Bij den Boer — Restaurant in Brussels

My friend that I happened to meet at Tomorrowland took me to this restaurant for the first time for their mussels in 2019. He is local and this restaurant is across the street from the local fish market, so I knew I was in for some delicious food! And It was DELICIOUS!! I dreamt of these mussels since 2019, and finally came back for more in 2022, however they were closed! Haha So I had to dream about them one more year. 4 years later, I am delighted to report that they are still as good as I remembered. It’s 2lbs of mussels, you eat and eat and eat, still 2lbs left in the bucket. It’s like Santa Claus’s magical sack! Can’t get to the bottom of it. Lol This time around, I also got to try their oysters! They were so creamy - oh lawd! When I asked for the shallot vinegar, the server, he likes to be called Noah, gave me this dreadful look. I am glad that he did, because these oysters taste so damn good just with pepper and lemon on top, they don’t need any other ingredients to crash their party in your mouth! They are the whole meaty, creamy, salty partayyy in yoo mouth!!! The oysters and the mussels were unreal. Our friend ordered the fishing bucket haha it had all kinds of never ending seafood inside. It was like you went to fishing with Demeter! Also happened to be scrumptious. We took the night to greater heights with tiramisu. I may have gotten drunk from it. :) I believe the food tasted even better with the excellent level of service and attention that Noah provided for us. We had to go back the second time within 4 days to see Noah and enjoy another dozen of oysters. Oh by the way, oysters are farmed in one of the most nutrient-rich areas of the Oosterschelde. I would like to visit one day to eat straight out of the net. Although coming to this restaurant just feels like it plus you get Noah!! :)) P.S they don’t...

I enjoyed a sole and shrimp dinner. The sole was a bit dry. Meal was 'okay' probably impressive for those who are not familiar with eating seafood routinely. What struck me was, as a single diner, how inordinately inattentive the service was. It was so bad that I actually walked out of the restaurant and took a 30-minute walk before returning to pay my bill. And that was after waiting for 30 minutes to get to someone's attention to ask for the check - to no avail.

The stunner was - and I actually returned to pay the bill- that the Maitre'D was at the door and he said to me 'oh did you forget to pay??'

Did I forget to pay? How about did you forget that I was actually a client? a paying customer? Someone who needed your attention more than you...

Never did I leave a restaurant with such a satisfied stomach as I did here.

I am not a fan of seafood, so I had steak, which was so tender my fork went through it with such minimal force, I could probably have used a spoon.

The dishes of my fellow eaters too were presented splendidly. But not only was the main course a triumph, it was the dessert that made this visit truly remarkable.

The owners are obviously people who know how to treat their guests, as not only was the food astonishing, the place was abuzz with excited chatter and laughter. Also, the informal nature of the waiting staff made the experience a truly memorable one.

It was exactly how I would want my own restaurant to be if I...