Leon de Bruxelle maybe looked at as commercial or a place where tourists enjoy going to, but one can't deny that they have tasty mussels. Leon has surely become the reference point for moules and frites in Europe, especially in Brussels and France.
I'm not a huge fan of mussels, but still enjoy having some from time to time. I had been to Leon in Paris a couple of years ago in Brussels and here I was again at their table in the French capital. The experience at Leon is always neat, clean and clear, you know what you're getting.
The place:
- Green lanterns hang from the ceiling to give just the right amount of light.
- A yellow ambiance takes over the restaurant.
- A French style brasserie with separators between tables and a cantina-like feel.
- Green tablecloths are positioned on all the tables.
- Paper placemats, wet napkins and plastic containers for discarded shells are found on all the tables.
The menu:
- Starters
- Fresh mussels made in-house
- The season's recipe
- The plates
- The beer cellar
- Drinks
- Desserts
We ordered:
- Le Panache Friture (fritures d'éperlan et de moules avec beignets de calamars): A selection of three fried fish-based appetizers that are oil-free, soft, and tender, with a crunchy feel I enjoyed. The only problem is that the plate looks dull, lacking an appealing or mouthwatering look.
- Mushroom Mussels with white wine was my personal selection: I simply loved it. The mussels are so fresh and the sauce so flavorful. With that, you can order as many portions of fries as you like. I would personally throw the fries in the mussels' juice, let them absorb the liquid and flavor by soaking for a short while and then eat them one at a time.
With that, I ordered a pint of Affligem, a beer that's light, fruity and enjoyable and that comes from the village of Affligem and is now owned by Heineken. A recommendation for sure.
Leon de Bruxelle is indeed a commercial restaurant for tourists with a service that's not the best, but their mussels are very good indeed and the experience is always enjoyable.
