Mission Masala's Bombay BBQ — Restaurant in Ixelles - Elsene

The reason why I ate here was because of the hostess Rachida. I tried getting in one night, but I didn’t realize that it was so late. She tried to talk to the kitchen to let me come in, but they were already cleaning up. Her hospitality and warmth was greatly appreciated and I decided thatI would return because of her attitude. The next night I went back not because I wanted Indian food. Honestly, it was the last thing that I wanted to eat in Brussels, but it was advised as Indian soul food so I figured let me give it a try.

When I arrived the manager, Xavier told me that the restaurant was pretty booked, but I could have a seat at the bar. Since I was a solo diner I was more than happy to sit at the bar. I am glad that I did Justin. The bartender was knowledgeable, gracious, and accommodating and so is his pal Claudio. I was intrigued about the vodka lemonade cocktail with smoked black salt. I thought it was going to be too salty, but just let me try the mix. I said go ahead let me have it and I was glad that I did. It was a wonderful cocktail and assault was barely noticeable, but did add a distinctive touch to the drink

The atmosphere was awesome a lot of Indian quiche decor and a reggae soundtrack that brought me back to my 20s and 30s this was a fun and lively place behind me. There was a group of eight gorgeous Belgian women sharing plates and having drinks and having a wonderful time. The staff really was also in great spirits. They seem to love their job And that’s a place that you wanna come and eat at where the vibe is really good.

As for the food, there was quite a handful of dishes to order, but I knew I had to make my mind up and not order too much so I went ahead and ordered three things. I had the saffron basmati rice, which was cooked to perfection. I also enjoyed the fried chicken coated with crushed cornflakes and accompanied with a side of Madras mayo And third, but certainly not last was the Goa sticky ribs. These pork ribs were made from Durock pigs from Iberico. It really doesn’t get much better than that when you’re talking about pork and they were finished with a sticky jaggery glaze. Out of this world delicious. I would go back to Brussels just to eat at this restaurant again. I look forward to it. I hope Rachida, Xavier, Justin and Claudio are still there. This was really a fun place...

I just came back from India and was really missing the food, so I decided to try this place in Brussels that many people had recommended. Honestly, I have mixed feelings.

The interior design is immersive and definitely makes you feel like you’ve stepped into India, with authentic decorations and atmosphere. But the food itself didn’t feel truly Indian, it was more of a fusion experience. Not necessarily bad, just not authentic.

I started with a chai, and was immediately confused: it was just powder blend with milk, not real masala chai. Then I tried the samosa chaat… or at least that’s what it was supposed to be. In reality, it was just samosas cut into pieces. That’s not samosa chaat! It also tasted quite bland, with not enough chutney, dahi, or sev. Really disappointing.

Next, the meat dishes. The restaurant is called Bombay BBQ, but there’s surprisingly little actual meat on the menu. In India, the variety of meat is incredible, so I expected more. We chose the lamb kofta, and once again I was left confused. The rice was excellent (probably the highlight of the meal), but the lamb kofta itself tasted more like tomato sauce/Italian meatballs than Indian kofta, no real spices, no depth of flavor. Not bad, but very underwhelming for the price.

Overall, I’d say this: if you’re looking for a fun evening with fusion style dishes in a beautiful setting, this place works. But if you’re craving authentic Indian food, this isn’t the right spot.

⭐ Fusion experience: 7/10 (mainly for the ambiance) ⭐ Authentic...

To be perfectly honest, I was a bit disappointed because we had such high expectations since it was recommended to us by others. First, what we liked about it. The interior of the restaurant is amazing, it immediately transports you to India. You have to be there to experience it. Food for the most part was actually pretty good. With clever names and a novel approach towards Indian food, it was refreshing. It's an example of fusion that actually works while still staying true to its roots. The people working there were warm and welcoming.

However what didn't work for me is the fact that chilli paneer and Gobi was excessively salted. You just don't expect that from a reputed restaurant. Also service seemed to be slow while taking the order. However food came relatively quickly. Also the concept of sharing food felt a bit forced and seemed like a way to rationalize small portion size. Food can always be shared but Indian food is known for generous portions. For example, I am not sure how do you share two tacos among four people. If something to be shared then there should be enough of it. Maybe I didn't completely understand the concept. There was only one dessert on the menu but it wasn't available. One last thing that I found a bit strange is the mention of tips while accepting the payment.

I will however recommend people to still go and experience it for themselves because it's something unique. Naan, butter chicken, pulled lamb tacos and house blend tea are some of the things...