Les Brassins

We really enjoyed our time at Les Brassins. The food was traditional Belgian meals, each accompanied by fresh cooked fries. The onion soup starter was hot and rich in flavour. The restaurant was busy at 8pm so a little wait on food but it was expected. Friendly staff and nicely decorated interior.

Outstanding food! Everything was incredibly fresh, and the flavors were amazing. A truly delicious experience from start to finish — I’d absolutely recommend it!

First night in Brussels, and we stumbled upon this amazing restaurant! The food was delicious, and the beer was top-notch! We were hosted by Sam, and he was the loveliest, ended up chatting about travels, and he certainly made our experience a lot more fun and memorable than just food and drinks!

We ate at this restaurant twice in a row, and it was absolutely phenomenal both times. It looks rather unassuming, being located in an alley with no other stores or eateries, but this place is far more than meets the eye. We ordered seven different items from the menu, and can recommend them all: -The beer braised pork: Delicious, rich meat in a savory sauce. -Beef carbonnades: Unbelievably tender! Melts in your mouth. -Meatballs liégeoise: Served with a nice sweet sauce. -Mussels with cream/garlic: Huge portion, and large, meaty mussels in a flavorful broth. -Bruxelles waffle: Not too sweet, served with sweet whipped cream to balance it. -Homemade chocolate mousse: Best I’ve ever had! Intense chocolate flavor without any bitterness or overwhelming sugariness. -Irish coffee: Far better than you’ll get it in other restaurants. All servers we met spoke english, so communication wasn’t an issue. It is best to reserve ahead of time, which is easy using their official link. It gets very busy along the evening. If you come early though, expect a long waiting time for your food to arrive, since the kitchen hasn’t started up yet.

Passing by we walked in and despite being busy they found a space. Service was fine, food was excellent and atmosphere was great. Definitely worth a visit but will book next time.

Located in a central spot in Ixelles, this restaurant is a must-try for an exceptional dinner. The service is excellent – friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The food is fantastic – the creamy mussels, shrimp croquettes, and buttered shrimp casserole are all outstanding. Absolutely worth a visit!

Best beef stew I tried in Belgium! The meat is tender and tasty. Come here and you will not be disappointed. Service very friendly!

Insanely good belgium restaurant. It was quite easy to get a table on Friday evening. Started with an amazing terrine with pickles. And followed with an an amazing pork stew

I found out about Les Brassins just a few months before moving away from Brussels, and since then, I think I've visited about ten times. Everything I've had there has been excellent, and it's my go-to for when visitors say they want authentic Belgian food. Their beer selection is of course great, but more surprisingly, they have a good wine list with a lot of half bottles on offer. Service is good and reasonably fast. And they are open every day! Even Sunday! Even Monday! I recommend making a reservation if you're going at peak dinner hour with more than two people. Top notch!

Amazing food and service in a wonderful ambience. It was recommended to us by our concierge and it surely didn't disappoint. The food items were fresh and tasty and the drink menu extensive. Fast and courteous service.

Descent food, good ambiance, but terrible service. I appreciated that they made an accommodation for us despite not having reservations. We did call when they were "open", however, no one answered so we walked there anyways. We were greeted by the manager/owner who was not so friendly. We ate and we paid, but throughout our stay they were very inattentive, seemed put off by our being there and just seemed very rude with most interactions. I must say, I did not care at all for the manager/owner, will not be visiting this establishment again, and would advise those who are foreigners not to patron this establishment unless they don't care about who they give their money to and don't mind mediocre food. I feel this establishment is a poor representative of the French/Belgium people.

Just returned from a week long Christmas Market trip to Brussels. Was searching for a restaurant with a good review walking distance to our hotel and stumbled upon Les Brassins. Walked in on our first night there, a Saturday night at 6:15, with no reservation. They were fully booked for a little later in the evening but they graciously gave us a window table (my favorite!) and brought us our drinks quickly. The staff was so gracious and friendly, service was spot on and the food....delicious. everything was so wonderful, we came back another night (again with no reservation!) and they accommodated us again. This is a quintessential bistro with a dedicated staff and a fantastic chef who makes simple, delicious food. I would recommend reservations as both nights, by the time we left at 8:30 the restaurant was packed.

Amazing place, for a sea food lover I couldn't résiste this beautiful place and the food was excellent! I will definitely go back whenever I go to Bruxelles .

Les Brassins is a quaint little brasserie in the prettiest pedestrian alley in Brussels. We actually stumbled upon it as we were walking around the neighborhood, and decided to return for dinner one night. We were lucky to snag a table for two outside on the patio. The menu is pretty traditionally Belgian, with steak and meatballs, stoemp and frites. There are two fish dishes, and I think only one vegetarian dish of pasta. Everything is simply cooked and hearty - I asked for the grilled swordfish with the fennel cream on the side, which turned out to be a good choice. The fish was delicious and tender. I also asked for a simple salad, which came lightly dressed in a balsamic dressing. The frites were homemade, hand-cut, and very tasty. Prices were very reasonable - most of the entrees were under 20 euros. The service is very friendly though it was a little difficult to communicate in English. This place was the best I've found of authentic and traditional Belgian fare in Brussels. I'd highly recommend it for the beautiful and simple ambiance as well as the delicious and well-prepared food. It's probably better to book in advance by calling, as its a popular place and people tend to linger. Tip for sightseers: Audrey Hepburn's Belgian home is in this alley - look out for the sign!

We loved it. We came on a Saturday which is less busy and full of Eurocrats on the weekends so we didn't have the same crowding problems that other reviewers might have experienced. These were very good: - Duck breast - Steak Tartare - it's all DIY, which my kid, who loves it but not so much capers - was so happy about. - Well cooked frites. I got 2 different local beers on draft - Caulier, a stronger blonde, and a weaker blonde/wit from Brasserie de la Senne. Friendly service. We got out of there for less than 50 EUR for lunch.

This typical Belgian Brasserie is a must stop dinning in Brussels. It has the traditional Stoemp Saucisses, Carbonade Flamande, all with homemade fries and fine selection of good beers. It is located in Rue Keynveld where few houses aside you will find the place of birth of Audrey Hepburn. Service is a bit slow, but it is is alright for Brussels. You should call to reserve in advance for dinner on the weekends.

It was with quite a bit of anticipation that I entered Le Brassins. I was mainly looking forward to having dinner with a very dear friend of ours, but I also wanted to try this "restaurant convivial" that is featured in many foodie blogs and also famously in the New York Times (2007). This is a lively place that serves a huge variety of Belgian beers and traditional foods like Carbonnade Flamande (sweet-sour beef and onion stew made with beer) and Stoemp (mashed potatoes and other seasonal veggies; served with onion sauce and sausage) at a very reasonable price. I had a delicious Lapin à la Kriek (rabbit stewed in cherry flavored beer). The gamy taste of the rabbit married well with the sweet-sour tasting sauce. I had fries to scoop up the tasty sauce. My dessert was a nice, but ordinary, Moelleux au chocolat. The ambiance is friendly and loud. You will have a good time in the company of dear friends. The service is not good, but at least it is not unfriendly. I guess one could say it is authentic Belgian. Come here with friends, have a great time and try good honest Belgian food without any fuss, and at reasonable prices. Bring cash, no cards accepted. The place is not as hard to find as said by some. Afterwards, when leaving the restaurant turn left, and you will soon find the plaque marking the birthplace of Audrey Hepburn.

We went here for dinner on a weeknight after reading reviews here and it did not dissapoint. Stupid me didn't make reservations (won't do that again ) and they were totally booked, but the staff was SUPER kind and went out of their way to find a table for us. No small feat since there was 3 adults and 2 toddlers! Warm, welcoming service aside, the food was delicious. I had swordfish with a fennel sauce, my husband the prime rib, and our friend, a roast. Everyone said how superb the food was. They also have a great beer selection and super yummy frites. It has a great, local vibe too!

Great Belgian spot with good beer selection! You'll find all the Belgian classic, thus, not very vegetarian-friendly (although they have two veggie pasta/noodles and salads-not all vegetarian either). You come here for the meat: try the magret de canard, the jambonneau (if you are hungry!) and if you don't despise rare meat, you should definitely go for the "beuf simple face" which is sooo good! The desserts also are very good! The place is simple but nice, the staff is friendly and on the same street Audrey Hepburn was born! What do you need more? It's safe to reserve since they don't have many tables and it can get busy! They don't accept all cards, which can be a bit of an hassle sometimes.

So yes, I was pointed here by a little blurb in the New York Times, but a friend was staying right nearby in Ixelles and it seemed the perfect place to go for some bistro fare late one night with friends. This neighborhoody spot was packed and noisy, not just with French speakers, but Flemish, English, and other languages were wafting around our table. Les Brassins was bustling with people of all ages, a great atmosphere on this dark street. We were seated on two nights without reservations, and we loved this place. Besides a decent-sized selection of beers (all wonderful in their own ways, of course), there was a sweet-ish carbonnade with frites (heavy, wonderful, luxurious, sinful), several daily specials, and friendly advice from (very busy) waitresses. This is Belgian comfort food, and it really hit the spot. For sure I'm returning here whenever I'm in Brussels.

Excellent traditional belgian food, located in the heart of Ixelles. The Stoemp and Jambonneau are amazing. Waiters are very professional. The bad point it is not big, so you might have to wait some time to get your table. Highly recommended.

On my trip to Brussels, I searched high and low on the internet for recommended places. Unfortunately, my trusted guide, Anthony Bourdain, lacked a list in Brussels. As a result, I came across this article that was in the NY Times talking about Les Brassins. Okay, New Yorkers, let's see what you got for taste buds. This place is defintiely hard to find.. I was confused, and at first frustrated with my GPS, as it told me I arrived at my destination.. When I looked around all I saw was a dark alley, with lots of construction, and not even paved sidewalks.. What I found after looking around was a bustling restaurant filled with people that were overflowing into the street.I walk in and ended up waiting by the small bar since I didn't have a reservation. 30 mins later I was seated and ready to order! I tried the rabbit, per the recommendation of the article. The Rabbit saddle was braised in beer and cherry, making it a tender and succulent treat! I made sure to get any last drop of the sauce by using my fries to wipe all the goodness up! Overall, a really great meal, that was extremely affordable. For 20€ I enjoyed a huge salad, big bowl of fries (with mayo), rabbit leg, and 2 glasses of wine! The owner was really nice as well. Very pleasant to talk with while I was waiting at the bar. I told him how I came across this restaurant, and he said that this wasn't the first time he has heard of this article. However, he never knew the article existed until tourists came in telling him about it a few years ago. He mentioned that he wish he knew who wrote it, so he could thank him! Overall, this restaurant is great. The recommendation of the rabbit was good, but based on what everyone else was eating, I think it's a must to try the mussels and steak!

Nice place, filled up quickly after we arrived. Good service, decent food. Although both the rabbit and the pork we ordered were way overdone and very tough and dry. Their sauces were pretty good and made up for the dry meat.

My friend from Brussels recommended this place, so it was on our hit list even before touching down in Belgium. Hefty portions at great prices (mains were about €13-20) - this is real traditional food in a rustic atmosphere. It looked like a fairly even mix between locals and tourists. The interior is pretty bare bones, and the table beside us had their dog with them... it's just that kind of low-key place! We ordered the rabbit in cherry beer sauce and the duck breast with pepper sauce. The duck was definitely the better of the two dishes. I found the rabbit quite overcooked and I wasn't overwhelmed by the cherry sauce, either. The duck, however, was a perfect and tender medium rare. Both dishes basically consisted of a huge portion of meat on a plate with a few lettuce leaves for garnish - like I said before, it's rustic. In general, we enjoyed our meal, but nothing about it really stood out that would make me rush back. If you do go, one important thing to note is that they are CASH ONLY. They were considerate to mention that fact to us when we made our reservations over the phone, but it's something to bear in mind if you're looking for an impromptu meal in the neighbourhood.

First time in Brussels, first restaurant choice of the trip. Let me just say, this is gonna be an awesome trip! Les Brassins is in a very cute alley way and has a ton of charm. The menu has tons of meat options and 2 vegetarian options. Food was very good and the beer selection was excellent. We went before 7pm on a Sunday and were able to get seated, but the place filled up rather fast while we were there. We'll be going back for a drink (or two) before we leave!

This is a small place and gets pretty packed. This restaurant offers pretty authentic Belgian food. Overall, the food is pretty good. I had the Carbonnade, which I thought was decent (but maybe not the best I've had in Brussels though). The Kriek Rabbit looked pretty good, and they give you the option of one or two legs. I've heard from others the Jambonneau is one of the better dishes. This restaurant is located a little off the beaten path. You have to walk through a couple alleys to get there, but it also has a stellar reputation. I imagine I'll take other friends here who visit from out of town.

Les Brassins is my go to place in Brussels for dinner, as it is only a few minutes walk from where I usually stay. The service is good and very friendly, and if you try to speak French, they love that, even if your accent is not perfect. The magret du canard is my favorite dish. It goes well with the Karmaliet tripel. Portions are ample. Reservations are a must, unless you want to try eating before 7pm or after 930 pm.

You will most likely never simply 'stumble across' this place as it is well hidden in a back street not far off Louise. In most cases you read or hear about it, and then decide to go and see what it is all about. Location aside, the restaurant has a nice rustic feel with beer advertisements from decades past ornamenting the walls. The food is classic Belgian cuisine and they have a good list of beers to choose from. Nothing fancy or pretentious here, the food is good without being extraordinary. It shouldn't disappoint and you'll not leave hungry as portions are generous. When I went with family and friends I started off with a 'duo de croquettes', a shrimp and a cheese croquette. I thought the cheese one was by far the better of the two, the shrimp being a bit bland. For mains I had the jambonneau, a leg of pork which looked more like that of a horse it was so big! It was very nicely done, tasty and accompanied by some good fries, which is important in Belgium. Others around the table had rabbit ('lapin a la kriek'), mussels and carbonnade. After trying everyone's food I agreed that the rabbit was a bit dry and generally disappointing, but really enjoyed the carbonnade. Overall things were good and I'd recommend to anyone looking for hearty Belgian food before heading for an evening out. It is also a good go-to address when you have visitors from abroad. Being off the tourist trail it has a more local feel. Though you'll hear plenty of English and a few other languages as the place is well known to local expats too. The restaurant is exactly what many say it is: decent Belgian grub helped down by a good brew, nothing more. You get good value for money and service is friendly, though a bit slow at times.

The food here was great. I would definitely recommend the grilled swordfish - so so good. The penne with mushrooms is also pretty amazing. We went in for an early dinner - around 4 or 5, so it was not busy at all. The service was great

Just the best way to get to know the Belgian way of life. The food's amazing and the beers are more than various. Go there and enjoy the night :) You should reserve upfront though, it's quite packed late nights.

I had the onion soup and the steak onglet. The soup was flavorful, but not exceptionally so. I was not disappointed but I've had better in Paris. The main course, Onglet de Bouef had great flavor but was a little tough. Our servers were very nice and the food arrived quickly to my surprise, as I had been warned of notoriously slow service in Brussels.

We had one of the best dinners on our trip here. When in Brussels try to get here. But a tip is make sure you get reservations. The first night in Brussels we tried to walk in and the place was full. We got reservations the next night and were very glad we did, I had one of the most unusual dishes I have ever had--and one of the best. I ordered the ham plate and when it came it was a whole ham shank of ham and it was scrumptious Tasty,tasty smoked ham on the bone---and a lot of it. My wife and granddaughter both had pasta dishes and said they were exceptional. Next time in Brussekls we will go back.

A lil hole in the wall delicious restaurant! I had the Duck breast with mushroom sauce and it was perfection! The cheese croquettes were gods as well.

A personal favourite, don't look anywhere else if you want traditional Belgian delights! The chef works miracles with duck in particular. Don't forget to check the impressive beer list, and to make a reservation because this place is always packed.

This restaurants locates in a cute residential neighborhood off a Main Street, nice atmosphere inside and the staffs are nice and accommodating. Food is mainly comfort food and good taste. For sure, on the weekend, it's better to make a reservation.

Good consistent place for Belgian food in Brussels. I agree it is mostly for meat lovers. Try the carbonnade if you haven't done it before. You need to know where you are going when looking for this restaurant since it is not really in an area of high traffic or transit. Nice beers available. The place is nicely decorated and has a nice vibe to it. Excellent prices. Some of the servers are very nice, others a bit more indifferent but that is kind of common in Brussels (at least what I have so far experienced). The place gets really busy at night, so think about making a reservation or coming early. The kitchen is open all the time.

My go-to 'authentic belgian cuisine' restaurant in Brussels. As good as it gets in this price range. Ive tried almost everything on the menu and I can recommend all of it. Typical belgian menu - steaks (cooked or raw), game, ham, and a myriad of sauces and beer. Oh, and awesome fries. Also, one of the few places I know with Caulier sugar-free beer on tap!

If you have non-Belgian visitors, this is the restaurant to bring them to. It's also the restaurant to go if you just want a decent, hearty meal with a nice atmosphere and good service (something of a rarity in Brussels). The menu is heavy on the meat so vegetarians best avoid but for those who like their carbonnades, jambonneau and steaks, you won't be disappointed.

This place is very close to where I used to live, and have frequented Les Brassins for the better part of a decade. It's everything I love about Brussels, nondescript, honest and delicious food, very casual bar atmosphere on a quiet street. A steak with béarnaise, frites, and the filet Americain with raw egg.. I could live off this.. The food is on point, they're open late and they serve good beer. Can't ask for more.

On est belge et on le reste... Du coup, et particulièrement quand on revient au pays, on aime retrouver ses racines et son terroir dans l'assiette. Ici, pas de chichi, on va droit au but : stoemps, chicons au gratin, boulettes sauce tomate, onglet à l'échalotte en zo voort. Tu sais pourquoi tu y vas et pourquoi tu y retourneras. Pas de révolution culinaire, juste de l'honnêteté et de la simplicité. C'est bon, punt... Le cadre va lui aussi à l'essentiel : petites tables en bois, chaises de bistro, et vieilles pancartes de brasserie qui font un peu vintage mais qui étaient là avant que le vintage soit trendy. Car ici, c'est pas l'objectif. Cuisine et service sans frioritures + ambiance conviviale + localisation un peu en dehors des sentiers battus qui confère un aspect un peu secret planqué = tes potes vont aimer. Mais le midi, emmène-les avant 12h15 ou réserve, sinon tu échoueras chez Exki en catastrophe. Et ouais, le classique, ça marche toujours en fin de compte. Santé et bon app' !

one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Brussels - traditional Belgian cuisine, great selection of Belgian beers and with this weather? the perfect place to stop and have dinner. http://onfoodandwine.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/les-brassins/

The restaurant is always crowded. I finally got a chance to have a dinner with my friend. I ordered "Scampi Salade" and it was really good! :)

One of my favourite places in the city, always buzzing with interesting people, always good food, always friendly (albeit sometimes too busy) staff. I would recommend really everything, it's also a typical place I'm taking guests too when they visit Brussels.

WORST meal EVER. My wife and I spent a few days in Brussels and wanted to try a restaurant that wasn't in a touristy area and that was unique, so we searched on the web for restaurants that cooked with beer. This one came up and somehow had good reviews, so we gave it a shot. We were seated relatively quickly, but immediately got the impression the staff wasn't that friendly. This is fairly common for Brussels, so we didn't think much of it. The beer selection was decent. Since it was a little chilly out, we started off with French Onion Soup. What showed up was some sliced onions in water. The "croutons" they described on the menu, was a full, burnt slice of Wonder Bread covered with some cheese. We each only had a few bites, since it was unappetizing to say the least. For our entrée, I ordered the rabbit and my wife, the burger. The rabbit was completely smothered in a beer sauce that wasn't very good and the meat was extremely chewy. The salad that came with my entrée consisted of two MASSIVE pieces of lettuce and a slice of tomato that was completely soaked with salad dressing. My wife's burger was disgusting. The meat was terrible and the bun had to have come straight out of a plastic bag, no butter, toasting, or anything to it. She literally took one bite. Needless to say we didn't bother with dessert. I wish I didn't have to give this place one star. This was literally the worst meal my wife and I have ever had. In addition to the cost of our meal, we also had to pay for a cab to and from the restaurant and then had to grab a quick bite elsewhere since we were still hungry. We really can't understand how this place had good reviews and was fairly crowded. The service was very poor and the food was terrible. It wasn't like we had one bad dish or appetizer. We had two appetizers, two entrees, and a few sides and none of it was any good. There are definitely better restaurants in Brussels, so don't waste your time or money here.