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    Big Mama

    4.2 (37 reviews)
    ModerateFrench, Belgian
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Big Mama Photos

    BIG MAMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Big Mama

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    Reviews With Photos

    Croquettes
    Monica D.

    As soon as my friends and I got to town, we were starving and looking for the national dish of Mussels and fries. This place had great reviews and close by our place so we gave it a shot and it delivered. We ordered an app of Meatballs (that came with Fries, of course) and also a couple of different croquettes. For a main I went with the Mussels in garlic and white wine. Everything was fantastic! Great portion and very fresh.

    The restaurant we left.

    Tourist stay clear! Came in and two of our six didn't want to eat but the other four did. The owner said we would have to order six dishes or he wanted us to leave. Incredibly rude and we obviously left. Spend your money elsewhere.

    Meatballs and fries
    Margie P.

    A server at another Belgian food restaurant several blocks away recommended this one when the wait was too long at his place. We enjoyed the Belgian cheese plate, the Trappist salad, and the meatballs. And the beer. It's casual, small, and noisy. Groups of people having a good time.

    My son Max w/his lunch!
    Emm M.

    A fabulous lunch of fresh mussels. The owner greeted us and waited on us. Very pleasant. Glad we came just after opening at noon as it was full when we left. Delightful Brussels experience

    Mussels and Fries
    Kylie K.

    Came near closing and we were seated immediately by the host. He was funny and sarcastic, but very friendly. The food was good and the mussels were chewy and flavorful. They tasted pretty fresh (at least more fresh than I had at another restaurant the next day). If you're looking for moules frites in Brussels, definitely give Big Mama a try!

    Derek L.

    This place was phenomenal. Right outside the touristy areas, it's not too far away (walkable) and you are greeted by a very friendly owner with the choice to sit inside or outside We chose to sit outside as it was a beautiful day and wife & I ordered the moulette frites (mussels with fries) and a few beers Beer menu was awesome with all your usual Belgian beers to select from at reasonable prices They served different flavours of mussels and we ordered one that was just plain white wine and tomatoes and one that was a garlic flavour one (I think). Mussels were super fresh and fries were absolute killer Highly recommend coming here to get you mussel and fries fix along with sitting back with a few beers as the day and night goes by.

    Rachel S.

    Enjoyed a lovely brunch here yesterday. I was searching for the right place to try my first "Mussels & Frites". After feeling uncomfortable at two other places I was greeted and welcomed by the owner. With a smile he assured me that his kitchen was open and I could dine outside at one of their tables. I started with a fresh cup of coffee and then had the delicious mussels cooked in garlic and white wine sauce (there was a choice of 6 sauce). The mussels were super fresh and cooked to perfection. The frites were thin and crispy and went well with the mayo served on a Belgian endive leaf. The owner who also serves the food was friendly, making sure everything was right. Also had a pleasant and funny conversation with him later on. Thanks, Big Mama for your warm welcome to Belgium!

    Moules frites (and Belgian beer!)
    K C.

    Wow, i don't think I've ever given 5 stars to a restaurant! I was craving moules frites after arriving in Brussels in the evening, and found this place online. What a super nice place! The waiter is very friendly, and always happy to explain anything on the menu. Less than 5 min from the Grand Palace without the tourist prices. The mussels were plump and not tough at all. The second day that I went, I still wanted mussels but was tired of fries (after having them with everything...). I asked to change the fries to bread which they were happy to do. Yummy bread to soak up the yummy mussel broth! If you're looking for a relaxing, welcoming little bistro to enjoy Belgian food, try this place!

    Big mama says eat your mussels!
    Viki N.

    Great food in a cozy restaurant with a waiter (owner?) who flits around between all the tables, happily serving everybody before they even know they need to be served. I told him I needed to catch a train in 45 minutes and needed to order right away, and he had no problem getting my food quickly and my check when I asked for it. When I'm in town again I'd like to visit again!

    Benjamin H.

    Very nice mussels and frites. It is a huge bowl. They have 6 different broths to pick and I pick the cream, garlic and wine. It is delicious and you can tell the mussels are cooked in the broth. The frites are served with mayo on a leaf of endive. The frites are only okay. I finish with a chocolate mouse with vanilla sauce. It is delightful. Not extremely sweet like most American vanilla sauce. The owner is both very helpful and attentive. The place is near to the grand place but not overly crowded in a nice quiet corner on a busy area.

    Belgian beef stew

    Good restaurant with amazing hospitalities. Food itself is great too, they have almost every single Belgian traditional dishes so if you have never had Belgian homemade foods, highly recommend.

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    7 years ago

    Very good moules frites - good service! It is a place to go, if you want some good food!

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    14 years ago

    The best salmon dish i've had in a restaurant. Great food and excellent service. Good value as well.

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    Big Mama Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Big Mama

    We came here twice in one weekend, impressed by the warm welcome and down to earth Flemish food.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Le Chou de Bruxelles - caprese

    Le Chou de Bruxelles

    4.2(43 reviews)
    1.7 kmChatelain
    €€€

    Absolutely outstanding. I admit that I've never been the world's biggest fan of Belgian food or of…read moremussels, so I was a little bit skeptical when my friend suggested we grab dinner at this place. But since we were in Brussels anyway, I figured we might as well try to get the full Belgian experience and try both mussels and beer. Le Chou de Bruxelles certainly did not disappoint -- the food was outstanding, the service impeccable, and the space delightful. The mussels were remarkably fresh and were a bit briny (as all mussels must be) but weren't overly fishy. Le Chou de Bruxelles offers a wide swath of sauces you can pair with your mussels, which is super fun; I ended up doing a more classic combo with white wine, garlic, and several herbs, but it was super tasty -- the herbs were super fresh and brightened up the overall dish, and the white wine was a lovely pairing with the shellfish. We also got their caprese salad, which was super tasty; the mozzarella was incredibly fresh and the tomato was perhaps the best tomato my friend had ever tried. It was presented in a rather entertaining way, with the tomato cut in half and hollowed out, then with the mozzarella packed inside the tomato. The service was also phenomenal and absolutely on-point. We were seated in the back of the restaurant right next to the patio door, so a few bees flew in and circled around our heads during our meal, but the staff was super friendly in helping us push the bees back outside. Vibes-wise, the restaurant is gorgeous and lively. It's a little bit out of the way from Central Brussels, so you end up with a good mix of locals and tourists. Absolutely love this spot and can't wait to come back in my next trip to Brussels!

    The muscles are the best so many options and choices, but we really enjoyed everything…read more I definitely must go to restaurant well then Brussells

    Photos
    Le Chou de Bruxelles
    Le Chou de Bruxelles - Mussels

    Mussels

    Le Chou de Bruxelles - Tiramisu

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    Tiramisu

    Nüetnigenough - Honey roasted ham leg with mustard, life changing

    Nüetnigenough

    4.3(430 reviews)
    0.3 kmCentre-Ville, Stalingrad, Bruxelles
    €€€

    Great! They are good and confident and don't need my review,,,but...here I go anyway! It's small…read morebut very cozy so when I got there...No tables available and they don't take reservations! I left to find something else but tried my luck & coming back. Glad I did! They have wine, but as I was told, beer is their thing. The food was excellent and the staff are colorful and efficient as the flow between tables! I had the meatballs (2 large ones), meals come with a small salad and a side & bread! The beer selection is wide. Mostly Belgium ones. Other tables had what looked like delicious tuna, lasagna and stew which they all seemed to enjoy.

    I am so sorry to not rave about this place like everyone else did…read more To start with the positives: -cute, cozy spot inside with a few outdoor tables. No reservations, so you have to wait in line. Luckily, the line moved pretty quickly and we were able to be seated inside. -service was great. The fabulously dressed flamboyant gentleman was kind and helpful. The sassy woman was hilarious! -Portions are pretty decently sized and priced fairly Why three stars? I just didn't enjoy anything that we ordered. Sadly, it was my least favorite meal that we had in Belgium. Based on all the reviews, I think it's clear that it's not the place per se, but what I was looking for. That being said, I still must be honest. What we ordered: Cheddar Croquettes (2 for 14 Euros): Just ok and this was one of the things that I felt was overpriced Carpaccio of Smoked Beef with White Truffle Oil (18 Euros): Again, just ok Meatloaf with "Jack Pepper" sauce (26 Euros): "Jack Pepper" means something different in Brussels. It was basically a peppercorn gravy. I wasn't a fan, but Jim G. enjoyed it. With this, we had frites and a small side salad. I know many people recommend that Flemish Beef Stew, but we already had that at Fin de Siecle, and I couldn't imagine that any place would top it, so we didn't get it here. Ultimately, this place isn't for me, but I seem to be in the minority.

    Photos
    Nüetnigenough - Inside decor

    Inside decor

    Nüetnigenough - Normandy beef

    Normandy beef

    Nüetnigenough - The famous fries

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    The famous fries

    Le Fin de Siècle - Carbonnades (beef stew with mashed potatoes)/Lindemans Pecheresse

    Le Fin de Siècle

    4.3(537 reviews)
    0.6 kmDansaert, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles
    €€

    One of the best diing experiences we had in Brussels! The food was great and the service was…read moreoutstanding. Huge shoutout to Julian! He reminded us of a combination of Neil Fak (from The Bear) and Lazlow (from What We Do in the Shadows). He was coordinating the line, seating, and gave outstanding recommendations, as well as praise, when we picked our wine. We were quoted about 45 minutes to wait, as they don't take reservations. A two-top opened up inside and Julian was concerned that it would be too hot, so he made me go inside to check first. Thankfully, it was right by the open area leading to outside, so we took it and were seated in about 20 minutes, rather than 45. The place was packed the entire time we were there; its reputation certainly precedes it. Good energy and beautifully decorated with stunning art inside. Carbonades a la Biere (beef stew; 19.45 Euros) is their speciality and was delicious! So reasonably priced for the flavor and te size of the dish! After Julian mentioned that the lamb is the best dish on the menu, there was no question that I was ordering it. Jarret d'Agneau Roti (Roasted Lamb Shank; 27.35 Euros) was so very good! Full of Rosemary and so tender! As Julian was running by, I quickly asked him: "Tiramisu or Tarte Tatin?" No hesitation, he replied, "Tarte Tatin." I wasn't sure if he actually put the order in for us or not, but then it arrived at our table and it was delicious! Pear Tarte (8.65 Euros) with a side of ice cream. Not too sweet, with lovely spices in the pears. Cash only, always a line, but totally worth it!

    You likely will see a line for dinner. Don't worry it does go pretty fast and likely faster than…read morewhat they may quote. The stew was fantastic! Tender meat bursting with flavor with some mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce. I enjoyed the lamb as well, however a bit too much rosemary for me. Get the pear dessert. The soft and sweet pear coupled with the ice cream was one of the best desserts I've had in some time.

    Photos
    Le Fin de Siècle - Menu Sept 2025

    Menu Sept 2025

    Le Fin de Siècle - Free bread

    Free bread

    Le Fin de Siècle - Stoemp (sausages with mashed potatoes)

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    Stoemp (sausages with mashed potatoes)

    Le Bistro

    Le Bistro

    4.6(154 reviews)
    1.3 kmMarolles, Bruxelles
    €€

    Food: Wow, was I surprised on how good this place is! Their mussels were probably one of my…read morefavorite mussels I've eaten as they were so flavorful and tasty, especially on a cold, rainy day! Their rabbit stew was also very delicious and it paired so well with their fries. I'm usually not a big fan of fries, but I could not stop eating them. Service: We didn't have a reservation, but they were able to quickly accommodate us as we got there a bit before rush hour. However, I would definitely recommend making a reservation as it gets pretty busy, especially with locals. All the staff were very nice and attentive as well! Ambiance: They have several levels to accommodate more people. They have their main bar on the first floor, but you do have to hike up a bit of stairs to get to the restroom as there's a flight of narrow stairs, so be careful. I really enjoyed dining here as it felt like a very local spot. This restaurant was definitely the highlight of our trip to Brussels!

    When in Belgium, you must have some Belgian mussels. My favorite item here is their mussels in…read morecream and garlic sauce. The mussels are fresh and flavorful, and you can't help but slurp, I mean scoop up, some of the cream and garlic sauce in between each mussel. The other items are not bad, but nothing to write home about: Flemish beef stew, meatballs in tomato sauce, or even mussels with plain white wine (1 star off). Overall, Le Bistro is a good...bistro...option for some local foods.

    Photos
    Le Bistro - Interior upstairs

    Interior upstairs

    Le Bistro - Burrata cheese salad with olive oil and balsamic glaze

    Burrata cheese salad with olive oil and balsamic glaze

    Le Bistro

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    C'est Bon C'est Belge - Beef Carbonade

    C'est Bon C'est Belge

    4.3(55 reviews)
    0.2 kmMarolles, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles
    €€

    The only problem with leaving a five star review is that it encourages others to go and get in line…read moreahead of us! ;) Ok, ok, ok kidding aside PLEASE visit this establishment. Quaint inside with limited seating and ALWAYS busy with a wait, it's easy to understand why. Simple, yet glorious dishes await your palate. We enjoyed our Carbonnade and practically liked our plates clean which would have been embarrassing for sure but worth it. Three cheers to the chef who can transform ingredients in to a plate with singing about!

    I found this place because it had pretty good reviews, had some specific Belgian dishes we were…read morelooking to try, and was close by to where we were. We got there at around 12:30 on a Saturday and it was pretty filled already. I ordered the C'est si Bon combo platter, which included a salad, stoemp (mashed potatoes), meatballs in tomato sauce, carbonnade (Flemish beef stew), and vol au vent (chicken in white sauce). It wasn't bad. It's probably not really for my taste buds because it's so heavy but I'm glad it was a little bit of everything so I at least got to try it. I don't think I could have finished a full size of any of these entrees alone. I liked the beef stew more than I thought I would because the beef tends to be dry, but it was pretty tender here. The vol au vent was creative because the dish normally inside a puff pastry but since this was a sample, they put a miniature pastry ring on top, which was cute and made it less heavy. Hubby had La Dinantaise (assorted duck plate with foie gras, smoked breast, gizzards, rillettes, terrine) served with a salad. I enjoyed the foie gras and duck breast but the rest was meh, but more of a texture thing for me. Overall, the food was okay but if you're looking for a variety of dishes to try, this would be a good option.

    Photos
    C'est Bon C'est Belge
    C'est Bon C'est Belge - Duck plate

    Duck plate

    C'est Bon C'est Belge - Combo platter

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    Combo platter

    Big Mama - french - Updated July 2026

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