A former hardware store — the name translates literally — whose Art Nouveau interior was too extraordinary to tear down and too beautiful to waste on nails and hinges. The original wooden drawers and iron fittings remain, repurposed as the backdrop for a seafood-forward brasserie that treats oysters, sole, and lobster with the same respect the building treats its wrought iron. The space soars: a mezzanine level with views down to the main dining room, stained glass filtering late-afternoon light, and a raw bar counter where shuckers work through towers of oysters with mechanical precision. The cooking is classic Brussels brasserie — not revolutionary, but reliable in the way that matters when you are spending serious money on shellfish.
Location
Ixelles, Brussels
Insider Intel
The oyster platter to start — they source well and shuck impeccably. Sole meuniere or the daily fish preparation. Steak tartare prepared tableside if you want theatre. The lobster when budget allows. Burgundy or Chablis from the wine list to match the shellfish.
Saturday dinner for the full brasserie spectacle, when the Art Nouveau interior is candlelit and the room hums with Ixelles energy. Weekday lunch is quieter and lets you appreciate the architecture in natural light. Book ahead for all dinner services.
Reservations recommended. Cards accepted. Rue du Page in Ixelles is a residential street — tram 81 or 92 to Ma Campagne. Seafood platters are priced per item and the bill can escalate. Smart casual dress suits the room. The mezzanine seats offer the best vantage point of the interior.