Wokr17: dishes that transcend borders, and cocktails with a twist

Wokr17 is a multipurpose venue that includes a shared workspace, a cocktail bar, and a restaurant with a cellar where you can store your wine. A success wrapped in a breathtaking decor.

Herdersstraat/rue du Berger in Elsene/Ixelles is going from strength to strength. After Fripon, whose praises we have sung before, it is now Wokr17's turn to blow us away. It is a versatile space where people come to work and to have fun. The moment you enter, your eye is caught by the magnificent bar with its glass shelves, gold counter, and colourful ceiling fresco. Behind it, a passionate half-Greek, half-Syrian bartender presides, delivering a menu that includes brand new cocktails and classics with a twist, including an interesting version of an Old Fashioned (€13) made with Jack Daniels Rye, grapefruit zest syrup, and Angostura.

Two chefs
Aside from the beautiful bar, the place boasts a meticulous and exceptional decor. We love the little room with a stunning green marble table overhung by a light shaped like a cloud. There is also a delightful terrasse where you can enjoy an aperitif outside. On some days, a DJ helps to create a vibe, by the light of paper lanterns. Wokr17 aims to fill the void left by the closure of the clubs, inviting its customers to dance in order to vent the frustration caused by long months of having nothing to do.

It is the restaurant, however, that left the biggest impression. Two resident chefs have taken the reins: Sol and Mat, a charming duo consisting of an Ecuadorian and a Belgian. Both still in their twenties, this team possesses glowing culinary credentials: they met at the Institut Paul Bocuse, trained in Madrid, and have experien­ce working in major restaurants in Germany and the Basque Country.

The food on offer takes the form of ever-evolving dishes to be shared. Drawing on their great technical ability, the duo creates dishes that transcend borders, transitioning seamlessly between Latin America and Korea. There is the “Bone and Marrow” (€10.50), a reimagined tartare made with marrow, the smooth and fluffy “Bao” (€7.50 for two portions), and the “Sam”, which has all the freshness and expressiveness of a street food dish from the Land of the Morning Calm. And that's not all, these delicacies are matched by a wine list that features excellent natural wines, including a Chablis by De Moor and a Beaujolais from Domaine Séléné.

WOKR17
Herdersstraat 17 rue du Berger, Elsene/Ixelles, 02-840.68.62, www.wokr.eu
wo/me/We > vr/ve/Fr 18 > 22.00, za/sa/Sa 10 > 22.00 & zo/di/Su 10 > 18.00