Restaurant review: Le Jardin de Nicolas
Avenue de Tervuren 137
What’s good? The brasserie works perfectly for a business lunch or after-work drinks on a sun-drenched terrace. If you’re going for the cocktails, do try their mojito, or white sangria with fresh fruits.
The inspiration for the extensive, homemade menu is “multicultural,” says restaurant manager Nicolas Anastassiades. “We try to ride all the waves,” and keep the menu on trend, he adds, whether that be burgers, poké bowls, healthy options or woks. Your author heartily recommends the seafood risotto, followed by a “coupe fraise Melba.” Délicieux.
What’s not? With tables situated within eavesdropping distance of one another, there are better places to have confidential conversations. The restaurant also doesn’t accept reservations for the evening shift — but the staff is very welcoming and will help you find the perfect spot, even on a crowded summer evening.
Vibe: The terrace, surrounded by palm trees, provides a tropical, oasis-like atmosphere in one of Brussels’ poshest districts.
Who’s picking up the check? Good one to file as expenses. Dishes range between €15 and €30. Though acknowledging it’s on the pricier range, the owner said that it’s because the client is always served with “quality products that are selected with the utmost care.”
Spotted: Anastassiades declined to name names but said you might see politicians, figures from the entertainment industry and even royalty at the Jardin.
Fun fact: Owning a restaurant is in the DNA of the Anastassiades’ family. The owner’s father created two restaurants in tribute to each of his sons, Nicolas and Martin: the Jardin de Nicolas, and the Martin-Pêcheur, located nearby.
Insider tip: Believe it or not, summer doesn’t last forever in Brussels, so there is a cozy lounge upstairs with a fireplace. It can be booked for corporate and private events. Watch this space: The lounge also organizes spontaneous cocktail happy hours.
How to get there: Le Jardin de Nicolas is conveniently located for eurocrats looking to escape the bubble buzz. From the Schuman roundabout, it’s a decent 20 minute walk through the park and along to the Montgomery roundabout.
— Review published on June 30, 2022. Illustration by Bailey Watro for POLITICO
