfectly striking. Refaite to nine ago, the house proposes, by adapting its card to the seasons, to revisit the classics of the French gastronomy, like the coast of veau cream sauce to morels or the fatty liver of duck served with its brioches in entry. In season, it is the game that holds the top of the poster and when it is nice, taking his meal in the garden, whose view is as beautiful as that of the restaurant, is pure enchantment.

Frederik Deceunick has followed a faultless career path, from his apprenticeship in prestigious establishments such as Georges Blanc and Château de Germiny (near Arbois) to the opening of this charming restaurant. In a sober, uncluttered setting, the chef offers a contemporary cuisine inspired by the seasons. A wine cellar offers over 300 references. You can also dine at the table d'hôtes overlooking the kitchen (6 or 8 people). Add to this a beautiful sea view, and you've got a place to call your own.

With its breathtaking view over Blankenberge harbor, the Victory has been attracting loyal customers for over 30 years, as well as visitors who come to enjoy the sunny terrace in fine weather. Seafood platters, grilled fish from the Victory bouillabaisse, lobster, but also simpler dishes: salads, mussels, pasta... In the morning, you can enjoy breakfast, and in the afternoon, crêpes and ice creams. And if the weather doesn't cooperate, you'll always find a nice table in the warm, maritime atmosphere of the dining room.

Seven is the canteen that's stirring up the Cavell district. Since it opened in the spring of 2023, it's been packed to the rafters. The concept? Healthy, brunch-inspired dishes (granola, avocado toast...) in addition to pastries in the morning and at lunchtime, a number of salads and sandwiches for a light meal. A whole list of smoothies, kombuchas and coffee from MOK complete the menu. As for the space? It's sublime: minimalism, waxed concrete, wide banquettes, wooden armchairs, tropical plants and dishes you'll want to take away.

These will surely be the best ribs you will ever eat in your life! The ribs, cooked slowly and patiently to give taste, are served at will and accompanied by salad, potatoes and a sauce of your choice. We recommend the successful "beer and chocolate". A good regional beer or a tannic red wine is sprinkled on the gullet to combine the flavours. The menu also offers aperitif boards, adding to the conviviality of the place. Above all, don't forget to make a reservation, as the tables leave very quickly.

Pompon was originally a home brunch delivery company created by Valentine Percy and Sophie Abiraad. At the end of 2021, they took over the space of Declercq Bistro Garage, which the managers had left as a concession during the day. And what a contrast between Pompon's sweet menu and the car bodies, as the counter is located in a car dealer's showroom! Whether you come for breakfast or weekend brunch or for lunch for a salad or a snack, everything is homemade, with local products and a zero waste approach.

Another fine hotel restaurant! At the helm of 1040 is Top Chef finalist Jean-Philippe Watteyne. In duo with Fabrizzio Iannacci, Jean-Philippe wanted to give this elegant bistronomic brasserie a Belgian accent (both in the dishes and in the origin of the products): beef carpaccio from Ciney, spicy bird without a head (meat roulade), revisited marvellous... but the menu also takes detours into Italy and Asia. On the roof of the hotel aromatic plants grow and a beehive produces honey, all used in the kitchen.

It's impossible to die of hunger in the Matongé district, which is constantly renewing its range of eateries offering sustenance at all prices. Aside from the somewhat naive concept intended by the initiators (we're friendly, we bring people together, you feel at home, etc.), the idea of associating three giants of Italian gastronomy - pizza, pinsa and mozzarella - is excellent. Volta Super Club is fast, it's well served, it's good, so you'll want to come back again and again to this minimalist but warm setting.

Under the immense ceiling of the Tour & Taxis ferry terminal, a shower of Michelin stars fell on this new luxury foodcourt. No fewer than 3 Michelin-starred chefs, and other big names on the Brussels culinary scene, have contributed their concepts: from burger to Korean bao, from French fries to vegetarian cuisine, from seafood to desserts. The Victoria bar sits in the middle, dispensing beers from the AB Inbev group. There's something for every taste... even if you're clearly paying for the setting!

Soeurs is the brainchild of Lara and Hélène Milan. Of Lebanese origin, the two sisters had a career before opening their cheese dairy near Flagey, but the memory of their grandfather, a cheesemaker in Lebanon, had never left them. And their uncle, Vincent Verleyen, was voted best cheesemaker in Belgium. You'll find his products, among others, displayed on the large wooden shelves of their pretty boutique. The producers are essentially Belgian. Feeling a little hungry? The crémières will prepare a lovely sandwich for you at lunchtime.

What a pity that this café-resto is not open more often because it deserves to be known. The place is an old industrial bakery with beautiful exposed bricks and a ceiling made of arches. The concept is announced by the name of the establishment, they are aperitif boards: Italian cold cuts, cheeses from Saint-Octave, various piadine... to share in all conviviality. As for the dessert board, it's pure regression, we won't tell you more. The beer list is not too bad either.

The Groot Eiland Workshop, among others, trains job seekers here to work as clerks, in the dining room and in Dutch. They have set up their restaurant in a part of the former malt house of the Belle-Vue brewery, in a beautiful, light room. A large part of the vegetables is grown in the garden on the spot. The rest is purchased locally and with unsold produce from the morning market. Each day, a different dish (meat or veg) but also salads and pastas. And on weekends, it's a gala menu in the evening. A hearty, healthy cuisine at a low price.

Tero is a coherent model that links healthy products (meat and vegetables) that come from their own farm in Rochefort, with creative gastronomy based on flavours and seasonality. The consistency continues with the sleek and dynamic setting that wraps around the central bar while fitting perfectly into the three levels of the space. On the menu are thirty or so small hot and cold dishes, mezze style, to share or not, and at lunchtime a vegetarian or meat lunch. On all levels it is refined, original and delicious. Another address in Bierges.

In a historic building, two-starred chef Bart de Pooter takes up the challenge of offering 100% plant-based gourmet cuisine. A successful gamble, since the restaurant has already been awarded a green star by the Michelin Guide! This award recognizes the chef's committed approach: a menu guided by the seasons, fresh vegetables, flowers and herbs from the restaurant's own garden or from local producers... The dishes are creative and delicate, served in a magnificent dining room enhanced by floral arrangements reminiscent of nature and the restaurant's name.

La Grand Poste is THE big project of the last few years in Liege. In the former Hôtel des Postes, a building dating from 1901, a co-working space, a food court on two floors, a space for start-ups and a micro-brewery, the Brasserie de Liège, have been set up. As you enter, your nose will be seized by the scent of hops and yeast! There's a whole host of house beers of all kinds to choose from. Sit back and mingle with the ULiège journalism students who have classes here. Rooftop open on weekends.

Yes, the star of this restaurant on the outskirts of Brussels is the pure filet, that low-fat piece of meat: beef, iberico pork or even horse (a Belgian specialty), but the other cuts are not to be outdone: entrecôte, tomahawk, spareribs... Noble breeds (Simmenthal, Rubia galega...), matured by Roberto "Betto" Van Doren in a charcoal-fired mibrasa oven, give them an inimitable taste. Those who don't like meat can also choose from a wide range of fish dishes. Vegetarians, on the other hand, will have to pass.

Recyclart is more than just an outlet. The organization is involved in the social fabric, often working with the underprivileged by putting people in need of training to work. Such is the case in its bar-restaurant, whose rough-and-ready setting (it's a former warehouse) is devilishly warm. Dishes come in a variety of forms: vegetarian, vegan, halal... Good old carbonnade rubs shoulders with pastilla and hummus, not forgetting the suggestion of the day. It's Molenbeek in all its diversity, and it's delicious!

When you enter this room adorned with a pretty mosaic tile and the smell of the wood fire tickles your nose, you think you're going to have a good time because here, everything goes through the flame of the grill: meat, fish, vegetables ... the wood giving that little extra taste inimitable. At noon, we serve buns, a choice of grill or a dish of the week. In the evening, the menu becomes more sophisticated (Oedslach sirloin or smoked haddock) but no matter what time it is, the plates remain greedy and tasty (just like their terrible French toast).

Crab isn't the only thing on offer at the Crab Club, a small canteen-style establishment near Porte de Hal! Other seafood (crustaceans, shellfish, fish) and a few meats are lovingly handled by Yoth Ondara, a Nîmes chef of Thai origin. What characterizes the menu? Asian touches (sea bream with pak choi, duck with Chinese cabbage) and interesting land-sea combinations (glazed pork with octopus, mussels with sausage). A real treat at a fair price. In early 2022, the restaurant underwent a facelift, providing an opportunity to (re)discover it.

The restaurant at the Manos Hotel is as sumptuous as the hotel itself. The cuisine is appreciated for its own sake, and the decor adds luxury to the tasting experience. The menu features classic French cuisine, sometimes Mediterranean, sometimes local (shrimp and chicory salads, sea bream fillet, eggplant caviar and chorizo...), with an abundance of spices. As for the wines, the very conventional menu is a perfect match for the dishes, adding a little extra soul. Too often, we hesitate to push open the doors of hotel restaurants.

A warm welcome tops the list of qualities of this well-known Hélécine restaurant. But a smile, a kind word and attentive service don't fill the stomachs of gourmands, so the menu comes to the rescue. If you're a gourmet, this is the place for you: grill, flammekuches, raclette and mussels as much as you can eat (weekdays and in season), while those with smaller appetites need look no further than the salads, which are also very tasty. The terrace is a delight in summer.

This restaurant, with its raw wood and recyclable materials, subdued lighting and family atmosphere, is a true marvel. All the burgers here are 100% vegan and will blow your taste buds away with their incomparable flavors. No more carnivorous junk food! All burgers are available with a gluten-free option and a specially adapted bun. On their own or accompanied by tasty potatoes and an organic drink, these burgers are sure to satisfy even the hungriest of stomachs. A new composition is offered every month.

It's the little brother of Fiskebar, which only opens in summer in the Eilandje district. With a name like that, you'll have guessed that it serves fish and seafood, as well as vegetarian dishes. Everything is organic and local, with fish on the menu according to the day's arrivals. Raw, cooked or grilled, the aim is to maintain the purity of the product, like these just-grilled sardines accompanied by a vegetable pickle and sprouted lentils. Enjoy them on the huge terrace overlooking the basins, or inside a glass box that resembles a greenhouse.

I'm a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World... Pink, pink, pink, flowers, plants, a dose of bling, big cushions, swing seats, chandeliers, a small dozen rooms and customised nooks and crannies spread over 2 floors and all devilishly Instagrammable: that's the decor of the White House, a former bank converted into a brunch café. You'll be amazed and the trays will be overflowing as much as the decor. Different formulas including an unusual sweet and salty Moroccan brunch with msemen, dates and olives, honey and goat cheese.

This is one of Ghent's most popular restaurants. Oak's contemporary cuisine draws inspiration from the world's best recipes to create fresh seasonal dishes using emulsions, glazes and other sophisticated transformations to create subtle flavors. The menu is fixed and changes daily according to Chef Marcelo's inspiration. The elaborate menu is difficult to decipher in Dutch, so simply let your taste buds guide you and enjoy. Reservations essential, as this is a sought-after table.

Like the prow of a ship moored on the Scheldt, the RAS Zuiderterras is flush with the water, right next to the MAS museum, designed by Flemish architect Bob Van Reeth. An aquatic escapade in a chic duck-blue decor. The menu is more nouvelle cuisine, with Flemish and international accents. Starters include shrimp croquettes, beef tartare and crispy sweetbreads. Main courses include traditional vol-au-vent, linguine with lobster or truffle. Salads are also very appetizing.

The people of Ghent flock here every Sunday. It's a real old-fashioned kiosk, but where flowers and newspapers have given way to a veritable oyster bar, where you can enjoy oysters standing up or at the counter, accompanied by a glass of wine. This is the heart of Ghent. It's the place to meet and strut your stuff on the Kouter. The oysters, on the other hand, come from France, not from Belgium. But who cares, we'll have a few fines de claires d'Oléron with a good dry white wine to fill up on vitamins and iodine.

This little café in the old town of Namur opens its doors to customers in the morning for breakfast. No endless list of lattes or frappiatti, just good coffee from Delahaut, Namur's historic roasting house. At Café Fleuri, everything is homemade: the toast, the pancakes... and you're welcomed like a regular. Take a seat by the window, around a white marble table to watch the onlookers, or in the back, to scrutinize the details of a wallpaper... that's bound to be flowery!

Need a good breakfast? A quick, healthy lunch, a snack of crêpes or waffles, or simply a cup of coffee? Juliette is there. Well, rather than a Juliette, it's Sofie the hostess who offers you her menu of coffees and hot drinks of all kinds, fresh dishes at lunchtime, sweet treats in the afternoon and a few selected alcohols at aperitif time. The place is small, uncluttered, Scandinavian-style, but welcoming, with a few places on the street in fine weather. Remember to book in the morning.

Since opening, Hasselt residents have been flocking to Merloos for breakfast, lunch or brunch. It's true that there's something for everyone on the menu: fluffy pancakes for gourmets, chicken pittas with salsa and yoghurt sauce for those with a taste for the exotic, falafels for vegans... If you can't get a seat on the terrace, you'll prefer the more intimate upstairs room with its pretty parquet floor, rather than the one downstairs where you're stuck together. A well-deserved popularity!

The former meat market, built in the ^19th century and then abandoned by butchers, has been magnificently transformed. The concept? A mix of foodcourt and designer stores. In a space with an impressive industrial decor, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to satisfying your hunger: from sushi to pizza, from shrimp croquette to burrito and moambé chicken, the choice is yours. Perfect for a quick meal without compromising on quality. A great success!

This café, named after the film starring Catherine Deneuve, focuses on refreshing, inventive bistro cuisine. Never disappointing, with no unnecessary frills, the dishes sublimate beautiful flavors, especially steak, cooked to perfection here on its bed of arugula, as well as fish of course, married with original vegetal flavors. There are also world cuisine specialties, such as pad thai and vegetarian dishes for those looking for light, flexitarian fare. Trendy atmosphere and decor, beautiful day and night.

The trendy, gourmet Belgian pizzeria chain has opened a restaurant in Ghent. The particularity: the dough is made with beer yeast, and the topping combinations are surprising, some of them veggie. The restaurant offers a beer pairing with the menu, or how to choose the best Belgian beer to go with the chosen pizza. Inside, admire the bricks dating back to the inn's ^17th-century construction, and the woodwork and green plants that contrast with the industrial loft look of the walls.

Ghent is a city where vegetarianism is developing at a high gastronomic level. This establishment opened in 2017 proves it: during the day, you can have a coffee or a tea, but at noon it is the salads that attract the locals for a vegetarian break. You can try for example the Boon: lettuce - white rice - beans - daikon - pomegranate seeds - tofu - Chinese cabbage - edamame - fried onions - soy sauce. A real pleasure, in a nice warm and trendy setting. The whole at really democratic prices. You can quickly make it your lunchtime canteen.