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BelgianIxelles
La Quincaillerie in Brussels' Ixelles sits in a 1903 former hardware shop on Rue du Page, with the original mezzanines and oak drawers preserved.
OrderSix oysters from the bar and steak frites from the grill, with a bottle of Loire white.
TipClosed Sunday lunch. The upstairs mezzanine seats are the quietest; book a fortnight ahead for Friday or Saturday.
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Belgian BrasserieIxelles
Le Varietes in Ixelles sits on the ground floor of the Flagey Liner on Place Sainte-Croix. Brasserie-rotisserie cooking off a Belgian classics carte.
OrderSpit-roasted chicken with house jus.
TipKitchen runs lunch and dinner Mon-Fri, then non-stop noon to 22:00 Saturday and Sunday. Book a window seat for the Flagey square view.
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Italian-belgianIxelles
Racines in Brussels' Ixelles is Francesco Cury and Ugo Federico's Italian-Belgian dining room on Chaussee d'Ixelles. The kitchen runs natural-wine pairings.
OrderWhichever pasta course is on the chalkboard, with a glass of the house orange wine.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The bar seats give the open-kitchen view; lunch is the budget pick.
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Modern BelgianSainte Catherine
Le Selecto on Rue de Flandre runs a bistronomie carte in the Sainte-Catherine quarter. Bib Gourmand listed, modern Belgian cooking off a short seasonal card.
OrderThe lunchtime two-course set; the kitchen leans on Belgian sourcing and the daily ardoise.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Friday and Saturday dinner runs through to 23:00; book a week ahead for weekend service.
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Belgian Brasserie
Brasserie de l'Expo in Brussels sits on the Heysel plateau in Laken, two metro stops from the Atomium. Priced at €€. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie.
OrderStoemp with sausage and bacon, or vol-au-vent with frites for two.
TipOpen seven days, lunch and dinner. The 1958 marquetry in the back room is worth the seat; closes at 22:00 on weekends.
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JapaneseIxelles
Kamo in Brussels is chef Tomoyasu Kamo's omakase counter on Chaussee de Waterloo. Located in Ixelles. Priced at €€€€. Kitchen leans japanese.
OrderThe omakase in full; the sake pairing is by the bottle, not the glass.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Counter seats book six weeks ahead; the back table seats four.