Brasserie Surréaliste — Restaurant in Brussels

While the Brasserie Surréaliste certainly boasts a captivating ambiance with its bustling atmosphere and spacious setting, my recent visit left much to be desired in terms of service and attention to dietary needs.

Upon arrival, my party of nine, celebrating a special occasion, experienced a 25-minute wait for menus and drink orders. Despite our efforts to flag down a staff member, we were informed that the delay was due to the restaurant preparing for their next 9:30 seating. Nevertheless, once our orders were finally taken, the drinks, particularly the diverse selection of beers, were commendable.

Unfortunately, the same level of attentiveness was not extended to our gluten-free guest, whose dietary restriction had been communicated both during booking and upon arrival. Despite assurances, there was a glaring oversight in providing suitable options. Each dish was presented without clarification on its gluten content, leading to a potentially hazardous situation. The waitress, while acknowledging the oversight, failed to take responsibility and instead shifted blame to the booking manager for not passing on the information.

Although some makeshift accommodations were made, such as providing cheese and prawns, the lack of proper communication and menu clarity persisted even during dessert. No choice was provided; we had to ask again if the dessert in front of our gluten-free guest had gluten in it, to which they removed it without a word and threw a poached pear in front of her several minutes later.

The ordeal reached its peak during billing when we requested the removal of the 'gluten-free' meal. This simple request escalated into an unnecessary confrontation, with the staff reluctantly acquiescing after a standoff and 'slamming' the bill on the table.

Despite the intriguing experience and the restaurant's commendable venue and food quality, the abysmal service overshadowed any positives. It's regrettable to encounter such a stark disparity between the potential of the establishment and the actual execution of hospitality. If Brasserie Surréaliste intends to maintain its reputation, it needs significant improvements in service standards - they are...

If you are searching for a funky place in the center of Brussels, the Brasserie Surrealiste may be the place. It is located in Dansaert, a must-visit quarter in the city center that is full of bars, small artisanal shops, and beautiful architecture. Speaking of which, the brasserie itself is located in a magnificent Art Deco building of 1932.

I loved:

House beers, of course! I had La Grande Bellezza with Mirabelle & Bergamot. Their list of beers is long; A Mediterranean menu. We could have been easily somewhere in the south and not in Brussels. Otto Lenghi vibes; The starters were sublime Burrata di Puglia & Aubergine Miso. So refreshing and really tasteful; Don’t forget to order the veg - I recommend the roasted carrots; The art! Take a look around, and you will be impressed with all the creativity. You will even bump into a horse on your way to the restroom!

Less impressed with the following:

The presentation of two main dishes Mediterranean Chicken & Crispy Ta’amiyya (falafel); The falafel dish has been revisited according to the menu. I am a big falafel fan, and I can say that this dish was disappointing. The falafels were dry - the yogurt dip did not help much; The cocktails were just ok and pricey. You better stick to beers.

Insider tips:

Great for a group of friends or colleagues for a family-style dinner. There are several long wooden tables, perfect for hosting a group; If you want to have a last drink after dinner in the brasserie, go to two adjacent bars - Baerbeton & Chez Lutgarde. Always packed with a good crowd.

Will I come back?

Most...

We had dinner here the same day they were having the closing party. The restaurant had assured me the music would start later at night and especially after we’d had time to have dinner (our reservation was at 9pm, so the music would have allegedly started to get loud at 10pm). However, this was not the case. They set our table right behind the Deejay. It was literally like having dinner at a techno club, instead the music had started at 6pm. Our table was surrounded by people drinking and dancing; very uncomfortable and unhygienic. The temperature also reminded us of the hottest beaches in Egypt. There was no ventilation whatsoever and the dim lighting made an interesting combo that resembled hell itself. We asked if we could move to a table outside but were told food was not served out there. We then asked if we could have a table at least closer to the entrance and our request was again rejected because of no availability (when we left the restaurant, 90% of the tables at the entrance were empty). Still suffering from the heat, we implored the staff to find a solution. We were told they could perhaps relocate a small fan next to our table, instead we were left forgotten meanwhile the Deejay table had 3 fans pointing at it. They clearly set their priorities straight from the beginning. Oh lastly, half of the menu wasn’t available as the restaurant was to be closed for the next month. In summary, unsatisfactory food, horrible atmosphere and less than average service. Hopefully, any other time of the idea it’s a...