Aux Armes de Bruxelles is a must for a classic Brussels lunch. The mussels and frites were everything you hope for--perfectly cooked, flavorful, and generously portioned, with fries that were crisp, golden, and done the right way. The wine selection is excellent and thoughtfully curated, with great pairings to choose from. The beautiful decor and rich history of the restaurant really stand out, adding elegance and character to the experience. Attentive, unhurried service and a timeless atmosphere make this a true Brussels institution that absolutely lives up to its reputation. Do not miss!! read more

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The owner of this old restaurant has renewed the magic. The food and Belgian specialities are really good. The top dessert experience is definitely the crepe flambée with Mandarine Napoleon! read more

We came here for a late lunch (around 2 p.m.) and felt grateful they could serve us without a reservation. The restaurant is lovely and has a warm ambiance. Unfortunately for us, we got a server with a poor attitude. Our bill for three people was € 125, so it wasn't as if we were wasting his time or the restaurant's table. My husband and I ordered the mussels/frites; our son ordered the eel in a green sauce. The guys got beer; I ordered white wine. The mussels were good. Our son wanted to try the eel with green sauce (a specialty in Belgium), but he discovered it has a lot of bones and said he wouldn't choose that again. You can see from the photo how few frites were served (and no, we hadn't eaten any before the photo was taken). But beyond that, the server brought nothing to put the discarded mussels shells on! If you've ever eaten mussels, you know that is absolutely necessary, and any server would know that. If the server had ever checked on us during the rest of the meal (he did not!), we could have politely asked him for the required plates. But he did not. I had to seek help from one of his colleagues, who looked quite surprised that plates hadn't been brought out with the pots of mussels. Then, when the server finally reappeared with the bill, he twice suggested the tip button for my husband to use. Service charges are included in the bill for most restaurants in Europe, and this particular server did *nothing* to distinguish himself to earn more. His attitude reflects poorly on the restaurant. read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

Without a doubt, this was the best meal we had during our most recent European trip. It was completely unexpected. The white linen cloth lines each chair, the air screams upscale, but the food speaks for itself. It's traditional. Maybe it was the individual bread rolls and fancy butter, that butters you up while you wait for the main course. All I know is, if you want to wow your tastebuds, get the mussels. It's a Brussels' must. If you want something a bit healthier and fresh after eating your weight in croissants in France, then get the steak tartare. Mussels in white wine (onions, celery, butter, white wine) french fries. 33.50 Steak tartare "c'est nous' 23.00 read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

This is an institution in Brussels serving the royal family and the well to do establishment bourgeoisie for several decades. They are known for their mussels, cotes a l'os, rack of lamb, Waterzooi which is a soup from Belgium and originating in Flanders. boiling or the ingredients It is sometimes called Gentse Waterzooi which refers to the Belgian town of Ghent where it originated. The original dish is often made of fish, either freshwater or sea, (known as Viszooitje), though today chicken waterzooi (Kippenwaterzooi) is more common. We also tasted many other Belgian specialties. Our server was well dressed with his white coat and epaulets with a super friendly attitude, very professional and attentive. We had more than two server at some times serving our table as we were a large party of eight. We enjoyed local beers and a grand cru Saint Emillion. It was a memorable birthday party for my son! This is really an iconic brasserie at the heart of Brussels close to Grand Place. read more

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I will be very clear I did not eat here. After being ignored for over 15 minutes without any service other than being handed menus, we left. We saw a waiter leaving the restaurant as we were waiting and decided that was the time to leave. Interestingly we saw the waiter in a restaurant across the way and he knew we had walked out and he looked confused but didn't seem to overly care we walked. Ended up at a more casual restaurant, but disappointed to have downgraded based on service. read more

Yes! We had mussels in Brussels! The mussels came in a big pot and the portions were very generous, the frites were on the smaller size though. My husband had the garlic and I had the white wine. Both ere good. The location is nice especially if you like to people watch. We even had a couple come and put in an impromptu show. Our waitress was attentive and had a wonderful sense of humor. read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Mussels in white wine. - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

Yes, the Aux Armes de Bruxelles is a tourist restaurant . . . Sort of. Yes, the days of Michelin stardom have passed . . . Sort of. Yes, the atmosphere can be a bit crowded and bustling. YES - go! The Aux Armes de Bruxelles is the perfect Belgian dining experience. It's like being transported back in time to a much more glamorous age of fine dining. From the impeccably dressed maitre'd to the white coat table captains, the place harkens to a time when eating out was about more than just the food. Oh, but wait - the food is dang good. Really good stuff. The seafood is by-far the calling card of the establishment. However, they offer a wide range of dishes that can please just about anyone. We had an absolutely lovely family meal. Made all the more delightful by the charm and humor of the table captain - who playfully chided our daughter for her 'need' to have ketchup with her frites. ;-) In all sincerity - this is a must visit place if you are staying near Butcher Street in Brussels. The Aux Armes de Bruxelles just pulls everything together and creates a memorable meal! read more

Food it's absolutely fantastic!!! Service it's excellent & ambiance it's so cozy & lovely ... we stay in Brussels 10 days and we visit this restaurant 4 times I highly recommend this place ...I'm really highly recommended this lovely restaurant read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

A nice restaurant with great service, the place is rather busy (and perhaps noisy) and it is better to book in advance. The food is good, even if I would have expected a bit more from the meat that was overwhelmed by the pepper. The dessert was terrific. read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Night at the Aix Armes - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

The owner was so kind and available and the food AMAZING! best fish and desert I ever had... Food service ambiance omg !! Highly recommend read more

Amazing: Food - Highly recommend Beef Carbonnade flamande, Mussels in white wine and also Mussels in white wine and cream. Steak tartare was freshly prepared deliciousness! Service: Dimitri was fantastic. Made us feel right at home. Ambiance: 5-Star Very rarely have my family and I had such attentive service while in Europe. The restaurant is like something out of a different time and so much different that's what you expect from the area in which it is located. White linen tablecloths and napkins give it a touch a First Class. From Berlin to Munich to Brussels and then on to Amsterdam and Paris, we can only hope to enjoy another meal as much as we did this one. read more

Chef on my plane told me to go here for authentic Brussels food. Very good service, great food and fancy atmosphere. Recommend once while you're here. read more

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I came here because of the Michelin record but was greatly disappointed. The signature dishes were deep-fried croquettes, a fish soup that was bland, and a cold bread pudding. I was surprised that the food was so ordinary. I also found the manager to be pretentious. Not a restaurant that I would come back ever. read more

I loved sitting in the middle aisle in a booth located on the right side of the restaurant when you walk in from the revolving doors (the restaurant is split between two areas. Excellent service, wonderful ambiance. Veulemans salad which consisted of small shrimps with salad & 1 shrimp croquette was delicious. The fish soup was yummy as well, came with toasted bread, shredded cheese and a spicy aioli sauce. To drink: house red wine, white wine, Aperol Sprintz, Hendrix and tonic (which came with peppercorns and shaved cucumber and was absolutely divine). Two orders of sol sautéed in butter with bone still in were excellent. Fish (sol) came with a side of frites and we also ordered a side of spinach. All yummy, will be back! read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - House white wine, a Sauvignon Blanc: Pouilly-Fume in the Loire Valley - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

Restaurant was noisy with large parties including families with children on iPads playing games. We went there for our last night in Brussels expecting a quiet fancy dinner and it really missed the mark. Men wearing baseball caps - really. My salmon and my husbands duck were both overcooked. A gentleman came in with his family during our meal and complained about the AC blowing on him so they turned it off and everyone got to roast while we ate. We decided to skip the dessert we paid for because it was too hot to enjoy it. Hard pass for me! read more

My Momma always told me to stay away from restaurants that are right smack in the middle of tourist areas. Except if you are in Brussels. This street reminds of something you would find in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Lines of restaurants with waiters out in front trying to hustle you inside for a less than decent meal. But you arrive at the front door of this place and you immediately notice something a little different. No one standing in front. Believe it or not, this is actually a place even the locals frequent. And for good reason. Excellent service and even better food can be found here. The waiters have been here for decades, yet it they are as enthusiastic and friendly as their first day on the job. The menu is classic Belgian and every dish is a hit. I went with the steak frite, and it was the perfect dish on a cold and wet evening. My wife and our friend went with seafood dishes, but since I don't eat anything that comes from below sea level I cannot personally vouch for them. But I can tell you they both devoured every last gill from their plates. Be sure to book a table in advance, or expect a long wait. read more

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Walking along the row of tourist restaurants, options at my disposal were tourist troughs with hawkish hosts at attention. Aux Armes de Bruxelles was out of place. Wooden revolving doors provide a big degree of separation from the bustling streets and help to preserve a refined atmosphere. I don't usually talk about atmosphere in my reviews, but I liked the classic décor. Flowers, wooden tables, golden curtains, white table cloths and employees adorned in classical style uniforms are appreciated. Now, to be clear this doesn't factor into the overall rating as that is solely based on food merits. However, I thought it was worth mentioning. I went with one of the pre-fix menus. Foie gras terrine, waterzooi, and Belgian cheeses. Vuelmans: As for beverage, I initially order the Crystal, but it was tapped out. Vuelmans was then recommended. Apparently, this beer is brewed specially for the restaurant. Simple lager taste with a clean finish. No astringency, smooth and refreshing. First Course: The terrine is framed by what I believe was tripe. Tripe is mostly tasteless, but offers a chewy nuance. Terrine has a very smooth taste, mild but enjoyable bitterness, a note of smokiness Onion jam, sliced pear and brioche toast are provided. Fresh pear brings a crisp, fresh fruity quality. Onion jam lends a sweet and sour but poignant balance to the luxurious nature of the terrine. Spread on toast with onion jam. Spread the jam and pate on the pear. Spread the jam on the terrine. My only concern is I would have appreciated one or two more accompaniments on the plate to play with in tandem with the terrine. Second course: Waterzooi is a cream based stew very reminiscent of chowder. Broth has excellent consistency, not being too thick or thin. Large potato pieces are cooked al dente. Leek shred add a green crunch and allium nuance. Cod, shrimp, salmon and sole pieces are stewing in the bowl, not overcooked with a fresh and clean taste. I can't say that each of the fish pieces stood out on their own with unique tastes. They mostly blended together. Creamy, buttery broth has a slice cheese tang and ocean undertone. The richness in combination with the potato, veggies and fish is addicting. Third course: After the main course I opted to get the cheese plate. Four cheese were presented to me. Blue, chevre, cheddar and brie. Each was served at perfect temperature. Not cold so the flavors are dulled. Microgreen garnish, almond slices, currants and some fig jam are present to play with. I was also given a sesame coated bun to have with the cheese. An excellent indulgence in local Belgian cheeses. Aux de Armes is a nice respite from the bustling streets. The waterzooi is an excellent menu item and worth a detour. read more

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They had a star in 2017 but I think the chef has left the kitchen. Vegetarian review. From unevenly cooked asparagus to a burnt dessert, didn't quite pair with my delicious moscato. The atmosphere was nice but the food that was best was the still burning fries, hope they don't always serve them staying scalding hot several minutes after it arrives. Waiter also forgot to enter in part of my order. read more

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3.5 stars I really loved the moules frites here. I was looking for a very authentic place to take my friend for Belgian mussels, and this definitely fit the bill. We had a few appetizers, a bottle of wine, and mussels, and everything was excellent. The ambiance was very upscale, but not snooty. The location is easy to get to, and I absolutely love that they do online reservations. I'm deducting stars because service was painfully slow, considering that we went at a time that wasn't busy at all. read more

I had a rather disappointing experience here. While the wait staff and host were extremely kind and treated us well, I did not appreciate the senior couple seated next to us who kept repeating negative comments about Americans throughout our meal. It was not cool listening to them and worse since I understood every single word they were uttering. Never mind I was Asian, so perhaps they thought we were from another country other than American. I proceeded to speak Japanese for the rest of my meal. Ignorance with dignity? While I understand the annoyances, given that Aux Armes de Bruxelles probably has to bear the brunt of dealing with both courteous and rude tourists, I'm still on the boat where you treat people the way one would like to get treated. It was just discouraging given my first visit to Brussels and both times I felt they were plain rude, they were locals. To top it off, I had wonderful experiences in France, Sweden, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and London so who knows what was up with the ass klown approach. Perhaps the current refugee situation was causing a lot of stress to the country. Regardless, I had reservations and yes, I was touring Le Grand Place, so I ordered what I felt was true to the Brussels region. I ordered the Duck breast with peppercorn sauce and the Poached Salmon with mousseline sauce. First, I was expecting an elegant plating to my duck entree. Instead, the plate came with the slices of duck smothered in the dark brown peppercorn sauce. I could barely see the slices of duck. While the dish was good, I felt the sauce overpowered the delicate and fatty slices of duck breast. The poached salmon came out naked and plain on the plate. Like someone just threw it on there and the garnish was also cheap and didn't look nicely plated. It didn't look elegant at all. I was wondering if this is what local Brussels fare looks and tastes like. My visit here was purposely made short because I was getting to the point of saying something in French to the rude old bags next to me but we just cut the meal short and took off. I had better things to do in Brussels than have to sit next to locals who didn't think I would understand what they were complaining about. But that's ok. Their time on earth would be a lot shorter than mine. I should have kept the reservations at La Maison du Cygne and at Comme Chez Soi. 2-3 stars for the food. 5 stars for the service and hosts. read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Duck breast w/peppercorn sauce...smothered :( - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

Maybe it is just being an American, but it seems like the service at restaurants in Brussels could not be worse. The wait staff takes 10-15 minutes to take a drink order and then another 10-15 minutes to bring it. We both had the filet which was actually very good, but it seemed odd that it took 30 minutes to deliver 2 rare steaks? Anyway, maybe I just need to relax and have a good time? read more

Another huge Brussels classic ! At the same time popular with locals and with tourists too. One of the rare places in this central and touristy area that is not a 'tourist trap' vs almost all the other restaurants of the Quartier of the Rue des Bouchers. Very professional service, genuine 19th century deco and style. 2 rooms - 2 types of decos. Good food, although not as amazing as one might think for everything. But clearly good quality typical Belgian cuisine. My favorite appetizer are the Croquettes Au Fromage. A guenuine Belgian classic, I've been eating them since I was born (almost) and for me, these are amongst my 3 favorites that I have tried in the country (for the past 35 years) ! I also enjoy the mussels (try curry for a change). They are usually very good but like its often the case with mussels, quality depends on the time of year and a bit of luck... I like coming here also because of the general atmosphere and the ride (with my bicycle) to center town ! read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Escalope de Veau Panée - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

We ate here our first night in Brussels and fell in love with the quality of food and service. Our waiter was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. All the meals ordered were cooked to perfection. I had a simple dish of mussels in white wine, the mussels were seasoned deliciously, and there was absolutely no sand or grit and not one of them was closed. There is a terrific wine list and the interior is bright and inviting. It's on restaurant row, which can be intimidating, but be sure to push by the salesmen in front of the other restaurants and make your way here. read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

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My girlfriend and I went there tonight and we were really pleased with the food and the service Servers are really really friendly. God knows how many languages they know! Moreover food taste good and affordable. I ordered tomato soup and my friend ordered fish soup. They were good. All the entrée s and dessert was good. See you next year read more

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Love the food! Ive stopped by several times. The escargot is the best Ive ever had! The steak is also good. I forgot the name of the dish my brother ordered but its included in my pictures. I always get full before the dessert but I hope to be able to try it at least once during my stay in Brussels. read more

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Walking around Brussels, I needed to find a place to try moules et frites! I decided to check out Aux Armes de Bruxelles because it was close to where we were and had decent reviews. We walked in and the restaurant was pretty empty, so luckily we were able to get seated right away. The restaurant got super busy within 30 minutes and there were any barely tables available. They also have outdoor seating. We started our meal off with a cheese croquette which was crispy and not greasy. For my main course, I had my moules Provençale et frites (mussels cooked in tomatoes and garlic with french fries). I really enjoyed it and was left feeling very full at the end of my meal. I feel like the place is very touristy, but the food was good and seemed to be of good quality. Service was also good for the most part, though it was harder to get a hold of our waiter the busier the restaurant became. read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Cheese croquette with fried parsley - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

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Really enjoyed a nice quiet meal here and I'm glad my Belgian friends recommended it. Walking through the other restaurants to get here is less than ideal since you are constantly harassed on the street, it was a little hard to find. I ordered a Chardonnay, escargot starter and the steamed cod with mousseline sauce. The best part of the meal was the escargot, garlicky and buttery deliciousness. The bread was great with the leftover butter. The cod was cooked well with a nice sauce and potatoes. It was good traditional Belgian food, not amazing or unique but cooked well. The prices are a bit high as it is in a tourist area. I thought they had very attentive servers and I would recommend this restaurant to my friends. read more

Aux Armes de Bruxelles - Amazing - Belgian Near Me - Brussels, BRU

This place looks and feels like little has changed since it opened in 1921. The service is impeccable and oozes old European establishment. For instance, there are holders for your umbrella at the central booths, with a specific catch basin for any dripping water. I tried a fixed menu. The house wine, with several levels, was a good choice for one. The chef's amuse bouche was a tomato mozzarella salad with balsamic, olive oil and spicy pepper flakes. The latter was an excellent twist. I started with a chicken croquette. The center was creamy and featured chicken with enough texture to make it interesting with the crisp crunch of the outside. Accompanying was a tomato-based sauce that had a slight spicy flavor My main was steak tartare. It was a considerable serving, accompanied by a side salad, a blanched tomato, and a bowl of frites. The tartare was lovely, and went well with the pearl onions and cornichons. Dessert was a rich chocolate mousse that was by far the best offering. For the price, the food is good but not excellent. You are paying for the experience, and if you want that, I suggest visiting. A reservation is a must. read more

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Since 1921, this restaurant is the Institution of Belgian Cooking in Brussels, even the kings have their tables. Succulent real belgian cooking and some of the best fishs. Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEhxSFJOlpY read more

Of all the restaurants I have eaten in Europe this is one of the finest. Fresh handmade everything and the service is top notch. Fine don't with a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Saghar and Dimitrie are a great team and fun to watch. And the owner is a charming and beautiful queen she is Royalty personified. Make sure try the crepes flambé and everything thing else on the menu. read more

10 years between visits and I'm upping it. Every visit to Brussels requires the obligatory march up Rue des Petit Bouchers, where the Maitre d's all try to molest you into coming into their restaurant. This restaurant is at the end of that block and they don't need to do all that. It's big, old, and the service and setting are very formal, but the food is really classic Belgian, and it's a big carte/menu, lots to choose from. **We learned a tip: if you don't stop them, they'll seat you in the less desirable back room. Simply requesting the main dining room worked just fine. **We both got the menu's - which, at a place this big, gave you choices. My wife got a steak I think? She also got an appetizer that was different than what she ordered but she is not an asshole so she just ate it, and said it was pretty good. I got skate meuniere (excellent), started with foie gras (average). **Moderately priced carafe choices. Total damage was right around 100 EUR. read more

Restaurant row... every touristed city has one. It's that narrow alley where the restauranteurs stand outside and urge you in with mediocre fare at inflated prices. Aux Armes de Bruxelles doesn't have a barker at the door urging you in, but it otherwise fits right in. I'm sure you can do better in Brussels. Yes, you can get a big bowl of mussels (with white wine, or red pepper, or other standard preparations), but it will cost you a small fortune and probably won't impress. The other food we tried didn't rate much better, either. Like another reviewer, we too were shuttled to a near-empty back room. My colleague and I did have a good time once we got outside and guzzled down several liters of vin chaud with amaretto and had some gauffres with chocolate from the street vendors. That's where the action is. read more

Sorry, but this restaurant just doesn't cut it. I think it is tired of all the tourists coming in. For me, it was a really disappointing experience. Upon, choosing my starter and main, I asked which half a bottle of white can go with the food that I have chosen. The waiter simply said well there are tons to choose from and gave me a weird look. I simply chose one instead but was a good choice. I chose the peeled shrimp as a starter but the wrong item came out on the table when I was in the toilet. A good waiter would wait until I come out from the toilet and sat down before serving it. He asked what I have chosen and 'cursed' in French as he walked away. I ordered the moules frites (mussels and fries) as the main because it had a good review. Honestly, it was just OK. I have definitely eaten better mussels elsewhere in Brussels. The only good thing that came out was the desert and I ordered the creme brûlée. When it was time to pay, I waited so long for the waiter and I could see the other tables waiting as well. When he came, why am I not surprised, he stank of cigarettes. When it was time to look for change after I paid with cash, he took his sweet time in looking for a change elsewhere even though he has a pouch full of change. I think he knows the service was bad and thought that as an foreign lone tourist, I was not going to give any tips so he took his time. Fortunately, I was not mean and gave a tip of below 10% but I think I should have given less. When I walked away he just said good night while facing the cashier terminal without looking at me. It seemed like he knew it was a bad service and wasn't expecting anything. Overall, I had a very bad experience and the food was just mediocre. Also because of the quality of the food, I felt that the price has been over inflated just to cater for tourist as it is right in the middle of tourist restaurant areas. Unfortunately on this occasion, it is a no go for me. I was placed at the back end of the restaurant and when people used the stairs it was so loud and everyone thought that the stairs were going to collapse. Try to avoid if you can. There are other better quality restaurant than this place and they need to change their attitude towards foreigners. read more

Loved this little random restaurant in the middle of a Tourist eating area. It felt very old-world Brussels, and the larger dining room with the low chandeliers and wood paneled booths/tables looked superb. As we didn't make any reservations, they seated us all the way in the back of the place, which was still nice and intimate but I would have preferred the room with the chandeliers. Service was quick. We had two carafes of rose, duck pate, mussels, steak tartare, and grilled salmon. Everything was fantastic and the fries were almost too much. Would definitely come again. read more

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This is an amazing restaurant. The service was excellent, probably the best I have seen in a long time. The food is excellent. It would be hard pressed to find a better restaurant. read more

It was "ok." Mussels with white wine sauce and cream were good, as were the Provençal. Entrecot was ok, but when asked to cook it "a little bit more" they toasted it - dry. Uh-oh. Desserts were good. Their draught Leffe Blonde was good. Service was poor. We waited and waited and waited between each course. Not for this price should service be like this. A shame. Would I go back? For dessert yes. read more

You'll notice that all of the other restaurants that line the Rue des Bouchers have staff out trying to cajole you inside. No need for this nonsense at Aux Armes de Bruxelles with the quality of their food and service. The mussels are the standout for me but the other dishes look amazing and there are options for all including vegetarians. If you're going during prime dinner hours, you need to make a reservation as it gets packed! Bon appetit! read more

It probably means something that this is one of the very few establishments on Rue de Bouchers that does not have a guy outside trying to hustle you in. With that said, though the food/mussels are decently good, the prices for the quality are definitely overinflated. Would not bother returning. read more

Mussels are really juicy and plump here. Very pricey @ 28 euros a pot. We shared it and had shrimp croquet which was a bit on the fishy side. I think it's fro. The oil they used. Over all good but very pricey and a bit snobby. read more

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