Thanks indeed to the Two Hairy Bikers for their suggestion to try this fantastic restaurant. The food was gorgeous and the staff were obviously selected for their efficiency as much as their looks. We dined like kings and yet the meal came to about 100 euros, a bargain. I'd love to go back and try the steak & chips and some more wonderful Belgian beer. Try it, you will not be disappointed.

Belga Queen Brussels
Rue Fossé aux Loups 32
1000 BRUSSELS


Phone:+32 2.217.21.87
Fax:+32 2.229.31.79
Email:info.brussels@belgaqueen.be

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Have a meal in the streets behind the Grand Place in Brussels, the selection of seafood dishes is superb.

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Try the Scheltema Brasserie on Rue des Dominicains (Tel: 02 512 20 84). Do not be fooled by its location at the end of Rue des Bouchers, close to the Grand Place, which is home to dozens of tourist restaurants with quick-eyed maitre'ds hustling for custom on the pavement.

To enter Scheltema is to step into a place where food is to be savoured, not rushed. Serious-looking, but kindly and knowledgeable waiters (all male and of a certain age), add to the experience. Truly wonderful.

www.scheltema.be/frames/nl/home_nl_center.htm

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For a relaxed meal and/or drink on a summer's evening, try Place St Boniface, close to Porte de Namur metro station. There are many good restaurants in the square and the surrounding streets.

Try Au Vieux Bruxelles for traditional Belgian cuisine in (sometimes very!) cosy surroundings or Mano a Mano for simple, high-quality Italian food. L'Ultime Atome is a great choice for a drink, with a good range of beers and outside tables; it also does decent, brasserie-style food if you're peckish.

www.auvieuxbruxelles.com/

www.ultime-atome.com/

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Have a meal at Restaurant Vincent, Rue des Dominicains. Fine food and a great atmosphere.

www.restaurantvincent.com/

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Just off the Grand Place you'll find many excellent restaurants. Go for one where the staff don't try to drag you in off the street. Even better, head straight for Restaurant Vincent, undoubtedly one of the best in town. For details go to www.restaurantvincent.com.

www.restaurantvincent.com/

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A short break to Brussels can refuel your batteries, with minimal travel hassle and maximum value, if you plan carefully.

First, let the train take the strain. Book well in advance and at off-peak times - especially when the Eurocrats are in recess - and, if you book your train and accommodation via Eurostar, enjoy considerable discounts. Pick a hotel near the centre and you can walk to most places of interest.

Second, do not expect to see all of Brussels on one trip. Do little and often. Essentials include: La Mort Subite bar, Belga Queen and Falstaff restaurants, Grand Place and Kriek beer.

www.alamortsubite.com/

www2.resto.be/belgaqueen/

www.falstaff-brussels.be/

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Try eating at La Quincaillerie, a typically fine restuarant in the city, but with a novel twist: it's a converted hardware store. The food is of high quality and, unusually for me, I can recall the unique interior in surprising detail.

www.quincaillerie.be/showPage.php?page=home

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For the best night out in Brussels, try an aperitif at super-cool L'Archiduc bar followed by a slap-up dinner at Bonsoir Clara along the road.

www.archiduc.net/home.html

www.bonsoirclara.be/

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When in Brussels, this place is not to be missed for three reasons:
1.The museum is located in one of the most stunning art nouveau buildings in Europe, built by master architect Paul Santenoy.
2. It houses one of the best collections of musical instruments you will ever see, with over 6000 pieces.

3. The top-floor bar and restaurant offer good food in a very stylish décor, where you can relax for a few hours or entertain friends.

Bonus: the stunning views over central Brussels. There is an open-air roof terrace in summer.

2, Rue Montagne de la Cour
1000, Brussel
Tel: 02 545 01 30
Fax: 02 545 01 79

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This place has a really authentic Italian feel about it. There's no trendyness or pretentiousness like you find in other city centre Italian places, whose food generally turns out to be a big disappointment.

Here you can find the best pizzas north of Rome, served by a guy who would be more at home in a gladiator outfit, and the red-checked tablecloths and paintings of Italy on the walls tell you that he's probably a little bit homesick.

It's also relatively cheap, so it's a great spur-of-the-moment restaurant (you don't need to book). In 8 months of living in Brussels, this was my favourite restaurant by far.

Rue Jourdan 5, (just off the top of Avenue Louise)

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