Bouillon Bruxelles — Restaurant in Brussels

The best place in Brussels to experience authentic Belgian cuisine. Had a set menu there last night. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, we felt very welcome and cared for. Each staff member was polite, jovial, and just personal enough to make us feel like a special guest.

The food itself was outstanding. We had a cold appetizer, which was a leek sushi, dressed with Brussels cheese dressing and herbs. Very innovative and on season. Minor issue: Food was served while we were still waiting for our cocktail aperitif. This small mistake was quickly made up for. Warm appetizer was shrimp coquettes. We do eat them regularly, but we have never found this amount of shrimp in them. Great plus. Super delicious.

Main: vo-au-vent. A Belgian Classic that I love! Since we had a set menu, it had a slight twist: we had an extra bearnaise sauce on top of the regular cream sauce. But it was so good! The biscuit served with the chicken pie was homemade, and the chicken pieces were tender and big. We weren't served heavily with mushrooms or meatballs in the sauce, but that was understandable. It is a personal preference. And since the central part of the crowd consists of tourists, I would keep the vol-au-vent mainstream as well. Portion was royal. Hubby and I ditched the etiquette and switched plates so he could finish mine.

And then the desert: île flottant. Again, with their own twist. The sauce where the foam island was swimming in was made with cuberdons. The Flemish candy is also known as "neuzekes". Truly loved this twist. Also a plus: when I asked for coffee with my dessert, the waiter ensured it was served alongside our dessert. Another plus (they keep coming): the coffee is provided by a famous Belgian coffee house that roasts its own beans and resides in the beautiful city of Namen.

Overall, the service was excellent, and the food was great, despite being in a very touristy location. I recommend this place, despite its already being very busy. And that is the only downside: it can feel cramped inside when it's jam-packed—lots of staff and tables close to each other. You might want to ask for a table in a corner where you want to be seated more quietly. However, it's totally worth the experience and the money...

I do not recommend this restaurant.

Racial Discrimination: During my visit, I experienced behavior that seemed racially discriminatory. Two men catcalled me in Chinese and later in Japanese, creating an extremely uncomfortable situation. Despite asking them to leave, they continued to mock and disturb me, which ruined my dining experience. Additionally, a woman from their group touched my skin and seemed fascinated by its color, which felt invasive and inappropriate.

Food Quality: The food arrived within five minutes of ordering, indicating it was pre-made rather than freshly prepared. It was cold and lacked flavor.

Service Issues: When I attempted to address these issues, I was met with explanations that felt insincere. The staff acted as if they were lecturing me, despite the fact that I am already living in Europe and have experience living in various countries. Their behavior only added to the unpleasant experience. The restaurant did not acknowledge that catcalling is inappropriate and instead attempted to teach the customer, which is unacceptable.

Shame on you for failing to address these serious issues and for treating customers in such a disrespectful manner. I hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and makes necessary...

I visited Bouillon restaurant in Brussels with my friend and it really took my breath away. The restaurant is located right in the center, so you can easily find it and above all in a nice, quiet place. We visited the restaurant on a Tuesday, but despite that it was quite full, so you could see that the restaurant is really famous and popular.

Since they have traditional Belgian cuisine and a lot of people go there for their traditional dishes, we wanted to try it as well. We had fries and beef two ways - once steak and once with sauce, unfortunately I can't remember what it was called, but you can tell from the photos. I am also attaching a photo of the menu. Everything was excellent.

The staff were nice, they spoke both French and English, which was very nice. I can't fault anything, it's a restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere that will warm your heart. I also can't get into dessert as I have a sweet tooth - we had a strawberry panna cotta and a chocolate dessert and it was a really lovely end to the day.

If you are looking for something traditional in Brussels, where you can find yourself, I definitely recommend this place. The prices are reasonable, the place is clean, quiet with a breathtaking atmosphere, you will like it here. I give 10...