Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

WHERE TO EAT 277

VEGETARIANS

Despite a marked increase
in vegetarian eating recently,
Belgium and Luxembourg are
not generally oriented towards
vegetarians and restaurants
dedicated to them are rare.
Many menus will, however,
include at least one vegetarian
dish for each course, or allow
a vegetarian starter (or two)
as the main course. Vegans
might have a harder time.
Some health-food shops have
cafés and staff that may be
able to advise about local
vegetarian and vegan-friendly
restaurants. Those whose diet
extends to fish will have no
problems finding excellent
food throughout the region.

EATING ON A BUDGET

Good, reasonably-priced food
can be found at many cafés.
There are also plenty of fast-
food outlets, such as the
burger chain Quick. Many
delicatessens offer a sand-
wich-making service plus a
range of sophisticated cold
foods (with plastic forks),
that are good for picnics. The

CHILDREN

Restaurants in Belgium

and Luxembourg are usually

willing to receive children,

although some upmarket

establishments may be too

formal for the very young.

It is acceptable for chil-

dren to bring their comics,

colouring books and games

along to entertain them-

selves during long meals.

Many restaurants have

children’s menus that offer

reduced-price dishes that

are likely to appeal to

younger palates. In

addition, high chairs

are generally available on

request in most establishments.

SMOKING

Restaurants in Belgium and

Luxembourg do not officially

permit smoking, at least in

areas where food is served.

This rule is not always strictly

enforced however, so visitors

averse to cigarette smoke

should mention this when

making reservations or taking

their seats so that adequate

arrangements can be made.

TIPPING AND TAXES

Prices shown on restaurant

menus usually include both a

Value Added Tax charge of 21

per cent and service charges

(usually 16 per cent). It is

therefore not necessary to add

a tip, unless service has been

exceptional. In that case, a

small cash tip of perhaps

2–5 euros is acceptable.

Belgian chain, Le Pain

Quotidien (Het Dagelijks

Brood in Dutch) serves

upmarket sandwiches

and salads to eat at

shared pine tables. The

special lunch menus

offered by many of the

best restaurants can be

a real bargain.

The classic Belgian

street food is a cornet

of freshly fried frites or

frieten (chips) from one

of the many street-side vans

or shed-like outlets called

variously as friteries or kots à

frites (frituurs or frietkoten

in Dutch). They will also

provide mayonnaise (the tra-

ditional accompaniment), plus

a range of extra foods that

includes meatballs, fishcakes,

carbonnades (beef stewed

in beer) and fricadelles (sau-

sages in batter), all at very

reasonable prices. The chips,

however, are an inexpensive

meal in themselves, and can

be second to none.

There was a time, not long
ago, when French was the
standard language of food
acoss the region. In Flanders,
now, it is more usual to see
menus in Dutch, sometimes
with a French translation.
Many restaurants also provide
English translations or even
separate English menus. Staff
can usually explain, or failing
that, the menu reader (see
p281) and phrase book (see
pp348–52) will be useful.

Fast food outlets at Place Guillaume II in Luxembourg City

Dining on the river at Lier’s De Fortuin restaurant

Street food,

Belgian style