Au Vieux Saint Martin

First impression: the Vieux St Martin looks like a place that will deliver. It appears to be well established, it is in a good location and it was busy. Upon arrival, we ordered and the drinks came quickly. The beer came in cooled steins and it was good and cold. The service was not very attentive. It took over 40 minutes for the food to arrive. We ordered two omelettes and a tartare. The omelettes were ok but not sensational. The tartare was good. In the end, the food was not unique or extraordinary enough to make up for our experience with the service.

Visited Au Vieux Saint Martin - Bij d’Oude Sint-Martinus and oh boy… this one was a bit of a letdown. We had high hopes walking in—great location, beautiful outdoor seating, and a cozy, classy vibe. It looked like it was going to be a hit. We ordered the beer beef stew and the shrimp croquettes, both highly recommended by our waitress and a couple of locals. But sadly, neither hit the spot. The stew was bland, and the croquettes didn’t have much flavor. Just didn’t do it for us. Now let’s talk about the bright spots—the olive dish with bread and butter was simple but absolutely perfect. And the fries? Golden, crispy, and downright delicious. Easily the second-best thing we had at the table. Maybe we just picked the wrong dishes or caught the kitchen on an off day. Who knows. The place itself is charming and inviting, especially if you’re sitting outside and soaking up the atmosphere. We really wanted to love it, and while the setting was a win, the food just didn’t deliver like we hoped. Sometimes it happens.

A very typical and chick French café. Its regular clientele is local, stylish, and middle-aged Belgians. You can have a good time while sipping your cocktail and watching the passersby and customers.

Food was very good. On the pricey side for a lunch but it was certainly worth it. We had a white Bordeaux that was absolutely delicious which the served by the glass or craft.

A truly exceptional meal at a Belgium institution! This will start a love affair with this brasserie and a regular visit when in Brussels.

The best Filet Américain of belgium. They elaborate it more than 100 years ago and it really taste Belgian. It has its secret and you can’t reproduce that at home. Very pro staff and warm restaurant. All the dishes are very Belgian traditional with fresh and high quality products. Wonderful fries cooked in beef oil.

Had the best quick lunch with friends outdoors with heaters and a blankie overlooking the lovely square and architecture of this area! Best ever filet Americain (or mexicain 😍😌) best shrimp 🦐 croquettes ever and a lovely attentive staff

Very cozy place, but the food was nothing special. I order Flemish carbonnades. Not worth the price. The olives and bread with butter were a wonderful and tasty compliment.

Locals know best. I was introduced to this restaurant as the place ex-president Bill Clinton dined during his tour. We walked in late afternoon, and the place was busy and loud. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait very long, but I hear the wait can be extended during peak hours. This vibrant restaurant has been serving Belgian cuisine since 1968, and its list is extensive. I love the table setting at this restaurant. The placemat has a picture of an artistic dish; when you place the utensils on the side, the images stand out like a plate. BREAD, BUTTER, and MIXED NUTS were served as starters. Something about the bread in Europe is so good. Also, the addition of the mixed nuts was a nice treat. FILET AMERICAIN (Raw ground beef, shallots, capers, and gherkins) - Known as Belgian Steak Tartare with a side of French Fries and Pickles. I believe the meat was partially steamed, as the coloration had a brownish hue. Anyhow, I am glad that I tried this BELGIAN CLASSIC. It tasted like eating a FLAVORFUL Dutch burger without the bun. The texture was very soft and easy to swallow. The herbs and shallots enhanced the flavor of the meat to make it taste natural. BELGIAN SAUSAGE with MASHED CARROTS and POTATOES - This was another good dish we ordered. The Sasauge was FLAVORFUL, and the mashed side was light and delicate. The mashed color of orange and yellow gave a pop to the presentation. Overall, Belgian Sausage is a safer selection for someone with health concerns about eating something raw. Service was slow due to it looking like a full house. However, I liked how they had the card reader ready. Swipe, sign, and leave. No need to think about tipping because it's all included.

It took the waiter 15 min to take our order and and another hour to serve us average food. The ambiance is nice but I wish I had experience less of it. Messy and impersonal , you can find better anywhere. Food was ok, but nothing great.

Came here with 2 other people somewhat early for Euro standards without a reservation and had no problem getting a table inside on a rainy evening. Service was standard, if not slightly slow but not anything g worth complaining about, honestly. Ambiance was typical French cafe style but felt warm and cozy without being stuffy. Food was the star and all 3 of us found it to be very tasty with good portion size. Fries were hot and fresh. I'd recommend this place for a nice meal. Oh, don't forget to compliment your meal with a Belgian beer. Cheers!

Walked in here around 6:00pm for dinner. The waiters were very nice and the space was very accommodating. I ordered the Entrecôte Au Poivre Vert a la crème. And my S.O. ordered the Chicken Waterzooi which is a traditional dish of Belgium. Both were amazing dishes. My steak was cooked to perfection. Without having the waiter to ask how I wanted the steak to be cooked, the steak came out to be the most tender and juiciest medium rare. Also, there was enough stove energy and fire in that steak. This is how steak should be done! I have never had steak this good before. The meat tasted really fresh and the peppercorns were also fresh and spicy. The chicken waterzooi was very creamy and perfect to taste. The chicken was also tender and juicy. The sauce was amazing. Everything was done with perfection. I'd definitely come back here if ever I decide to come back to visit Brussels.

Food- croquets were excellent as well as Salmon/potato main entree dish. Orange Creme Brolette dessert was very tasty as well. We had the Beef Tartare that was also prepared wonderfully. Service- exceeded expectations Ambiance- nice but restaurant was very loud that night due to no outdoor dining because of the rain.

Great food and ambiance. Came in earlier than lunch and they let me sit and have a glass of wine until the kitchen opened back up. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and service

Our last night in Brussels and we selected this little spot across the street from our hotel. The Matre D was a bit hassled, the place was extremely busy, but as promised in 10 minutes we got a table. Note, this is not a place for the claustrophobic, you are packed in here. 4 of us ordered different things, Rabbit with cherry sauce received high marks, the cod fish and chips was delicious as was the accompanying tarter sauce. The fish was so fresh, and there was not a drop of grease to be found. The salmon our friend had was perfectly booked and flavorful, and the salad with organic chicken was also well received. The portions are generous so no room for desert. Service was prompt and attentive, amazing considering how busy they were. All in all a great meal, if in the area we would certainly return.

Cela pourrait être un restaurant que votre mère a visité et que votre grand-mère a visité. Et depuis cinquante ans, le menu n'a pas changé. La nourriture n'est pas mauvaise. Ce n'est tout simplement pas si bon. Je suppose que toutes les foules sont ici pour la nostalgie. Les touristes vont adorer cette expérience. 2022 04 11. M0.

Beautiful restaurant. Friendly staff and delicious. A little bit cramp if you are not use to it but otjer than that, fantastic.

Food was ok - super expensive - slow service - spoke very little English - friendly tho

Nice atmosphere overlooking Sablon square. Entrecôte over cooked when asked for rare. Varied menu mostly Belgian cuisine. Just sitting looking at people passing by seems the ideal pass time in this restaurant.

Go elsewhere and save your money! Staff is extremely rude, unfriendly and aloof, especially to foreigners. Food is bland and is overpriced! I would fervently NOT RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT!

Staff is rude and unfriendly, especially if you are a foreigner. Save your money and spend it somewhere else. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this restaurant!

Great place to eat Belgian dishes! I' Ve been coming to this place since I was a kid and the quality of food and service has never failed. It's one of the rare places I keep coming back too. It is a bit expensive and it can get very noisy but it's still one of the best casual places to try out Belgian dishes!! You must try the croquettes de crevettes - waterzooi - boudin noir et blanc avec pommes terre et ciel - vol au vent - and of course the Amazing américain frittes ( raw meat with onions and capers)....there is a nice selection of beers and the service is really good. Some customers are clearly habitués and the place sometimes feels w bit upscale full of picky customers if you are on the sablon looking for a spot to rest and eat: look no further!

So okay the place is well known in Brussels. Service was great. I like the 'old school' European service style where waiters say 'oui Monsieur' to their supervisor, everything runs clock wise and the owner is in the place checking that everything is fine. Clientele is very typical high end 'bourg' of Brussels.... not the most exiting but if you're looking at discovering a certain type of Brussels type... Food was okay. Didn't make me jump but just okay. Price however made me hit the roof. I understand you have to pay a top up because of the neighborhood (Petit Sablon) it's still very pricey for what is served. If this is your first time in Brussels, you'll find other, more typical, affordable places to eat local good food.

Well this place has a rather good reputation in Brussels. The food is good, and service seems pretty much professional. HOWEVER there are several drawbacks. Besides being rather pricey (and not cheap at all, this is rather an upscale place and "brasserie"), you need to be aware that the owner, Albert-Jean Niels, is more of an arrogant man, who does not like to be criticized and does not accept critical comments from his clients. The place has a good reputation, but, as a visitor, you will be treated differently from the regular clients, who comes here regularly and are known from the owner (for instance, you won't get the table you want, and you will be assigned another table: some nice tables seem to be for the regular clients). The owner, Mr Niels, easily admits that "his" clients are offered a better provision of service: this is a bit a stronghold of the "old Europe", that you would rather see abolished! Moreover, they do NOT accept credit cards under 30 € ! This practice is really old-fashioned, and reflect that "Money is Money" for the owners. These privileges are a bit annoying in this, what seems, an institution in Brussels. So you should be aware of these setbacks when you go there. Nevertheless, the place can be pleasant.

My grand-parents came here, my parents came here, I've been coming here since I was a kid and I still love it. Food is good and when you know the place, it's great to see that what you get is exactly what you expect and what you are used to every time. Prices are on the high end certainly but quality never fails and the Sablon is expensive wherever you go. In my opinion, a good service is rare in the business. Here you will get excellent and professional service every time. This has a price too. I have read reviews saying that the owner favors regulars. I must disagree. Service is professional for everyone. There is a home style and this is what makes the charm of this place too. I have known this restaurant since I was 6 years old and I am Belgian. Yes, that is 40 years now. Gosh, how time flies ! Pfft. Nothing has changed, I still love it. A Brussels big classic indeed !

Perfect late night bistro on a nice plaza, with big menu. Brightly lit, nice art. Very nice and speedy staff. We ordered pumpkin soup, fries with bernaise, and mussels gratin. Couldn't finish all the rich food we ordered .. the portions are generous.

A good place to try nouvelle Belgian food in Brussels, although some recipes were from 1924. Overall, dining in Brussells is not always that exciting but this place does serve you well, and the food is rather delicious so it is somewhere I feel is worth hunting out if you are ever in Brussells. Oh, the wine list is somewhat limited but pick the right colour and the wine is surprisingly tolerable.

A familiar place. Normally my sunday lunch spot with my dog. They are super pet friendly :). They have some tradicional dishes, you should go for that. Their americain is super tasty :)). The only remarks is that unfortunetly during weekends without reservation is always packed and the ment remains the same. So if you are looking for something out of extraordinary go somewhere else. Here they exhale history, belgian cooking and tradition with a modern deco touch. It's definetly a place you don't wanna go with your joggings :D.

Whenever you're in Brussels you should think about visiting 'Au Vieux Saint-Martin'. A lovely, charming restaurant at 'Le Sablon' with the 'filet americain, pommes frites' as there speciality! Not yet convinced? Just go the restaurant and enjoy your meal!

When a place it's recommended by the concierge at your 5 star hotel the expectations are high got a good meal. Everything went down hill from there. the wait staff served the food not the people.the food was over cooked with no taste. I asked the waiter (with the number 3 buzzer clipped to his back) for the bill 3 times and each time he asked if we were finished.I finally took out 50€ to put on the table , started to get up to leave and the waiter finally shows up with the bill. I should have gotten the hint when the owner walked around and shook hands with the locals and ignored everyone else. So if you aren't local and looking for a decent meal don't stop here.

Food is amazing. Fish is superb, fresh fine quality ingredients. No english menu, but friendly staff translated most for us. (unlike what looked like the host handed us a paper dictionary.) Steak tartar(called american) - is def worth a try. Service is quick and attentive. Would def recommend to a friend or anyone traveling. Noise level is above average, keep in mind. Forgot to mention, the place is pricey. For two people dinner is about 100 euro.

Unfortunately the quality went dramatically down with prices going up. What it used to be the best fish and chips now is the most expensive fish and chips. Sadly I must take this resto off my favorite places in Brussels

A traditional place in Brussels. Good Belgian food, nothing too fancy, and a nice atmosphere.

I stopped here for a low key late lunch after arriving in Brussels. I had their signature steak tartare and it did not disappoint. Quite delicious and well balanced flavors.

I was used to go to Vieux Saint-Martin for drinks and occasional dinner with friends but service has become very rough with no respect to customers. Waiter simply refused to bring me bread on terrace with a 300g sea snails plate that costs 16.50€, and 6 glasses of white wine at 7.00€ each. The given reason was they don't want to feed local birds although none were around. The manager came to confirm the "policy" with a full blown arrogance beside nothing about was anywhere written. He said additionally we may leave if we don't like it. It means a 60€ bill for two persons and NO BREAD... And have to deal with this. I will go somewhere else for sure! And I will not recommend the place any more.

An unassuming and sympathetic, but not inexpensive, place for picky, well-healed, low-key locals with good taste, often in the antiques trade. (One recipe from 1924 is a classical filet americaine of the best kind.) Restaurant/bar for lunch and dinner inside. Pavement café for people watching on the outside.