Out of our 12 days in Europe, I would say we had our best meal at La Manufacture! A friend of my wife who had lived in Brussels for several years recommended this restaurant to us and we were glad we went. On our first day in Brussels my wife asked me to see if any of the restaurants her friend had recommended were within walking distance. La Manufacture was less than a half a mile from the Grand Square and their were a few sights to see along the way so we opted for lunch there. The restaurant is has a bamboo outdoor garden that is nestled in a courtyard and opted to eat outside as it was a beautiful day. I ordered the Curieuse Neus a local brewed Brussels Tripel beer. My wife opted for a Coke Zero... They brought us some complimentary olives marinated in a tomato, garlic and we believe anchovy sauce that was awesome and some very tasty rolls. We decided to order from the dinner menu and pass in the lunch specials as there were a few menu items that caught our eye. My wife decide on the sole which was sautéed in a delicious butter and herb sauce, which she said competed for the best fish dish she had ever had (No. 1 or 2!). The dish was accompanied with small white potatoes (that had a nice crisp on the outside), a spinach risotto. I had the veal offering which was sliced in small chunks that were sandwiched between these crispy light potato cakes that were laid on a yummy bed of finely sliced and sautéed mushrooms, there was a side of citrusy slaw with lentils, carrots and greens. The dishes were presented very attractively which added to our excellent meal. Our meal was really exceptional and I would highly recommend La Manufacture. Food 5 - Excellent delicious meal! Atmosphere 4.5 Nice intimate location in the courtyard. Service 4.5 There was a team of waiters serving us. It is European which I often struggle with the leisurely pace but this was a satisfying pace. The only complaint I had is they don't like other places ask if you would like anything else e.g. I would have ordered another beer if they had asked, but it is what it is. Price 4.5 - It is on the high end but we were very satisfied with what we received for the price! OA 4.5+ . We would definitely come back if a local or on a return trip. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in Brussels. The first time I visited was 2 years ago when my boyfriend and I invited my family here and the second time (recently) we came with my boyfriend's parents. Both time, my boyfriend and I did not find the restaurant easy to find. It is in a area of Brussels that we rarely visit and it is in a small street. The positive thing about the restaurant is that they do have parking and a valet service. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, very open and big. It also has a second floor for more private groups or if you wish to organize a walking buffet/reception. The first time we were here, it was a quiet night, where we were one of the only tables at the restaurant. The service was superb and the food was excellent. There is a 35 Euro 3-course menu, where you can choose one starter, one main and one dessert from four selections each course. The food is incredibly fresh and well cooked. Presentation of the food are also very nice. The second time we visited, it was a busy night. We were sat towards one corner of the room, which is nice as it gave us some privacy. However, it did take a minute or two longer than usual for the waitress to come around and take our drinks orders. We all got pink champagne, which is very nice. The wine list of this place is superb, both bottle and by glass selection. For me, it's rare to see so many options for by glass orders. They did get my by glass order incorrectly, where they brought me red instead of white, but it was corrected right away. I took the 35 euro menu and had the duo of shrimp and mussel croquettes, followed by back of cod, fennel juice and cardamom espuma and finished with the original crème brûlée. I really enjoyed it, just like the first time I visited this restaurant :) My only comment is that the crème brûlée was cold, only the sugar part at the top is warm. I prefer my whole crème brûlée to be warm, but that is down to personal preference. Because of the lay-out of the restaurant, it is very loud when the restaurant is busy. I have been highly recommending this place to all my friends and I certainly will go back! read more

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For the price point, the food at this restaurant should be far better quality. I ordered the duck and it was tough with mediocre taste. I even asked our server for a recommendation on how to have my duck cooked, and he said "medium rare, because you want the fat and meat to be very tender." It came out so tough I had trouble cutting it with my knife. Everything else about the restaurant was pretty good: nice atmosphere, upscale surroundings, and the service was excellent. They use team service, and whenever we needed something, a server was there without even asking. I go for the food though, and it wasn't up to par for a "3-euro" spot. read more

La Manufacture - Filet of duck - Modern European Near Me - Brussels, BRU

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Previously bustling with workers from the old Delvaux leatherworks, it is now abuzz to the sound of happy diners. A modern and elegant decor was added to the high ceilings and large pipes retained from its time as a factory. On the menu of La Manufacture you will find what I'm tempted to call classic contemporary cuisine with an oriental twist. The food is generally a notch above your standard restaurant but without ever reaching for those precious Michelin stars. They do a good job showcasing seasonal produce. Last I visited I had a cold asparagus cream with chervil and avruga caviar, followed by a superb piece of swordfish as catch of the day. The ingredients are good, portions are generous and some elegant plating adds that final touch. Good looks and good food often come at a price, yet this place allows you to dine on a three course meal without having to spend more than 35 euros. The Wink menu (evenings) fully deserves the 'Bib Gourmand' they received from Michelin. It rewards good restaurants that can offer a three course meal for 36 euros tops. The Manufacture hits the mark with theirs. And if you do want to splash out a bit, the seasonal menu with associated wines is a step up in the direction. Fine list of wines to accompany, and some very likable spirits 'eau-de-vie' to end the meal. Picking our wine from a tablet kept everyone entertained, though it may in the end have taken longer than choosing from a traditional menu. Good place to treat a loved one, enjoy a night out with friends and family, or simply impress. I'm hard pressed to fault the place, I have to mention that it can get quite loud, is a bit out of the way from the other more central restaurants and at times I've seen waiters struggle with all that is going on. Other than those few glitches, you should be taken aback by the overall experience. Note: take full advantage of the valet parking, it is usually a mess around there. They also have a summer 'bamboo' area outside which I've yet to try as I've only been in the winter months. With a lot space available, they have 2 rooms for business dinners, cocktail parties or a full blown banquet. read more

I would not go back. The ambiance/setting is very nice. The food was just OK for this price point. They apparently use team service, but that does not help them very much. We were there on a Monday, so it was not overly busy, but we felt ignored. It was a long wait to get someone to come by to order cocktails. Actually, when we asked about cocktails, the waiter said, "we don't serve cocktails." We put that one up to translation because we just wanted pre dinner drinks. I think we ordered some Belgian beers. Then we order, and they appetizers come out, pretty much with the cocktails. Then we see no one for a long time when we wanted to order wine. We eventually got our entrees and decided to just order glasses of wine because we were so far into the meal at that point that a bottle was too much. Keep in mind that I do realize that European dinners are at a more leisurely pace. I get that; I travel to Europe several times a year for business and vacation. We were looking forward to a leisurely dinner, but it would be nice to be able to order and enjoy some drinks during our leisure. It is tough to order drinks if no one comes to your table (we were also far from other tables with just one occupied table near us). read more

This was a great restaurant even though it is a little out of the way. We went with our daughter and they were accommodating to kids, and even had a high chair. It is roomy which is in contrast to most other European restaurants. The atmosphere and decor are modern and very pleasing. The staff was nice and spoke English fairly well (our waiter had to get another person only at one point to help with explaining a side dish). The food was excellent. We started with a cold noodle dish with teriyaki beef carpaccio, the beef was cooked a great medium rare and the dish was very flavorful. I got the farmyard piglet braised in Orval which was full of flavor and my wife got the Irish ribsteak which was cooked perfectly. They had some nice potato croquettes for my daughter to eat (along with frites). I would definitely recommend stopping her if you are in the area. read more

Brussels has the best food in the world, period. La Manufacture is one of the many spots that stands out above the incredible field of eateries this city has to offer. It's not just about the food, it's the experience. My first visit there was a few days after 9/11 and I've been going back since. If you are in town for a few days make the reservations here and enjoy a first class experience. read more

I thought this restaurant was great. Delicious 'half cooked' need to start, the duck and then the selection of deserts. I probably wouldn't have the duck again as it was a bit tough but everyone else had great options and the rest of the meal was fab. Really good wine too! read more

a restaurant in a old factory, food and ambiance trendy.

Great ambiance and staff, average food and wine for this price. We were taken very good care of and Manufacture is indeed a great environment, hidden in one of the most beautiful streets of Brussels. It is good both for a romantic night out and for a great dinner with a large group of friends. Spacious but also buzzing with energy! Turning to the food, some great appetisers, but some of the main dishes (we took the lamb, the cod and the quinoa among other things) were a bit flat our taste at least! read more