While on business in this quaint city just outside Brussels, I discovered a gem of a restaurant…read more The formula is simple: a small, cozy, and romantic dining room with an excellent selection of artisanal prime dry-aged beef from producers across western Europe. We arrived ahead of the fully booked Friday evening dinner crowd without a reservation and were told they couldn't accommodate us...but on second thought were asked, "Would we mind eating at the bar?" No problem!
The chef cheerily led us to his meat case which held a dozen of the evening's beef selections from Ireland, Spain, Belgium, and other regions. We settled on the dry-aged Rubia from the Galicia, Spain. The steak included frites, salad, a choice of several sauces, and we agreed to let the chef serve everything per his recommendations. We ordered a nice blond trippel ale which was quickly followed by our amuse bouche - a superb steak tartare served on a crusty thin slice of bread. French Gillardeau oysters were next and wonderfully fresh, plump, and briny- perfect.
Our attentive waiter suggested a fine French table wine and served it cold stating that as it approached room temperature each sip would seem like a different wine - he was right!
The Rubia steak was served sliced on a metal platter laid atop a custom candle heated stainless steel warming platform. The steak was melt-in-your-mouth tender and with only natural juices and a bit of sea salt it was probably the best steak I have ever had. This comparison includes Peter Luger's in Brooklyn, NYC, Morton's Chicago, The Chop House Chicago, Del Frisco's NYC, St. Elmo Indianapolis...numerous Ruth's Chris, Fleming's, Michael Jordan's, Don Shula's, and Capital Grilles across the USA. Should I go on? Paired with sublime frites and a simple butter lettuce salad this bistro meal was simple perfection. Cutting the tender steak with a fine Laguiole knife capped the experience for me; I had a choice of several handles and chose the fine shell handle knife!
I can't wait until my travels return me to Leuven and a chance to visit Bistro Tribunal and their attentive and helpful staff.