I can't believe this entry is mentioned under "Bookshop" and not "Restaurant". And not even just…read moreany restaurant but an EXCELLENT restaurant. Maybe its to keep this restaurant a hidden gem? Hidden it is definitely, as one would never enter this place in order to find (excellent) food by the look of its windows, that is to say, the windows of a simple, modest and typical Belgian bookshop, selling newspapers, lottery tickets, but also cigars! Yes, and a very nice collection of cigars too. But maybe those cigars are intended to put you in this relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy some very good whiskey, excellent French cuisine and cigars (outside then probably). In order to be able to get there, you need to first enter the bookshop. Once you're inside, struck by the neon lights of the bookshop, you suddenly are nicely surprised by the view at the end of the bookshop: a cozy, warm-feeling, small restaurant, decorated in the typical older French brasserie style, with a huge window showing you the chefs at work. You know you're about to experience something very special! Have I already mentioned this restaurant is excellent? Right... It is a gem! You sit down and can already feel the specialness in the table setting. Every piece has "De Maurice à Olivier" engraved. How many restaurants still go this far in the details? Then, there is the service: all the attention you need without going over the top. Classy, but not pretentious. One big family to make you feel at home and show you their best French cuisine (ok, I won't mention the fact that the owner who sat at the bookshop counter kept on looking at us, which made me feel a little bit uncomfortable. So I tried not to look. I think she really checked us out, as we must have been the only new guests in her restaurant/bookshop. But in the end, we had a little chat and she's really nice, although physically, you might think it's better not to mess with her, :) ). The food? Excellent! I could describe it with all the best adjectives that could exist in the restaurant world, but I'll keep it to the fact that knowing how to cook game meat and create original variants with it is a main quality qualifier. The dishes were definitely original, not yet experienced in any other restaurant and never had I eaten game meat so soft and tender that it would melt in your mouth. Of course, my review is only based on their special game meat menu during the season. I will surely come back again and try their regular menu and see if the restaurant offers the same quality for all its dishes. But in the meantime, based on my first experience, it deserves a 5-star rating. Anyways, the French expression rightly says: L'habit ne fait pas le moine. Who would have thought this: a restaurant in a bookshop? And by the way: the fact that this is a restaurant that is open at restaurant hours makes it also very convenient if you need anything from the bookshop at (almost) any time! Way to go!

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.

If you want to try Belgian food with reasonable prices then this was one good option in Brussels…read more I arrived early for Friday night dinner and the restaurant was just over half full with lots of available seating. While the register states No Cards one of the servers told the table next to mine not worry when they didn't have enough euros. Only a drink menu was provided and the dishes being served that day were handwritten on moveable boards or posted on the wall. I had on my list a couple to try but finally went with the Belgian carbonades à la biere which was beef stew with mashed potatoes in a dark gravy made with beer. The plate was quite generous and much appreciated since I devoured it. I enjoyed the creaminess of the potatoes swirled with gravy but the meat could've been a tad bit more tender. Service was good. I think everyone on the floor stopped by my table for one reason or the other. Ambiance was casual and looked like many people were taking their time over their meals. When finished you need head to the register to settle the tab. I paid in cash. Worth a return visit.

Sesame is really great. I would like to give it 5 stars, but the service between dishes was a…read morelittle slow; the food however was amazing! If you want something a little special I totally recommend Sésame. Check out the pictures, I think they speak for themselves.

If you look for an intimate place to eat carefully and passionately prepared food, this is the…read moreplace! Cédric, the chef, is the outmost passionate cook I have ever met. Like any chef, he has got character, and he deserves all the respect for his outstanding work. Go there in small group or just the two of you and get ready to enjoy amazing flavours...

Cosy place with a nice atmosphere. I love the open fire and see how the the chef cook the meat…read more We love the food! Simply delicious! Very tasty and refined. They use fresh and quality products and do a well balance combinations. The staff was very nice and helpful. Looking forward to go in summer time and have dinner outside in the terrace!

Very cozy typical Belgian restaurant that I would really recommend! They serve fantastic meat…read morecooked in the fire place. Because the fire is always on there is a nice smell of burning wood. I would particularly recommend that place in the winter.

Very nice little brasserie with a great lunch deal. We had a lovely lunch in the terrace where all…read morewas great, especially the smiley and attentive service. The food was very good and the suggested wines as well. Will definitely go back.

Excellent food, very sweet staff...a place that deserves a visit...and another...and…read more.. Bravo Chef!

I didn't like this place. It's very small the tables are very narrow. So is some of the food. It…read moreseemed interesting on the blackboards but once served it lacked taste and had seasoning problems, was not precise and not very tasty. Wines are stored in the floor near the entrance door, subject to temperature changes. This is not correct. The staff is typically Brussels posh style and all in all it's expensive for what you get. I won't return.

A good variation of quality dishes to a fair price. Good service and an enjoyable place to sit and…read morerelax. Sometimes I eat there , while other times I just enjoy a beer, the service is just as good and friendly. This is "my" resturant in Stockel.

Lunch in family at this lovely small restaurant. Restaurant was absolutely full at lunch. Waiters…read moreare very amiable, atmosphere is great. There is an excellent choice of meat and fish dishes, kids platters and even hamburgers. We ordered Jambonneau (enormous piece of meat and delicious), tuna steak and also a contrefilet d'Angus beef Irlandais steak. All dishes are big and very tasty. We paid in average €25,8 per adult (excluding kids dishes) for a soup+main+wine WITH thefork reduction and €40,2 excluding reduction. I think prices are just a little bit overpriced but also the clientele seem to have the means (older average age) thus maybe less sensitive to price. Still reasonable price quality.

From the owner: Les Caves d'Alex is said to delight lovers of classic cuisine and fine wines…read more Indeed, this French restaurant boasts a superb wine list, with several hundred references. We're located in an unusual setting, a former wine storehouse flanked by giant wine barrels (22,000-liter foudres), rather atypical in Ixelles. Extra surprise, a superb 1000 square metre garden/terrace right in the middle of Brussels, and a private parking lot to welcome you.