Elegant Dining in and out of Brussels
There are meals that stay with you, not just for the food but for the way they make you feel. Brussels has its share of exceptional tables where creativity meets precision and every dish tells a story. From elegant tasting menus to perfectly balanced pairings, these are the restaurants that turn dinner into a true experience.
Refined, thoughtful and full of emotion, they are the city’s finest, many already recognised by the Michelin Guide and others surely on their way.
Elegant, refined, and perfect for a special occasion:
Quartz stole our hearts with its elegant flavours, a perfect evening shared with Sebastian in the hands of a truly gifted chef.
Enishi by Toshiro transported us back to Japan with its beautifully balanced dishes showcasing both precision and creativity.
Quartz
I had one of those truly memorable dining experiences. I went to Quartz in Brussels with my son Sebastian, and from the very first bite I knew we were somewhere special. Tucked away on Rue de la Réforme 22 in Ixelles, Quartz is a gem of a restaurant that perfectly blends understated elegance with culinary mastery. The décor retains the charm of its former life as a butcher’s shop with elegant tiles and mosaic floors setting the scene for a warm, refined evening.
We chose the four-course menu (€88) and added the signature dish from the chef, a delicate langoustine (€38), and every dish was a hit. The flavours were surprising, creative and perfectly balanced. There is a finesse and confidence to the cooking that shows how much thought goes into every plate. The sauces, the textures, the presentation—all harmoniously executed without ever feeling pretentious.
At the heart of Quartz is chef David‑Alexandre Bruno, a true craftsman of flavour. After years in prestigious kitchens such as Comme Chez Soi and Beluga, he has created here a restaurant that feels deeply personal. His cuisine celebrates Belgian terroir and the art of sauces, built around fresh, seasonal produce and flavour harmony. Under his leadership Quartz earned the title “Young Chef of the Year 2026 – Brussels” by Gault & Millau, recognising both his talent and the restaurant’s promising rise.
Working alongside him is sous-chef Guglielmo, whom we already knew before our visit, as he and Sebastian are friends and former schoolmates. We have been following his culinary journey with great pride, and it was a joy to see him thriving in such an inspiring kitchen. Brussels really is small and cosy, the kind of place where your stories intertwine in the most delightful ways.
By the end of the evening, Sebastian and I looked at each other and agreed, we had found our number one. Each course brought its own surprise, its own rhythm and a quiet confidence that made this meal unforgettable.
Rue de la Réforme 22, 1050 Ixelles
Enishi by Torishi
Tucked away in Waterloo, Enishi by Torishi offers an extraordinary dining experience that feels both intimate and refined. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere set the tone; calm, elegant, and full of quiet anticipation. The service was truly exceptional: warm, attentive, and perfectly paced, making the evening flow effortlessly.
Our meal began with delicate mises en bouche, followed by a beautifully balanced series of dishes that showcased both precision and creativity, modern French cuisine infused with refined and delicate Japanese sensibility.
We started with sea bream with celery and kombu, then Saint-Jacques with Jerusalem artichoke and sea urchin, a stunning blend of land and sea. Next came Pollack with cabbage and lacto-fermented juice, subtle yet full of depth. The ramen with oysters and yuzu offered a comforting, aromatic pause before the main course deer with chestnut and black trumpet mushrooms, rich, earthy, and deeply satisfying.
Dessert brought a perfect finale: pumpkin and kalamansi, light yet full of contrast, followed by sweet mignardises to end the meal beautifully. Every dish was a small work of art, carefully composed and full of harmony.
At the helm is Toshiro Fujii, who brings his refined training and passion to every plate. Under his leadership, Enishi by Toshiro has been honoured by the Gault & Millau guide as Asian Restaurant of the Year 2026.
The tasting menu with 6 dishes is priced at €95 per person, with optional wine pairings available. At lunchtime on Thursday and Friday, you have a 3 course menu at €45 per person; a fair reflection of the exceptional quality, craftsmanship, and service.
A memorable evening from start to finish, elegant, thoughtful, and full of quiet brilliance.
Chau. de Bruxelles 64, 1410 Waterloo
L’amandier
L’amandier was the perfect restaurant to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. It is set in a beautiful country house on the outskirts of Brussels in Genval.
The dining room is spacious in a contemporary interior. We choose the menu Nectar in harmony with the ‘bob’ wine, which is basically small glasses of each wine pairing.
Amuse bouche: curry bao bun, stuffed capucine with estragon, iced cucumber delight
Foie gras ganache from the Sauvenière farm, dashi broth, artichoke
Arctic char, fennel, liquorice
Amandier’s garden: we did not see their garden but this dish painted a perfect picture in our mind
Courgette flower, ricotta, caviar Sturia
Pure Iberian pork fillet, cherry, aubergine
Invitation to dessert: vanilla variation
Red fruit dessert with a birthday candle for Leana
Mignardises: a canelé and a chou stuffed with red fruit
Every dish was served with its own broth or sauce added at the table, each one arrived at the right time and enabled us to enjoy every flavour offered. Each wine complemented the dish and for the Amandier’s garden, we were served a beer, which to my surprise was the perfect combination.
Av. Albert 1er 288, 1332 Rixensart
La Buvette
La buvette is a fine dining restaurant in an art Deco house in St. Gilles, which means you get to eat the most amazing dishes in what used to be the living room of a classified house. The decor is sober yet retro with this beautiful table lamps from Zafferano, I had to mention them even if it’s all about the food.
We started with 3 amuse-bouche: Stracciatella, fresh peas and morels; Rice cracker, lacquered eel, radish; Polenta, pastrami and sweet pepper.
The starter was fresh from the gardens, grilled asparagus on rhubarb compote with almond and makgeolli cream.
For mains, we got to taste lamb loin cooked at low temperature, artichoke paste and brocoletti with court broth.
Finally a selection of 3 mignardises, a pistachio and bergamote macaron; a hibiscus and cardamon marshmallow; cacao, date and peanut fudge.
There was also an option of adding extra dishes but for us it was perfect, we walked out of La Buvette with a smile on our faces and we will definitely go back soon.
La Buvette offers a tasting menu for 65€.
Chau. d’Alsemberg 108, 1060 Saint-Gilles
Toucan sur Mer
I’ve probably mentioned it before, I’m a sucker for seafood and this corner restaurant in Ixelles, on the avenue Louis Lepoutre is just perfect. Their ‘plateau de fruits de mer’ is absolutely grand and I must also mention their skate wing with capers.
You can also order take away or pick up and impress your guests with a feast of seafood.
The price for a seafood platter varies from 70€ to 140€ for 2 people, and main courses average price is 25€.
Toucan sur Mer, Avenue Louis Lepoutre 17, 1050 Ixelles
Coquum
I went there in March 2024 for a 4 services ‘Gault&Milau’ lunch organised by Diningcity with my besties. The price was 47 euros and it was so worth it.
To be honest, I had driven by this restaurant a bunch of times but had never noticed it, it’s so discreet. However, the food is elaborate, daring and refined, with natural wines to accompany every dish.
Coquum restaurant has a price range of around €50 for lunch and €90 for dinner.
Coquum, rue au Bois 226, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Sanzaru
This is a gem in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. Although it is on a big main road on Avenue de Tervuren, the restaurant is set far from the street with a beautiful terrace for the sunny day.
Inside the restaurant is flooded with light from the bay windows and a fun decor. The food is inspired by Japanese and Peruvian cuisine which gives you unexpected flavours with subtle hing of spicy and acidic.
The lunch menu is 49€ or 65€ and the 4-course evening menu is 75€ and 115€ for a 6-course menu. They also have a 4-course menu in the evening for young people under the age of 30 for the price of 65€ .
Sanzaru, Av. de Tervueren 292, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Origine
I discovered this gem because the restaurant I usually go for lunch with my ex-colleagues was closed.
The full name of the restaurant is ‘Origine. Amour, Boire & Manger’; and that says it all, the Amour (love) comes first and the rest follows. You are going to thank me for this one.
Their 4-course menu is 59€ and a 2-course lunch for 28€.
Origine, Rue Général Leman 36, 1040 Etterbeek
Here is a map of all the restaurants mentioned in this article. I have also included the budget-friendly restaurants in Brussels and Michelin star restaurants.
Written by Elene Riordan
Welcome to Travelling Cooks! I’m Elene, a 50-ish-year-old British-Belgian woman living in Brussels, surrounded by my beautiful friends and family. This blog is a celebration of my three great passions—travel, restaurants, and cooking. Enjoy!