Rue du Grand Cerf 7

What’s good? The Gallery Resto-Boutique’s menu contains a large selection of dishes spanning Asia, so diners can choose where exactly they’d like their palate to travel. Examples include Hanoi-style beef soup, Thai curries or a traditional Beijing duck roast. 

What’s not? Honestly, we were hoping the flavors would pack more of a punch — the chicken in the small asparagus soup as a starter was a tad bland, and the Thai red curry contained raisins, which is probably a sign the restaurant is catering to a foreign crowd.

Vibe: The restaurant’s black and white décor serves as a backdrop to its gallery concept. We were told that artists can use the space as to exhibit their work. We ate on comfy white chairs, peering up at images of cheetahs and elephants on the walls and a golden Buddha head behind the bar.

Who’s picking up the check? The prices are reasonable for the swanky quartier Louise, but a little high for Brussels, ranging from €11 to €14 for starters and €17 to €20 for mains, so you might want to bring the company card.

Spotted: The EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell dined here last month with Enrique Mora, the EU’s Iran nuclear deal negotiator, and Rob Malley, Mora’s U.S. counterpart. We were also told that European Council President Charles Michel and Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo are “loyal” patrons. 

Fun fact: The food contains no monosodium glutamate — aka MSG, a flavor enhancer sometimes used in Asian cuisine — nor garlic, the menu boasts. We were told that it’s because the chef is allergic to garlic. Ideal for business lunches and meetings where you’ll need to avoid embarrassing breath. But perhaps not so much of a fun fact for the garlic-lovers out there.

How to get there: 20-minute walk — or short metro ride — from Arts-Loi. Walk past Boulevard de Waterloo’s luxury stores and turn down the side street.

— Review published on July 14, 2022. Illustration by Bailey Watro for POLITICO.