Ethiopian€€dansaertMon 18:00-22:30, Tue-Thu 12:00-14:30, 18:00-22:30, Fri 12:00-14:30, 18:30-23:00, Sat 12:30-15:00, 18:30-23:00, Sun 12:30-15:00, 18:30-22:30
Toukoul in Brussels is the city's canonical Ethiopian restaurant. Located in Dansaert. Order the a vegetarian beyaynetu for the table. Priced at €€.
Signature: Doro wat, Vegetarian beyaynetu platter
Order: A vegetarian beyaynetu for the table, plus doro wat, all rolled into the injera with no cutlery.
Tip: Open daily for dinner. Vegetarian and vegan platters are the value here; tej (honey wine) is the drink.
Modern French€€€dansaertMon-Fri 12:00-14:00, 18:00-22:00, Sat-Sun closed
Henri in Brussels' Dansaert is the neo-bistro on Rue de Flandre that runs a tight modern French carte. Priced at €€€. At Rue de Flandre 113.
Signature: Beef tartare, Cheese souffle
Order: Beef tartare prepared at the table, with the cheese souffle for two.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch set is the value pick; the dining room books a week ahead for evenings.
Modern French€€€€ixellesTue-Fri 12:00-13:15, 19:30-21:15, Sat 19:30-21:15, Sun-Mon closed
La Villa in the Sky in Brussels sits on the 25th floor of the IT Tower above Avenue Louise. Located in Ixelles. Kitchen leans modern french.
Signature: Modern French tasting menu, Seasonal vegetable courses
Order: The full tasting menu with wine pairing; lunch is the budget entry to the same kitchen.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book sunset slots for the best skyline; the lift is shared with the office tower.
Modern Belgian€€€ixellesWed-Mon 10:30-18:00, Fri-Sat 10:30-20:00, Tue closed
Garage a Manger in Brussels' Ixelles is the wood-fire restaurant on Rue Washington, in a former mechanical workshop. Kitchen leans modern belgian.
Signature: Open-fire grilled mains, Seasonal small plates
Order: Whichever fire-cooked main is on the chalkboard, with charred greens and the natural wine pairing.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The counter seats give the best view of the open fire; bookings recommended.
Belgian€€€€sainte-catherineWed-Sat 12:00-13:00, 19:00-20:30, Sun-Tue closed
Comme Chez Soi opened in 1926 under Georges Cuvelier and moved to the Place Rouppe Art Nouveau dining room in the 1930s. Located in Sainte Catherine.
Signature: Filets de sole Prince Albert, Classical French-Belgian tasting menu
Order: The filets de sole Prince Albert, the kitchen's signature since the 1970s, with a glass of Mosel Riesling.
Tip: Closed Monday, Tuesday and Sunday. Book three weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner; the chef's table seats six.
Modern French€€€€ixellesMon 19:00-21:45, Tue-Fri 12:00-14:15, 19:00-21:45, Sat 19:00-21:45, Sun closed
La Truffe Noire in Brussels has been the city's truffle restaurant since founder Luigi Ciciriello opened in 1988. Kitchen leans modern french.
Signature: Perigord truffle a la croque au sel, Carpaccio prepared tableside
Order: The Perigord truffle a la croque au sel, the kitchen's signature, and the tableside-prepared beef carpaccio.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Lunch service Tuesday to Friday, dinner Monday to Saturday; the garden terrace is the seat to ask for from April.