Pho Pho

Hello?

Is anyone there?


Have you not yet abandoned all hope? Oh goodie then, because here were are, with new portion of Brussels speciality!

Long time ago, in a galaxy far away... We visited one of our favourite lunch places - Pho Pho!

It is not much of a restaurant, more like a hip snack bar for a quick dish on the run. They have two localisations currently, first one opened in Ixelles' Boniface area, and the second one, one we get to visit more frequently, opened down-town at Rogier.

Pho is basically kind of Vietnamese broth, after wikipedia, and mr Van Nguyen took it on his shoulders to popularize the dish in Brussels. And I am really thankful!

As per his statement on their official website, he wanted to provide lighter and healthier alternative for fast-food. If you ask me, I think he nailed it. Pho is filling and tasty, yet does not make you despise yourself as it happens after visiting one of the popular burger chains.

The menu is humble - you get to choose from small selections of soups and starters. I personally can never get enough of chicken pho and deep fried shrimps. Part of the ritual is also adding combination of special sauces, available on each table, to your dish.

If you have never tried it before, I recommend you skip the soda this time, and reach for coconut juice in a can. It's very refreshing and goes really well with the dishes.

While eating, you will be entertained by music videos of (I assume) Vietnamese pop singers and bands, but unfortunately music is not synchronized. Don't miss the weird commercials of Pho Pho itself, as per image below. I cannot make myself to give the translation. You have to go through an effort of typing into Google translator and see for yourself.

Quick post with a quick summary - whether you're looking for a lunch break during work, or a snack on the way to having social life after work - Pho might be just for you, so go ahead and explore.

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