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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
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Big Mama

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    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.

    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.

    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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    Les Caves du Sablon - 4eme cave

    Les Caves du Sablon

    4.4(15 reviews)
    0.4 kmMarolles, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles
    €€€

    We choose this place for a little celebration with a friend. The staff is friendly and…read moreknowledgeable, the place is exactly what you expect from a wine "caves" (expct the last room which is a bit "colder"), the food is of good quality and the wine, well, it's very good! We choose a wine from Chile, not too expensive (36 EUR) and it was really good! To start we also had a prosecco done with the traditional method which was a very nice discovery. The place is not cheap, but to keep in mind for a special occasion. The offered glass at the end (my friends took champagne, me a very good cognac) was very very appreciated and a real exception in Brussels!

    Great find in Brussels! I've been here twice while traveling in for work and can't wait for the…read morenext time. The two gentlemen that run this establishment have a great passion for wine and food. It really shows in the time they take with each customer. They made great selections and had us try each to make sure we liked the wine. And of course we did. On this last visit, we started with a mix plate of cheeses and chorizo. Then moved on to fresh oysters and razor clams. The sauce on the clams was so good, we ate it up with a spoon. For our mains, we had suckling pig, steak and duck. All amazing and a wine pairing with each course. Prices are very reasonable for such delicious food and wine. This beautiful venue is a must try. And who doesn't love a good wine cave.

    Photos
    Les Caves du Sablon - Cotè caviste

    Cotè caviste

    Les Caves du Sablon - 3eme salle

    3eme salle

    Les Caves du Sablon

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    L'Idiot du Village - Un décor comme je les aime....

    L'Idiot du Village

    3.6(14 reviews)
    0.5 kmMarolles, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles
    €€€€

    A very cosy setting and nice waiters and waitresses but way too expensive for the quality of the…read morefood. We payed over 110 euros for 2 people (starter, main course and desert + coffee but no wine) and the food - although not actually bad - was something we could have cooked ourselves and probably done a better job at it. One starter was missing an ingredient and had yellowish leaves of water cress and had very little flavour. The other starter was ok but underwhelming. As for the main courses pretty much the same opinion, nothing to write home about. Finally the deserts: the meringue glacé was very good but the Foret noir had a chocolate mousse made of unsweetened bitter chocolate which was not very nice. We will not be going back simply because we have already eaten far more original and tasty food for less money in Brussels.

    Cozy restaurant in a tiny street in the middle of the Marolles area…read more The nicest thing is the decoration. Everything has been chosen carefully by the owner including the plates...old style blue ones. The food is very good, but I found it quite expensive. The portions are not that big and without the starter, one get out with an empty stomach. Aside from this fact, I enjoyed going to his restaurant and I highly recommend it if you live in Brussels and/ or if you're visiting the city.

    Photos
    L'Idiot du Village - Atmosphere is everything...but so is the duck.

    Atmosphere is everything...but so is the duck.

    L'Idiot du Village
    L'Idiot du Village - Vue sur la ruelle....

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    Vue sur la ruelle....

    Le rabassier

    Le rabassier

    4.6(14 reviews)
    0.2 kmMarolles, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles
    €€€€

    Had a business dinner here and it was a real gastronomic experience. Menu was very heavy on seafood…read moreas of summer 2018. They offer four tasting menus we went for the two courses which was just enough food. I'd caution against the three course menu unless you are starving. We had plenty of amuse bouches to start including a mushroom emulsion served inside a hollowed out eggshell that was sawed off. with precision. Really neat. Scallops tuna tartare and fish followed. all expertly cooked/prepares with lots of fancy ingredients. Three courses of desert finished with macaroons. I deduct one star as they don't take AMEX sos I had to lay out cash and the server was a bit pretentious.

    Words cannot describe this meal. I can say 'perfect' but that would not suffice…read more If you love truffle as much as I do, go to this restaurant. It's a small restaurant but that gives it a nice sense of intimacy. I had a good view of the kitchen - what I noticed was it's only the waitress, the washer and the chef. That's all. But everything was smooth and what this guy is dishing out by himself was absolutely bliss. See my photos for the menu we chose and my fave dish of the night (although every meal was perfection and delicious), the grated truffle, Royal Heart cod, Chef's risotto and Parmesan broth. I could eat that over and over again - a wonderful blend of flavours and textures, beautifully presented. Make your reservation now and you will not be disappointed. Giving this one a big Foodie Amen

    Photos
    Le rabassier - Macaron and jellies

    Macaron and jellies

    Le rabassier - Olives and liver

    Olives and liver

    Le rabassier

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    Ma Folle de Soeur - Lasagne légumes et mozza  Correct sans être exceptionnel !

    Ma Folle de Soeur

    3.9(27 reviews)
    1.4 kmBerckmans - Hotel des Monnaies, Saint-Gilles
    €€

    Well....have your Google translate handy when you enter this restaurant because the menu is written…read morein French and the servers speak very little English. That being said, the food is very good here. The flavor in the duck I had was unique - it tasted like it was marinated in some type of sauce for a while before it was cooked. Every piece of that meat was bursting with flavor. You also have to try their upside down apple pie - it was a really good treat to top of a meal. This place gets packed quickly so you may want come early or get reservations.

    Have been coming here for 25+ years as I used to live around the corner and even after moving…read moreoverseas I would find time to visit the restaurant at least 1 time during my stays. I really recommend the "croquettes de crevettes" (shrimp croquettes) as a starter. In English " to die for", in French "une tuerie". Though, beware, the portion is VERY generous; especially for a jet-lagged stomach. For the main dish, in Summer I would recommend the "Tartare de boeuf" (I am a meat aficionado) which is basically raw minced beef that you "prepare" yourself with egg yolk and spices. In winter their "Stoemp" is my favourite (sausages + mashed potatoes cum mashed vegetables). You shall come out of this place filled and wishing your stomach was not still in the middle of the Atlantic. I skipped desert as a result, hence I cannot offer any suggestions. Vegetarian dishes are also on the menu BTW.

    Photos
    Ma Folle de Soeur
    Ma Folle de Soeur
    Ma Folle de Soeur

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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

    Big Mama - french - Updated May 2026

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