SEA GRILL

Rue du Fosse aux loups, 47; tel.: 02 217 9225; fax: 02 227 3127 One of the Bruxelles best restaurants is to be found in the Hotel Radisson Sas. The interior is dominated by vast etched-glass murals and as the name suggest specialities are products from the sea. Young chef Yves Mattagne has a high reputation and we can recommend steamed scallops, baked sea bass with truffles and line-caught sea bass in a salt crust.

MAISON DU BOEUF

Hilton Hotel, Boulevard de Waterloo, 38; tel.: 02 504 1111; fax: 02 504 2111 On the first floor of the first class Hilton hotel is an excellent restaurant, the Maison du Boeuf, and of course it specialises in the finest beef, such as roast beef in a crust of salt which we have tried — delicious. Chef Michel Theurel does of course present a varied cuisine and among other interesting dishes are rack of lamb and sea bass with thyme and during the season several good game dishes.

LA TRUFFE NOIRE

Boulevard de la Cambre, 12; tel.: 02 640 4422; fax : 02 647 9704 An elegant restaurant with Italian and French cuisine specializing in truffles,both black and white.

LA MAISON DU CYGNE

2, Rue Charles Buls (Grand'Place); tel.: 02 511 8244; fax: 02 514 3148 A very fashionable in place right on the famous Grand Place where everybody congregates. The house of the Swan has a very elegant oakpanelled interior from where you can watch what is going on the square below. As the cooking has recently improved we recommend it for an evening out in central Bruxelles. The wine cellar is remarkable, containing some 70 000 bottles.

L ECAILLER DU PALAIS ROYAL

Rue Bodenbroek, 18; tel.: 02 512 8751; fax: 02 511 9950 In a good location facing the church of Notre – Dame du Sablon L Ecailler is without doubt one of the best seafood restaurants in Belgium. Be sure to try theis oysters, either from Colchester of Zeland, followed by lobster or turbot or monkish. Proprietor Rene Falke and his chef Atillio Basso offer the freshest shellfish and fish that can be found.

DE BIJGAARDEN

Isidoor Van Beverenstraat, 20; tel.: 02 466 4485; fax: 02 463 0811 On the edge of Bruxelles and facing the castle of Groot Bijgaarden this restaurant is a delight. It takes some 20-25 minutes by car to reach this gastronomic haven from the centre of Brussels but on arrival you can relax on the terrace overlooking the countryside and then eat in an elegant and sumptuous dining room. Proprietor Willy Vermeulen and chef Olivier Schlissinger will look after your culinary needs with, for example, turbot chateau with Bearnaise sause or even-roasted poularde with morels. We can recommend grilled Colchester oysters with a truffled vinaigrette.

COMME CHEZ SOI

Place Rouppe, 23; tel.: 02 512 2921; fax: 02 511 8052 Proprietor Pierre Wynants is easily the most famous Chef in Belgium and you have a book way ahead to be seated in the very attractive but small Art Nouveau interior by the renowned architect Horta. As the dining room is limited to some 40 seats M and Mme Wynants have opened up an extension to their kitchen where favoured guests can sit and watch the chefs at work.After a glass of Champagne in the vast wine cellar below the restaurant you can sat down to oyster consomme, grilled turbot duck in Chambertin and mango sorbet.

CLAUDE DUPONT

Avenue Vital Riethuisen, 46; tel.: 02 426 0000; fax: 02 426 6540 A warm and welcoming town house restaurant under the management of Claude Dupont and his son Eric. Chef/patron Claude is a very fine chef definitely among the top in Bruxelles. His speciality is game and during the winter season the menu will feature saddle of venison and wild duck. Other dishes that we have enjoyed here are grilled perch-pike and succulent roast lamb with a mustard crust and herbs. There is a good wine list dominated by Bordeaux wines.

BRUNEAU

Avenue Broustin, 75; tel.: 02 427 6978; fax: 02 425 9726 Jean-Pierre Bruneau offers some interestings specialities such as carpaccio of scallops with goose liver, lobster with truffles and sea bass with caviar. The recently refurbished interior is attractive and modern with soft beige and yellow. There is a shaded terrace outside.

BRASSERIE PAKHUIS

Schuurkenstraat 4, 9000 Gent, tel.: 09 223 55 55; fax: 09 225 7105 Brasserie Pakhuis is located in a cosy alley with the towers of Ghent in the background. On entering, you are overwhelmed by the enormous space that still reflects the atmosphere of this former warehouse. Portuguese architect Antoine Pinto gave the building its distinctive warm character. The unique combination of a 600 square meters storage space with the specifically designed interior is what distinguishes Brasserie Pakhuis from any other restaurant.