Beat — Restaurant in Brussels

Update: And we were back a year later to be exactly, quiet disappointing this time, they sat us down on a table that was very badly positioned next to the passage to the bar and next to all the used glasses and bottles (it should’ve not exist such a positioning in a restaurant, it can even be dangerous seating customers so close to the service passage), from the moment that we ordered until we received the “entrees” it took them about half an hour, to be more specific, we ordered a burrata salad and the mushrooms with the truffles oil (we literally saw how they were bringing main dishes to the party next to us that arrived later than us and for some reason they got their dishes faster, that clearly were quiet more time consuming to prepare than the starters), In the waiting for the starters, we received our drinks, the cup they brought me for the beer was quiet dirty, it seems that they had run out of salt for the dishwasher and that’s why it was so full of water marks (hopefully only that), to add more spice to the issue only after standing up and asking literally from the barman we got a clean glass, cause the waitress was not very attentive to be honest.

About the food, The starters were disappointing, the mushrooms that we ate this time where prepared very differently from the last time and the flavor was not there, it seemed to be a very “mushy” paste of mushrooms wit bred crumbs instead of the crunchy and flavorful mushrooms from last time neither the truffles oil was as good as the last time. The burrata salad lacked acidity in my opinion, but that’s more personal, the bad part was the very unpleasant surprise of finding ends of fennels (the brownish part next to the roots) at the bottom, seems to me that this was a cheap move to make the vegetables last for more dishes.

The house salad that was served with the main courses was good, but the bread that came with it did not seem very appealing to the eye, we didn’t even bothered to try it. Finally this time I got the waffle burger, the bottom waffle was moist from the meat juices, like they left it soaking for too long before serving it.

I have to say that they asked us if everything was ok, but it just did not felt like they care about it, it was more like a formality, at the end when paying I remarked that the service was very slow, but the guy that I told him he had to go somewhere and asked to someone else to take care of me, basically I felt quiet ignored and personally I don’t think that I’ll be coming back any sooner.

I hope this just was bad luck and not the “new usual”, hope that hey take this feedback as constructive criticism.

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Wonderful!!, very good service, good ambience, the music at the right volume for you to talk, well designed and great illumination, the food “Incroyable”, we had a delicious variety of dishes and they’re were all very good, you can taste the quality and worth every euro we paid, the wine as well we liked a lot (it was the waiter choice).

We’ll be...

Let's start with I honestly don't know where this restaurant received such positive reviews. They accept card and are a bit away from the city center.

Starting with the reserving of a table at the restaurant. I reached out to via an online table reservation service called Tablebooker, Instagram and then Google to try and reserve a table. My reservation wasn't confirmed until after I departed the restaurant and if you are trying via Google or Instagram I would just not even try.

Atmosphere wise for the restaurant is nice. Had a dark theme with a warm highlight that is inviting. To me it is a very small restaurant and you will feel very packed-in especially when it gets busier in the night.

Now for the food. The waiter told us some items won't be available on the menu and we thought no worries. We choose our food and then the waiter says "Sorry that is not available you only can choose from these select main's and this was including the vegetarian options. Or you can choose our set menu." I thought to myself what was the point of looking at the menu to build up the anticipation like "wow" that sounds great or "yes that sounds delicious." To tell me "Yeah you can only choose this or that." I decided to choose an Old Fashioned with a Passion fruit Bellini for drinks. After a good 30 minutes which was no issue drinks arrived. I didn't expect the Passion fruit Bellini to be much but it was mainly juice. Didn't have that nice sparkle to it or a crispness as in a usual Bellini. As for the Old Fashioned. I wouldn't even call it that. It had two giant orange peels in it and it looked like sugar or salt on the ice cubes. It tastes more sweet with no notes of any time of liquor added in it to give that rich, aromatic taste a usual Old Fashion would be.

The food finally came out after about an hour wait. Food wise I went with the duck breast as it was recommended and then went with the Pork ribs. The presentation was marvelous but the food was lukewarm. Carrot purée was subtle with a bland palate. Meanwhile, the duck breast was just meat with a red wine sauce. As for the Ribs they were garnished with raw red onions. A coleslaw that had a taste of vinegar and just a plain baked potato. The ribs were Tender but lacked flavor.

Finally, for the review. I will put this restaurant at a 2 out of 10 on that 🔥 scale. From the long waits just trying to get a seat even with a reservation. Poor quality of the food and the drinks for just being below average despite all the additional bells and whistles. To also not have more than half of your menu listed including appetizers. Just to show a "Set Menu." I would not recommend this place.

** Edit see below the restaurants reaction...

The Beat restaurant has installed itself in the neighbourhood, as loudly and as disrespectfully as it possibly can. This area used to be a peaceful neighbourhood, where restaurants were only open during the week and were closed during weekends. Bringing a respectful mix of tranquility and peace for the inhabitants during weekends and commercial value to restaurant owners during weekdays. All this has abruptly ended when Beat restaurant installed itself in this area. They are nearly open 24/7 every single weekday and weekend, their music starts booming at 8am in the morning and ends at 2am in the evening, they installed a loud outdoor tv screen for the customers to watch soccer, their afterwork concerts bring about harmful decibels through amplifiers that shake buildings, .. their terrace occupies the entire footpath on 3 sides,.. This area has become inhabitable due to their colonising occupation. Neighbours are thinking of moving, trying to work out what can be done about this. If you live in a street where one restaurant terrorises you 24/7 with loud decibels, what would you do? I cannot believe that their commercial value means more than the need of tranquility and rest of the inhabitants...