A Bozar Breakfast: Bleah

We went there for one of the regular 11AM Sunday concerts some while ago, and, amazingly, breakfast comes with the ticket.  How often do you get free perks in Brussels?

I don’t know what I was expecting, but of course they only served disappointing pain au chocolat and croissants, plus mediocre coffee and juice.  Clearly the arts at this “Center for Fine Arts” don’t include the culinary.

I was so hungry that morning that I hoarded about five of the pastries from the buffet line into our breadbasket before my friend told me we were only supposed to take two at most.  Oops.  Nobody said anything, and by that point my indignation with the place took over anyway, so I had no shame in bringing them all back to the table to eat.  I did hope that nobody was staring at our mound of croissants for two people.

The pastries were actually pretty bad, considering we’re in Brussels — they were sort of hard with an old, suspicious-tasting chocolate — but my pride stopped me from putting them down after the first one.  I would apologize for taking extra, but the windowless geriatric atmosphere of the cafeteria maybe served as penance enough.

Aside from that, the pianist was pretty good!  She must not have eaten the breakfast.

Bozar
Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels

Bagel mania

We checked out this small bagel place in St. Gilles. The waitress was a bit rude but the food made up for it. If you love bagels, check it out:

This place is perfect for a small lunch.  Just don’t go here starving.  The combination of bagel sandwich, salad, and drink (together ~4-8 euros) can be quite satisfying, and much more so than the run-of-the-mill Belgian lunch sandwiches you can find everywhere.  For the record, the roasted red pepper cream cheese with smoked salmon and cress went down very nicely.

By all accounts the tuna salad tasted great, too.  The cinnamon cream cheese became too overpowering after eating about half of it, but its uniqueness still holds some charm.  Considering that bagels are not standard fare in Brussels, this place is worth checking out when you’re in the neighborhood, especially at off-peak hours.

Au Pays Des Merveilles
Avenue Jean Volders 42

Food: A-
Price: A
Atmosphere: B
Service: B-
Languages: French

Take a book.

Have you been looking for that little, cozy cafe where you can take your laptop/newspaper/book to relax with a hot cuppa or a light snack such as a yummy bagel?  I haven’t been paid to write this, I just enjoyed Cafe Modele, close to the Compte de Flandre metro stop, immensely.  There is a pleasant view of the canal and not only were there others with their laptops/newspapers/books relaxing (free wifi by the way) but the place is 100% non-smoking and their prices are great. Salad bowls piled high (4.10-8.50 euros) and sandwiches and bagels (3.50-5.50 euros) are serviced until 17.00 and warm dishes such as couscous and lasagne until 22.00.  Good coffee (1.70-2.70 euros) and freshly squeezed juices (2.30-3.30 euros) makes this place great for a lazy Sunday afternoon. The cafe is across the street from the bar Walvis, and apparently owned by the same person as well.

Croque monsieur with side salad

Cafe Modele, Rue Dansaertstraat 208, 1000 Brussels

Main dishes: A
Prices: A
Service: B
Atmosphere: A
Languages: Dutch, French

The Coffee Company

The new cozy little cafe on 45 Rue du Midi that has won my heart is called, straightforwardly, The Coffee Company. They’re open all week from 8AM to 8PM, and they have just the right style to bring Americans and Brits back home.

Though messy and cramped at times, the light still is bright, the full plate glass windows open up the whole space, and the decor is very comforting.  I am almost tempted to buy a bag of marshmallows or a mixer from them.  Of the three baristas I’ve seen there, only one plays loud music.  All the rest of the time it is a great place for relaxing, chatting, or passing the time with some reading or writing.

What with their good mint tea (~€2.30), coffee to-go (~€2.30), sugar-rush caramel pecan fudge chunk brownies, and wireless internet access, I will try to make it a regular stop.  Take a pass on the too-sweet, unappealing hot chocolate (~€2.30), even though it stays hot.  However, I will vouch for the deliciousness of the morning muffins.

Extras:  Open on Sundays, wireless internet, couches

Language:  French, but English is sometimes OK