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    Big Mama

    4.2 (37 reviews)
    ModerateFrench, Belgian
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Big Mama Photos

    BIG MAMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Big Mama

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    Reviews With Photos

    The restaurant we left.

    Tourist stay clear! Came in and two of our six didn't want to eat but the other four did. The owner said we would have to order six dishes or he wanted us to leave. Incredibly rude and we obviously left. Spend your money elsewhere.

    Croquettes
    Monica D.

    As soon as my friends and I got to town, we were starving and looking for the national dish of Mussels and fries. This place had great reviews and close by our place so we gave it a shot and it delivered. We ordered an app of Meatballs (that came with Fries, of course) and also a couple of different croquettes. For a main I went with the Mussels in garlic and white wine. Everything was fantastic! Great portion and very fresh.

    Meatballs and fries
    Margie P.

    A server at another Belgian food restaurant several blocks away recommended this one when the wait was too long at his place. We enjoyed the Belgian cheese plate, the Trappist salad, and the meatballs. And the beer. It's casual, small, and noisy. Groups of people having a good time.

    My son Max w/his lunch!
    Emm M.

    A fabulous lunch of fresh mussels. The owner greeted us and waited on us. Very pleasant. Glad we came just after opening at noon as it was full when we left. Delightful Brussels experience

    Mussels and Fries
    Kylie K.

    Came near closing and we were seated immediately by the host. He was funny and sarcastic, but very friendly. The food was good and the mussels were chewy and flavorful. They tasted pretty fresh (at least more fresh than I had at another restaurant the next day). If you're looking for moules frites in Brussels, definitely give Big Mama a try!

    Derek L.

    This place was phenomenal. Right outside the touristy areas, it's not too far away (walkable) and you are greeted by a very friendly owner with the choice to sit inside or outside We chose to sit outside as it was a beautiful day and wife & I ordered the moulette frites (mussels with fries) and a few beers Beer menu was awesome with all your usual Belgian beers to select from at reasonable prices They served different flavours of mussels and we ordered one that was just plain white wine and tomatoes and one that was a garlic flavour one (I think). Mussels were super fresh and fries were absolute killer Highly recommend coming here to get you mussel and fries fix along with sitting back with a few beers as the day and night goes by.

    Rachel S.

    Enjoyed a lovely brunch here yesterday. I was searching for the right place to try my first "Mussels & Frites". After feeling uncomfortable at two other places I was greeted and welcomed by the owner. With a smile he assured me that his kitchen was open and I could dine outside at one of their tables. I started with a fresh cup of coffee and then had the delicious mussels cooked in garlic and white wine sauce (there was a choice of 6 sauce). The mussels were super fresh and cooked to perfection. The frites were thin and crispy and went well with the mayo served on a Belgian endive leaf. The owner who also serves the food was friendly, making sure everything was right. Also had a pleasant and funny conversation with him later on. Thanks, Big Mama for your warm welcome to Belgium!

    Moules frites (and Belgian beer!)
    K C.

    Wow, i don't think I've ever given 5 stars to a restaurant! I was craving moules frites after arriving in Brussels in the evening, and found this place online. What a super nice place! The waiter is very friendly, and always happy to explain anything on the menu. Less than 5 min from the Grand Palace without the tourist prices. The mussels were plump and not tough at all. The second day that I went, I still wanted mussels but was tired of fries (after having them with everything...). I asked to change the fries to bread which they were happy to do. Yummy bread to soak up the yummy mussel broth! If you're looking for a relaxing, welcoming little bistro to enjoy Belgian food, try this place!

    Big mama says eat your mussels!
    Viki N.

    Great food in a cozy restaurant with a waiter (owner?) who flits around between all the tables, happily serving everybody before they even know they need to be served. I told him I needed to catch a train in 45 minutes and needed to order right away, and he had no problem getting my food quickly and my check when I asked for it. When I'm in town again I'd like to visit again!

    Benjamin H.

    Very nice mussels and frites. It is a huge bowl. They have 6 different broths to pick and I pick the cream, garlic and wine. It is delicious and you can tell the mussels are cooked in the broth. The frites are served with mayo on a leaf of endive. The frites are only okay. I finish with a chocolate mouse with vanilla sauce. It is delightful. Not extremely sweet like most American vanilla sauce. The owner is both very helpful and attentive. The place is near to the grand place but not overly crowded in a nice quiet corner on a busy area.

    Belgian beef stew

    Good restaurant with amazing hospitalities. Food itself is great too, they have almost every single Belgian traditional dishes so if you have never had Belgian homemade foods, highly recommend.

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    7 years ago

    Very good moules frites - good service! It is a place to go, if you want some good food!

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    14 years ago

    The best salmon dish i've had in a restaurant. Great food and excellent service. Good value as well.

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    Big Mama Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Big Mama

    We came here twice in one weekend, impressed by the warm welcome and down to earth Flemish food.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Le Chou de Bruxelles - caprese

    Le Chou de Bruxelles

    4.2(43 reviews)
    1.7 kmChatelain
    €€€

    Absolutely outstanding. I admit that I've never been the world's biggest fan of Belgian food or of…read moremussels, so I was a little bit skeptical when my friend suggested we grab dinner at this place. But since we were in Brussels anyway, I figured we might as well try to get the full Belgian experience and try both mussels and beer. Le Chou de Bruxelles certainly did not disappoint -- the food was outstanding, the service impeccable, and the space delightful. The mussels were remarkably fresh and were a bit briny (as all mussels must be) but weren't overly fishy. Le Chou de Bruxelles offers a wide swath of sauces you can pair with your mussels, which is super fun; I ended up doing a more classic combo with white wine, garlic, and several herbs, but it was super tasty -- the herbs were super fresh and brightened up the overall dish, and the white wine was a lovely pairing with the shellfish. We also got their caprese salad, which was super tasty; the mozzarella was incredibly fresh and the tomato was perhaps the best tomato my friend had ever tried. It was presented in a rather entertaining way, with the tomato cut in half and hollowed out, then with the mozzarella packed inside the tomato. The service was also phenomenal and absolutely on-point. We were seated in the back of the restaurant right next to the patio door, so a few bees flew in and circled around our heads during our meal, but the staff was super friendly in helping us push the bees back outside. Vibes-wise, the restaurant is gorgeous and lively. It's a little bit out of the way from Central Brussels, so you end up with a good mix of locals and tourists. Absolutely love this spot and can't wait to come back in my next trip to Brussels!

    The muscles are the best so many options and choices, but we really enjoyed everything…read more I definitely must go to restaurant well then Brussells

    Photos
    Le Chou de Bruxelles
    Le Chou de Bruxelles - Mussels

    Mussels

    Le Chou de Bruxelles - Tiramisu

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    Tiramisu

    Le Fin de Siècle - Carbonnades (beef stew with mashed potatoes)/Lindemans Pecheresse

    Le Fin de Siècle

    4.3(533 reviews)
    0.6 kmDansaert, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles
    €€

    A great authentic Belgian meal while you're in Brussels! This restaurant has been around for a…read morelong time, is always packed, often with a lineup outside. But they do their best to seat as many people as possible. I got in fairly quickly because i was alone. The food was fantastic. I had the Carbonade a la Biere, and it was so great! Like a beef stew and very tasty. Also had some good Belgian beer. Service was attentive and very fast. The restaurant is lively and exciting - not really a quiet romantic dinner. But a lot of fun!

    If you want to try Belgian food with reasonable prices then this was one good option in Brussels…read more I arrived early for Friday night dinner and the restaurant was just over half full with lots of available seating. While the register states No Cards one of the servers told the table next to mine not worry when they didn't have enough euros. Only a drink menu was provided and the dishes being served that day were handwritten on moveable boards or posted on the wall. I had on my list a couple to try but finally went with the Belgian carbonades à la biere which was beef stew with mashed potatoes in a dark gravy made with beer. The plate was quite generous and much appreciated since I devoured it. I enjoyed the creaminess of the potatoes swirled with gravy but the meat could've been a tad bit more tender. Service was good. I think everyone on the floor stopped by my table for one reason or the other. Ambiance was casual and looked like many people were taking their time over their meals. When finished you need head to the register to settle the tab. I paid in cash. Worth a return visit.

    Photos
    Le Fin de Siècle - Menu Sept 2025

    Menu Sept 2025

    Le Fin de Siècle - Free bread

    Free bread

    Le Fin de Siècle - Beef stew and mashed potatoes

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    Beef stew and mashed potatoes

    Le Bistro

    Le Bistro

    4.6(153 reviews)
    1.3 kmMarolles, Bruxelles
    €€

    Food was ok. We went for the rabbit stew on my birthday. Kind of tasted like chicken? Pork knuckle…read morehad a sweet and savory marinate. Salad was a center attraction. Lasagña was t bad either. You have to try Belgium waffles while in Belgium, obviously. Servers were friendly but forgot about a few of our dishes. We waited forever until everyone got their food. We sat outside during a rainy day but the restaurant itself seemed classic with a wooden rustic vibe.

    Traditional Belgian restaurant with friendly service near Porte de Hal. I ordered the Rabbit Stew…read morein Kriek Beer (€26), which was more like two large pieces of meat cooked in stew but not actually a stew (with some fries too). The rabbit meat was surprisingly tender and the stew/sauce added some nice flavor. For those who haven't had rabbit before, it takes kind of like chicken to be honest, just with smaller bones. I think the price was okay considering the quality and type of dish. The fresh grapefruit juice (€5.80) was very good too. The staff are very friendly, helpful, and attentive. I was seated right away and the service speed was pretty quick. They have a decently sized indoor space as well as outdoor patio seating. The environment has a traditional Belgian restaurant/pub kind of vibe. Overall, Le Bistro has high quality traditional Belgian food in a pleasant setting and I would definitely recommend it if you are in the area near Porte de Hal / Marollen.

    Photos
    Le Bistro - Interior upstairs

    Interior upstairs

    Le Bistro - Burrata cheese salad with olive oil and balsamic glaze

    Burrata cheese salad with olive oil and balsamic glaze

    Le Bistro

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    C'est Bon C'est Belge - Beef Carbonade

    C'est Bon C'est Belge

    4.3(55 reviews)
    0.2 kmMarolles, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles
    €€

    The only problem with leaving a five star review is that it encourages others to go and get in line…read moreahead of us! ;) Ok, ok, ok kidding aside PLEASE visit this establishment. Quaint inside with limited seating and ALWAYS busy with a wait, it's easy to understand why. Simple, yet glorious dishes await your palate. We enjoyed our Carbonnade and practically liked our plates clean which would have been embarrassing for sure but worth it. Three cheers to the chef who can transform ingredients in to a plate with singing about!

    I found this place because it had pretty good reviews, had some specific Belgian dishes we were…read morelooking to try, and was close by to where we were. We got there at around 12:30 on a Saturday and it was pretty filled already. I ordered the C'est si Bon combo platter, which included a salad, stoemp (mashed potatoes), meatballs in tomato sauce, carbonnade (Flemish beef stew), and vol au vent (chicken in white sauce). It wasn't bad. It's probably not really for my taste buds because it's so heavy but I'm glad it was a little bit of everything so I at least got to try it. I don't think I could have finished a full size of any of these entrees alone. I liked the beef stew more than I thought I would because the beef tends to be dry, but it was pretty tender here. The vol au vent was creative because the dish normally inside a puff pastry but since this was a sample, they put a miniature pastry ring on top, which was cute and made it less heavy. Hubby had La Dinantaise (assorted duck plate with foie gras, smoked breast, gizzards, rillettes, terrine) served with a salad. I enjoyed the foie gras and duck breast but the rest was meh, but more of a texture thing for me. Overall, the food was okay but if you're looking for a variety of dishes to try, this would be a good option.

    Photos
    C'est Bon C'est Belge
    C'est Bon C'est Belge - Duck plate

    Duck plate

    C'est Bon C'est Belge - Combo platter

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    Combo platter

    Big Mama - french - Updated May 2026

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