Resto: Origine

Establishments which make fine dining more accessible are needed now more than ever. In Etterbeek, Origine is proving to be the best deal going.

Go there, before you have to book several weeks in advance. Located a stone’s throw from Jourdanplein/place Jourdan, this new place is bound to cause a stir. This is because it is based on a solid foundation of sumptuous and creative food at bargain prices. We tried it out for a lunch that we won’t soon forget.

For €15, Origine offers a starter, main course, and a hot drink (tea or coffee). On the day in question, this consisted of a leek velouté and a vol-au-vent. We took the time to savour the soup, which was not of the ordinary grainy variety, but a velouté worthy of the name: a real caress for the palate. Almost oily, the dish was beautifully presented, with little black sesame seeds and a few pea shoots.

The vol-au-vent was quite simply remarkable, a de-boned thigh served, in a deconstructed manner, in exquisitely-made puff pastry. The mildly lemony chicken and veal meatballs were brought together in perfect harmony by the creamy mousseline sauce. The rich flavour of the dish was such that one could swear a touch of vanilla had been added to it, though the chef categorically denied this.

Without a doubt, this man, by the name of Xavier Lizen, has talent. Perfect as this lunch was, what we want is to go back and sample the 4-course evening menu for €38. Unusually structured, it is divided into “cold”, “warm”, “hot”, and “sweet” dishes. For example, mackerel tartare with granny smith and pickled red onion, or chicken ballotine with candied shallots, rosemary jus, and fried baby potatoes…

Equally intriguing is the rather unusual list of wines on offer, including Sauvignon du Domaine de Duras (€24) and Vinsobres Le Mirabeau (€36). As for the decor, it is fairly cosy, brought to life by a mass of lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling and a fresco with echoes of the Indian painter Bhupen Khakhar.

ma/lu/Mo > vr/ve/Fr: 12.00 > 14.00 & 18.00 > 22.30
za/sa/Sa: 18.00 > 22.30