Eat & drink: 5 x Grill

Looking for somewhere to warm up? Here is a small selection of spots with a grill to raise your temperature. Five places where the food is tailor-made for the winter.

1. Historic

DE HOEF 1627
Rue Edith Cavellstraat 218, Ukkel/Uccle
dehoef-1627.com

Age-old, De Hoef – a name derived from the Dutch word “hoefijzer”, meaning “horseshoe” – constitutes a slice of the history of Ukkel/Uccle in itself. Since its construction in 1627, this building has evolved over the centuries: starting out as a small farmhouse in the middle of the countryside, it became a coaching inn before turning into a guinguette (open-air café) and then a student bistro. In 1958, “Madame Pitou” took up the reins and transformed the place into a proper restaurant. Today, it is down to Maxime and John Dubocquet, the two brothers who represent the fourth generation, to keep this institution’s family atmosphere alive.

Paying it a visit on a Sunday evening to enjoy some grilled food is a comforting and nostalgic experience. That is especially true of the front room, which is the most authentic, where you can sit at a table by the open fire; for couples, we recommend booking the table closest to the fireplace, where you can dine sitting side by side. Of course, the incredible warmth of the place has its drawbacks: it is best to sit at a table in the back room if you are sensitive to smoke or if you want to protect your clothes from the smells of the kitchen. Not bothered by such things? Then, do what we did and take your seat in the room dating from 1627 in which the check tablecloths, knick-knacks, old engravings, and subdued lighting create a unique atmosphere.

The menu is impressive, offering a vast selection of meats, from a very good grilled steak (26 euro for 200g) to the “Pickles” pork rib (24 euro). We started by sharing a shrimp croquette (10 euro) and a fondu au fromage (9.50 euro). Generous and delicious. The highlight was the meat, a Pluma Iberico pork steak (36 euro) that melted in the mouth, which we ordered with fresh, beautifully fried chips, a crisp salad, and crunchy beans (5.50 euro). For dessert, we had apple and caramel mini crêpes, which aroused all the sensations of a crème brûlée: it was the perfect end to a feast that evoked a world gone by. The choice of wines, which is too conventional with its huge selection of Bordeaux, includes a few bright sparks, such as Domaine Chevrot’s Bourgogne rosé “Sakura” (48.50 euro).

2. Latino

ASADO
Chaussée de Waterloosesteenweg 905, Ukkel/Uccle
asadobrussels.be

Inspired by the tradition of South American parrillas, Asado offers grilled meats as well as veggie options.
Rustic and warm, the decor suggests something between a farm and a mountain chalet. The menu includes Argentine classics, such as empanadas, grilled chorizo, and the bife de chorizo (sirloin steak), accompanied by chimichurri or salsa criolla. There is a choice of Argentine wines to complete the meal.

3. Mediterranean

LA VIGNE
Rue Jourdanstraat 6, Sint-Gillis/Saint-Gilles
la-vigne.be

This heartwarming brasserie offers a menu with Mediterranean accents. The grilled meat dishes are original, especially the beef filet mignon a la plancha, which we highly recommend. We also liked the interesting pork tomahawk, flavoured with olives, and the Irish rib steak. We were disappointed, however, by the choice of beers and the wine selection, which fails to explore the variety of products with no added sulphites.

4. Texas-style

HOLY SMOKE
Hallepoortlaan 9 Avenue de la Porte de Hal, Sint-Gillis/Saint-Gilles
holysmokebrussels.com

Across from the Hallepoort/Porte de Hal, Gabriel Ejzenbaum and Agathe Legrand have opened a two-tonne Texan smoker. This place certainly differs a bit from traditional grills, but the slow-cooked meats are a knockout. The “Holy Platter”, for example, combines pork chops, beef brisket, sausages, and pulled pork, all accompanied by homemade sauces. They also have a large selection of bourbons.

5. Understated

MEAT MOZART
Chaussée d’Alsembergsesteenweg 541, Ukkel/Uccle
meatmozart.be

The grilled meats at Meat Mozart may be less spectacular than somewhere like De Hoef but, prepared in a kitchen that is visible from the dining room, they absolutely make the grade by staying true to the spirit of the Argentine barbecue. We enjoyed the “Tira de Ancho”, a prime rib of beef, spiral-cut and well-seasoned.