A friend of mine had been trying for weeks to get a dinner reservation at Osteria Bolognese. She…read morewas finally able to snag one for 9:15 p.m. on a Tuesday. It wasn't ideal, but we were all happy to get in. We were immediately impressed. The service was fantastic, even for our group of six. The wine selection was perfect for the food. The seasonal menu was relatively small, so we decided to order one of every appetizer and every main, and to share everything. Everything was good, but these were the standouts for me: *Asparagus *Truffle pasta *Vegetable pasta *Clam linguine We could have done without the burrata, the lasagna, the cheesecake and the tiramisu, which were OK but not great. However, we cleaned every single plate, and we left overall feeling very happy and satisfied. BUT ALL WAS NOT AS IT SEEMED.... I woke up the next morning with no appetite. I thought this was no big deal since I'd eaten a massive late dinner the night before. Around 10 a.m., I started getting a killer headache. I thought I might be hungover, even though I hadn't drank that much the night before. In the middle of a meeting that morning, I started getting really nauseous, and then projectile vomiting. I let my friends from the previous night's dinner know I wasn't feeling well. It turned out another had been vomiting profusely all morning, and another felt very sick as well. The common thread was Osteria Bolognese. Unfortunately, since we all basically ate everything, it's hard to narrow down with precision which dish was the culprit. We suspect the clams. I obviously will not be going back here.

The first time I walked by the Osteria, it was closed. The second time, it was a Wednesday (when…read morethey don't take reservations) good luck getting a table. The third time I made a reservation 2 weeks in advance, the reservation was made a few days before my last day in Brussels. Thank goodness I made that reservation! I've never been to Italy, but Osteria Bolognese was the best Italian meal I've ever had. My friend and I shared a few dishes. The ragu, a popular dish, was light and flavorful. The tortellini were perfectly filling. The spritz was a Bolognese take on Aperol and it was delicious. The founders claim that the ingredients are flown into Brussels daily from Bologna and I have no reason not to believe them! When you go, expect your dinner to last all evening and make friends with the staff. Don't miss this place next time you're in Brussels!

Absolutely fantastic family run restaurant in Brussels. The…read morefather explained each dish and how the pasta is made by his wife. Everything is made fresh that day and made with intention and love. The dishes are absolutely delicious and was the best meal we had while staying there! Service is great. Certainly make a reservation!

We weren't able to get a reservation but we came right as they opened for dinner and we were seated…read moreimmediately. The owner greeted us and told us about the dishes, his wife is the one who makes all of the delicious food! This is right at the center of Brussels so really a great place to eat and we ate outside. There's plenty of seating outside. The pasta was so delicious, fresh, and you could tell it was made with love.

I had dinner there last week. This place used to be good, but now the pizza was a bit rubbery and…read morethe staff was aggressive towards the uber drivers that entered to pick up orders. Odd ambiance.

This local restaurant is located on a beautiful square with seating available inside and outside…read moreweather permitting. I travel to Brussels for work and made a point to stop in here on my next visit. When you walk in, the smell of the food is immediate and appetizing. The tables are a bit close and it can be a bit tight to get around, but I also felt this is part of its charm. My friend and I split a bruschetta. It was delicious, but a little pricy for what it was. I enjoyed the veal parmigiana for taste, but it was delivered to the table slightly cold. The red sauce and fettuccine that came with it was delicious. My friend had the linguine and clams and he seemed to enjoy it very much. The pizzas around us looked delicious too. We both enjoyed a glass of the pinot nero, but I didn't think it was that great of a wine. I would have no problem going back here, but understanding it's just a slightly above average place with a busy atmosphere and great patio. Seems to be you have to know what to order and arrive with the right expectations. For the price, you may be able to find something nicer.

Some of the best pasta I've ever had! The pizza too! I don't know understand what they did but all…read morethese fresh ingredients just work! That pasta sauce was so full of flavor and when I started to work in the burrata it became creamy and cool. Just so damn good! The pan they made the past in was what my meal was served in which kept the whole thing piping hot. The restaurant was beautiful too. So clean and elegant. Service was friendly and quick too. I highly recommend eating here!

A very good spot, tasty food, fresh ingredients, pizza is northern style (Italian people will…read moreunderstand) crunchy and full of ingredients. Lovely garden, I recommend the stracciatella as a starter. Amazing!

This is a family affair with at times three generations working to bring customers homely Italian…read morefood. Unimpressive looking from the outside, indoors you'll find a cosy setting with a lively atmosphere. The food is surprisingly good, there is nothing fancy here, just a homely Italian meal. There are a good number of restaurants closed at this time of year, so the place was very busy. Despite an initial wait, as we'd not booked, we eventually got a table in the main dining room (the outside terrace would have been our favoured spot but unfortunately it was full). They kindly offered us aperitif as we waited to be seated and when leaving we were offered a digestive drink. Menu in hand and our waitress came round with the selection of daily specials. They always have lots on offer and we ended up not bothering to really open the small menu and picked instead from the specials. We opted for the linguini alla vongole, a 'trio' of pasta of the day and the ravioli covered with a tomato n'duya sauce and grilled cheese from the oven. Everything looked the par and we were satisfied with what was in our plate. They won't win any awards but sometimes simple cooking executed well using fresh ingredients is enough to satisfy a table of hungry diners. As we were a bit rushed for time we just went with mains but I was tempted to have an antipasti as I remember them being quite lovely. I'll certainly go back again soon to make sure I get to dig in to those great looking vegies and cooked meats. Generally speaking it is ideal for lunch with very reasonably priced food, a nice terrace in summer and friendly service. I'd recommend to anyone in the area looking for some enjoyable Italian food. You'd do well to book, otherwise you may have to wait anywhere up to 30 minutes for a table.

What a meal and a great dining experience! We were in Brussels for one night only and staying in…read morethe neighborhood so we gave Il Pasticcio a try. We were a little weary of two comments we saw before we arrived: 1) It doesn't look like much from the outside and 2) there is a communication challenge for English speakers. DON'T LET EITHER OF THOSE COMMENTS KEEP YOU FROM GOING HERE! True, it doesn't look like much from the street, but inside you find a warm atmosphere filled with patrons. And although there's a little bit of a language barrier, the staff was so helpful and did their best to communicate with us, explaining as much as they could! When we sat down we were immediately greeted with a small glass of rose wine for each person and a basket of delicious breads. We share the caprese salad between 3 of us as a small appetizer, which was delicious. I personally recommend the misto as an entree - you get to try small portions of 3 of their different pasta dishes. All of them were delicious, but the ravioli in a mushroom cream sauce was BY FAR the best! YUM! We'd been eyeing the desserts we saw at other tables all throughout the meal and we couldn't decide which one we wanted to try, so we each got one! The panacotta was OK, but the dame blanche (an ice cream sundae) and the tiramisu were both fantastic. Not only is the food really great, but the service was wonderful and you are made to feel right at home - like family! The price can't be beat either... 2 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts for under $100! We would HIGHLY recommend this place to anyone who finds themselves looking for a new place to have dinner in Brussels!

A warm welcome, great classic pasta dishes, a very interesting (red) house wine that is good value…read more We were happy that this restaurant (tucked away in a bland side street one block away from the Porte de Namur) survived the Covid 19 pandemic period. We must have been here close to ten times (for dinner mostly) and have never been disappointed. The team really wants you to have a good time - and they succeed ! The only surprising thing is that there is never a big crowd. Maybe it's the (dated) decor ... it feels like a restaurant in a mid-size Italian town in the sixties - nothing has changed ... but that has a particular charm. A small candle on the tables might be a good idea. We like the place, the team - and plan to come back - it's great for dinner and a good conversation after a concert or a movie.

A very nice Italian restaurant, slightly hidden of the beaten path. Lovely interior, very friendly…read moreservice and delicious dishes. Try it!

A good spot to taste a quality italian cooking with a group of friends. The musique is sometime too…read moreloud for a romantic diner.

Cose Cosi- Italian with a twist I've thoroughly enjoyed my…read moremeals there. It is not cheap but the food is very good and the menu is varied. The Zabaglione is a must! Everything is meticulously prepared and presented very artistically. I would whole-heartedly recommend it.

This restaurant in Belgium was my family's favorite Italian restaurant! My family background is…read moreItalian born and raised. When we got there the service was so polite to my family and knew we were Italian because my dad said Bongiorno! The food was amazing, everything we ordered was outstanding. Plated beautifully, cooked well, and sauces were excellent! The Ambiance was gorgeous, they had an inside and outside seating area, both were great! The restaurant made me feel like being home with my family and making Italian food! Totally worth it!

Actually came across this place on accident. Glad my friends and I stopped in. Very aesthetic feel…read morewhen you walk in. The service was fantastic although the language barrier. The chef a big smile on his face and made us feel welcome. They also shared with us a free app to try which was delicious! The menu is so creative and after eating we thought the food was excellent. Will definitely be back!!

Great experience! Food was excellent and service was great. This place is small and cozy with a…read moregood ambiance. Would highly recommend!!

Very unassuming exterior with phenomenal authentic Italian food. Fresh ingredient, made to order in…read morethe kitchen (which you can see into). I will absolutely be back!

Oh how I'm impressed by Brussels! Who would have thought that of all places, Belgium would delight…read moreme with such Italian culinary wonderment? From Instagram: The 'Nduja and Lemon pasta is a signature year-round favorite dish at NONA Pasta restaurants in Brussels. It features fresh spaghetti alla chitarra tossed with spicy Calabrian 'nduja pork sausage, fresh lemon, and Parmigiano Reggiano, with an option to top it with creamy stracciatella. I love that this restaraunt has an onsite pasta atelier. They keep to traditional Italian recipes while sourcing local ingredients for a true farm to table experience. The end result, a masterpiece! Everything's fresh, authentic and flavorful. This particular dish, in my opinion is the star of the show. It IS somewhat spicy without being overbearingly hot...this is part of the allure. I'm sure that I'll visit again before leaving Brussels and will, yes - order the exact same dish! Must eat outside and do a bit of people watching as visitors transit the city center. While busy I was seated as soon as I arrived and service was great. The ultimate experience. Give it a try!

This delightful restaurant was the standout of all the places we ate in Brussels. The quaint…read moreatmosphere, dark lighting, clean atheistic and unwillingness to be chain-like all while still delivering quick and effortlessly delicious pasta is a marvel. They truly have trapped magic in a bottle. The menu isn't large but they do also have a rotating seasonal menu that accompanies it. All the dishes on the main menu are Italian classics done right. Most dishes have pork or beef. The pasta tasted very fresh and the portions were what you would want of a good Italian restaurant, plentiful. My "white" ragú was packed full of flavor and the beef was tender. The pecorino cheese used was perfect. All in all, this is the type of place that is always busy and with good reason. Since they don't take reservations lines do form at the front of both sister locations on the same block. Make the line, it moves fairly quickly. And if it doesn't it is still well worth it.