La fin de siècle

Today I will be continuing the tour of my favorite restaurants with "La fin de siècle".

This restaurant is a classic for nightcrawlers in Brussels: good food, correct prices and the kitchen is opened until 1 AM.

Don't expect chips with the dishes, here it is potato or rice

To locate the place, it is in the rue des Chartreux, next to the Greenwich café (this bar also deserves a visit, especially if you like chess).

I know this restaurant for more than 10 years now and nothing changed there since (not even the prices!). For me it is filled with memories of endless conversations, big laughters and all that happens on an improvised night out with friends.

It is also the place I show to people visiting Brussels to explain how we live here: simplicity, warmth and amiability.

The place has more to offer than meets the eye (yes, I saw Transformers just before writing this.) because when you'll enter you might think "what is so special about that place? The tables and the chairs don't match,it is noisy, crowded and the crew look like 4 hobos and a bear..."

To explain, I would say that it is all about the food.
I was once said that when the bread they give you is good, the food will be good too.
Well, they have the best bread in Brussels.
And the rest follows of course. The last time I went there was the première for Agata and the magic operated, she tasted all the dishes (we were 3, our friend Jonathan joined us) and loved it all!

The black board, only menu available here. It will keep you busy while waiting for your table

On the menu my favourite dishes are:


Le jambonneau à la moutarde à l'ancienne (Ham with mustard) to eat only when you are REALLY hungry.

La tranche de gigot d'agneau sauce au porto (grilled lamb with porto sauce)

And the traditional Stoemp saucisse (Mashed vegetables and potatoes with sausage).

The rabbit in cherry beer sauce, a belgian classic

If you prefer something lighter, you have salad with grilled chicken, rabbit with cherry beer sauce or the scampi brochette. Or you can just pick randomly, anyway it will be good (just don't take anything you are allergic to. I don't want to be sued by a potential Darwin award winner).

light and tasty, how scampi should be (don't forget to spread them with garlic butter)

I will just finish with some advices:
- first, they don't accept plastic so be sure to have enough cash (you don't want to piss off the grizzlie).

- second, be there early. I said it for the tapas locas but it is twice an advice for the fin de siècle, especially if you are a group, you might never have a table and you'll have to end up eating thaï next to the O'Reilly (I'll give you addresses later!)

- third, just enjoy, don't hesitate to engage conversation with your neighbours and to try every drink, especially the shots.

First Rodenbach for Agata, teenagers in Brussels drink it with grenadine syrup  as an introduction to beers

Le grenier d'Elvire

Touring our best places in Brussels would not be thorough without a pit-stop at Grenier d'Elvire.

The restaurant is located nearby the University at Chaussée de Boondael 339 in Ixelles.

Let's first talk about the neighborhood: the Cimetière d'Ixelles is the student's neighborhood of Brussels. It is famous for its many restaurants and bars. You will find every possible cuisine at every price (but still affordable).

You'll find many bars around so let's name some of them (we'll write about them later... Eventually):
The trendies:  "Waff", "Tavernier" and the new "Bar d'Ixelles"
The "students": Gauguin, Montmartre and Ratabar
The classics: La Bastoche, La Bécasse and L'Atelier (a very interesting list of beers there)

But we should go back to Boondael. The Chaussée starts on place du cimetière d'Ixelles but be careful, if you just go down the street, you'll never find the grenier d'Elvire. Chaussée de Boondael has the particularity of being composed of two parts on parallel streets linked by a small segment starting at Gauguin and finishing at Montmartre.

As you can see, the restaurant is not huge, so making a reservation isn't a bad idea.

The decoration really looks like the stuff you could find hidden in an attic (grenier in french) but it gives you a peaceful sensation of warmth.
Unfortunately the noise of the place chases the peace away


Let's make a proper review point by point.

First, the place itself: well situated, nice deco, a bit too loud.

Second, the service: it might not be a three star restaurant but the team is a real asset of the place. They work well and are really helpful.
The second time we went there, Agata was pregnant and ordered some food she finally could not eat. They remained helpful and didn't want us to pay even if it was our complete fault that she didn't eat (pregnancy cannot be commanded)

Third, the drinks: we don't often order wine while eating so we won't be of much help on this but I don't recall anyone complaining about that in Grenier d'Elvire. What I LOVE on the other side are their fruit punch, it is rhum marinated in fruits or spices and it is gorgeous.

That day it was pineapple, badiane or violet

Their other specialty is the homemade iced tea. Not too sour nor too sweet, perfectly refreshing!

Just try it!!!

(we'll take a better picture next time)

And last but not least, the food: one word - GREAT.

My favorite is the mixed grill and the marinated ribs are amongst the best in Brussels. (Both served with salad, great chips and homemade mayonnaise)

Mesdames et Messieurs : Le mixed grill: 

Chicken wings and natural ribs. 

So simple yet so difficult...

They also serve pasta and salad plus a really great board of suggestions that changes too often for me

 (I can't come every week to taste everything!)

tiropitakia (crunchy cheese pastries, for those who believe that fat means life!)

Scampi diaboliques (they are hot as hell !!!)

The tajine is as tasty as colourful...

The desserts are great too. Especially the cheese cake and the mousse au chocolat but you must be really hungry to achieve having one after an entrée and a main dish.

Once again, I can only recommand going there. To try it is to love it!

http://www2.resto.be/grenierdelvire/reservation.cfm?langue=FR

Stand Up World

Judging from crowds at every single show, I didn't think there is an English-speaking person in Brussels who did NOT know about StandUp World. Well, there was at least one, so maybe it is worth to write about it after all.

Done by expats and for expats, StandUp World invites best stand-up comedians from all over the world to entertain Brussels audience on a (almost) monthly basis.

If you don't care about my "yadda yadda" you can just go at http://www.standupworld.com and sign-up for their next show.

Now, for my friends and family (who are obliged to read further, because they later have to face awkward "so, what do you think" questions).

The show takes place at Theatre 140, in Schaerbeek, Avenue Eugène Plasky 140. As I mentioned before, it looks pretty crowded most of the time, so I always suggest reserving a ticket before hand, and you can pick it up one hour before the show.

Show is usually done in English, but expect many different accents as guests come to Brussels from all over the world. True Belgians never exceed 10% of the audience, but you can find lots of other nationalities from all over EU and beyond. Actually, the "what nationalities do we have here tonight" is a usual start of the evening.

If you're shy and take offence easily, you might want to choose a seat in the corner of the back. Or maybe just don't come at all. The host of the show, as well as some of the guests, take no prisoners. They make fun of everything and everyone. On the other side, if you're open-minded, relaxed, and with good, sometimes a bit black sense of humour - you'll have a great time! If you're not sure, check on the website who will be the next guests, and just see on youtube if you like this kind of humour.

Always before a show you can have an Indian meal (which I never tried) and some basic drinks at the bar. Watch out though, most of the time you're not allowed to take drinks with you for a show. I hate that rule, so sometimes I still manage to illegally import a glass of wine with me under a coat (oh sue me!). There is break in the middle of the show, to refill your cups and empty your bladders. Watch out girls though, it's highly unlikely you'll actually manage to get to the toilet due to huge queues.

Show usually consists of an intro done by splendid host, and three guests. There are exceptions though, when special show takes place. After a show (or before, or both) many people meet at a close-by pubs to drink beer, have a snack and chat until late hours.

Last time we went it was special show time - The Umbillical Brothers. And I recommend them with my whole heart!

I saw their show on the internet ages ago, and I can still come back to it every now and then. I never even expected to see them live, but amazing thing do happen, and they came to Belgium, to Theatre 140! 3 people on stage, and a backstage voice, no props (apart from one green plank) - what can you expect from that? Everything!

With mimes, sound effects and proper lighting you will be transported to other worlds. But you just have check it out yourself. Go for one of their DVDs (Speedmouse being, I think, the most famous). It's worth gold!

After the show there was some selling DVDs, hugging and signing posters time. Roadie won't let himself be a background.

To sum it up. If you like comedy and understand English (well, you're reading this, it's enough) - definitely go and see the StandUp world!

If you ever come by The Umbilical Brothers - just buy the tickets before they're gone.