Amadeus Antwerp

When I returned to Belgium this second time, there were some things I knew I wanted to do again. One of them was to eat the famous ribs, that I had tried before in the Amadeo restaurant in Brussels. This time, with a plus: I could do it in Antwerp, experimenting one of the two restaurants they have there. I opted for their first restaurant, near the pier, although they have opened a new one in the center.

Again, we had to go for the ribs, the potato and that marvellous butter sauce! Accompanied with the house's red wine, of course.

The restaurant is quite famous there too (the street and surroundings were kind of empty on a Saturday night, but the inside of the restaurant was crowded!). The quality remains, so as the price and the fact that you can order as many ribs as you want. My greediness was satisfied and I left the place full, as always. Definitely a must-do for everyone in Belgium!

Amadeus

St-Paulusplaats 20

2000 Antwerpen
+32 03/232 25 87

ives@mail-box.be

http://www.amadeusspareribrestaurant.be/F/antwerpen/info.html

Wagamama

I found about Wagamama last year when I went with my parents to Antwerp, as it was recommended to us by a friend of theirs. Now, since I am living there and liked the place, I went back. Apparently this chain of ramen-bars is quite popular in the UK, where they have over 100 places open, but in Belgium there's only one, which is this one located in Antwerp. The interior is quite simple, with long tables and benches and space for many people. They are specialized in these warm soups with noodles, meat/fish and vegetables and those were what I ate both times.

Teriyaki salmon ramen

Wagamama ramen (noodles in a miso, ginger and chicken soup topped with grilled chicken, barbecued pork, prawns, mussels, a tea-stained egg, chikuwa and wakame. garnished with menma and spring onions)

Their price is around 15€ and you get quite satisfied with one, as it is quite rich in ingredients and warm. As it's a soup, I never needed to order a drink either. So, if you're in Antwerp and into this kind of food, or want to get a bit warmer in a winter day trying this one-of-a-kind restaurant in Belgium, you should definitely pass by there!

Wagamama

http://www.wagamama.be/

De keyserlei 15
Antwerpen
032349980

Zaowang

Last weekend, in a craving mode for sushi, I went to eat at Zaowang. This is a Japanese restaurant located in the center of Antwerp, very close to the old market (although they have a second restaurant in another area of the city).

The view from our table, with the typical Belgian houses seen by the window

The waiter preparing the drinks

For starter, we had the prawn crackers that were immediately brought to our table. Then, after checking the menu, we decided to order one of the sushi boats, as that way you are already served with a good variety of pieces. This is the boat for 2 people, which has 45 pieces (including some sashimi). They also have boats for 3 or 4 people and other combos you may order.

We couldn't leave before dessert, of course! Especially with such good delights to choose from.

Green tea ice-cream

Passionfruit bavaroise and ice-cream

We really liked having been to this restaurant, as the sushi was great and the whole ambiance is nice too (conveniently located, with very nice interiors and attentive staff). I recommend you passing by there if you're into oriental food and are up for a good meal! Probably better to reserve first, as we did, as for a Saturday at lunch time it was almost full.

Zaowang

 http://www.zaowang.be/

Oude Koornmarkt 22
2000 Antwerpen

03 290 55 29

info@zaowang.be

Eating at the EP

After having eaten in the EC canteens for 5 months last year, now it was time to explore the EP ones. I had been there once when I was there for a meeting, but now, eating there everyday for lunch, I can give a better input on what can you expect from their cuisine.

Every week you can see on the intranet which is the weekly menu. The menu always has a theme (for example, as you can see below, this week is the Fairtrade week), so there will be some dishes available related to that theme. You have several dishes to choose from and they are all displayed at the entrance so you can see them before ordering (at least that´s how it works in the Altiero Spinelli building canteen, which is the one I use). All of them, except for the pasta (which is around 4€) cost 5€. The EP trainees have a 0,50€ discount on that price (upon presentation of their badge), but the MEP trainees have no discount.

(this week´s menu - click on the image to enlarge)

You also always have two kinds of soup, starters, a salad bar, grilled options, sandwiches and desserts (there´s always the "dessert of the day", which is cheaper than the rest). This was my lunch today:

Lentil soup, chicken tajine with olives, candied lemon and wheat semolina and stuffed pancake with raspberry

I usually bring from home some fruit, cookies and yogurt, that I keep in my office and eat in the middle of the morning/afternoon, so for lunch I have only the main dish. Considering that I don´t have the trainees´ discount and, even if I had, it was not that much, I would say the trainees´option to have the plat du jour at the EC canteens is more economic (even though I have read that from now on such discount is not applicable anymore, as the EC "forgot" to include such rule in the contract negotiated with the newly contracted company to provide the canteen service). But I also think that this EP canteen has more variety to choose from than the EC ones and you can end up eating a better option. In general, both canteens have food quite different from the Portuguese (healthy!) standards I am used to (opinion shared by other Portuguese people working here!), as everything is always covered with sauce, have lots of spices and salt, and tastes a bit "processed". But you can always arrange something that satisfies you and fills your empty tummy during lunch time!

Bistro du Canal

In one of last week's hot evenings, I went to Bistro du Canal: a very nice restaurant located, as the name indicates, near the canal. The atmosphere was great: everyone outside, enjoying the summer, having drinks and eating their marvellous food.

The menu comes to each table in this blackboard!

This is what we had:

Onglet de boeuf, réduction d'echalot à la Renée, pommes rôtis au four

Boeuf preparé à la japonaise, caviar d' aubergine et sésame grillé



Cheesecake

Fondant chocolat avec créme anglaise



The interior of the restaurant is very nice too!

So, if you're looking for good comfort food after a day of work in a relaxed environment in one of the priviliged areas of the city, this is the place! You will have to wait until the 21st of August, though, as the restaurant is now closed for vacations (the owner is actually spending them in Portugal!), but will reopen on that day.

Rue Antoine Dansaert 208

1000 Bruxelles

+322 02 511 03 60

bistroducanal@gmail.com

http://www.bistroducanal.be/

Amadeo

  

Last week I have been to Amadeo, a restaurant that rightfully identifies itself as "the place for ribs". Indeed, located in central Brussels, between Bourse and De Brouckère, this is a place that cannot pass unseen, although mingled with all the Asian restaurants existing in the street where it is located. Once you see the entrance with this big cow, the light disclaimers and the whole rouge atmosphere, you will be prompted to get it. If you're a fan of food and like that your stomach leaves the restaurants you go to well stuffed, the concept of "à volonté" (which means “as much as you like”: extra spare ribs, potatoes, salad and accompanying sauces really can be ordered without any limit, for just 15,95€) will also appeal to your taste.

The house's red wine, present in every table and perfect to go along with all the meat you're about to eat. With the advantage that you don't have to order and pay for the whole bottle: in the end, the staff will see how much of it did you drink and calculate the price to pay based on that.

The first amount of ribs that you get! Then each supplement is about half the size of this. We were two and only were able to eat this first piece and one supplement (shared by the two)! But the staff told us the official record is a guy who ate 15 (!!!) supplements. You also have this potato jacket cooked with a very nice special herb butter sauce and salad. The ribs also have their own special barbecue sauce.

Not only the ribs are amazing (and you're allowed to eat with your hands for once!), but the space of the restaurant is magnificent, mixing Flemish and Oriental styles. It used to be an old theatre and now it's... Amadeo! The space is huge (there are many more rooms than the one you see when you enter), so it's also perfect for a group dinner. They also serve more plates than just the ribs, so lots of options to please all the visitors. The staff is really friendly and the food came super quickly. They also have restaurants in Ghent (two actually) and in Antwerp. Definitely a must-stop if you're in Belgium and want to eat well for a decent price (open for dinner only)!

Amadeo

Sint-Katelijnestraat 26 - 28
1000 Brussels
+32 (0)2-502 51 37

 ives@mail-box.be

http://www.amadeusspareribrestaurant.be/E/brussel/info.html