We had had enough eating local specialties. After visiting six restaurants in the last two days, we felt like having some good Italian food. The hotel concierge recommended iTrulli which is also mentioned on the Michelin guide website.
A few meters in front of the Sofitel is iTrulli, an Italian restaurant hosting a wood oven but don't expect to eat pizza in here, this oven is only for the focaccia. As you walk in, the furnace taking over the right side of the entrance also displays an award the restaurant won. iTrulli is part of the international academy of Italian restaurants.
A rectangular space with an open kitchen at the end, filled with tables covered with light green table cloths. All tables are set with their cutlery and centered with olive oil bottles and a plate of black olives. The staff and clientele are all Italian.
The first impression: Eating at an Italian restaurant and hearing all the tables speak the language means that the locals believe in its cooking. I was sure that the food was going to be great.
The menu is divided into four sections: starters, pasta, fish and meat.
A low ceiling, orange walls, good lighting for a pleasant dinner, paintings decorate the walls and some mirrors making the restaurant look bigger. At the entrance, a bar of anti-pasti offers a selection of cold Italian dishes.
Good to know:
- Everything is prepared a la minute so eating without garlic was not a problem.
- A casual feel lets you know that this will be a relaxed atmosphere.
- The menu has a wide choice of Italian specialties.
- They have a pizza oven, but they don’t do pizzas. The furnace is used to make focaccia.
Dinner stared with a plate of focaccia. A round bread that looks like a pizza, cut in quarters and tasting great. A thin dough, crispy on the edges and rich in olive oil and oregano.
The details I liked:
- Christofle cutlery is used.
- Peugeot salt and pepper mills are available on all the tables.
- The staff is welcoming, smiley and quick.
Let's have dinner:
- Vitello Tonnato: Beautifully presented on a round plate, slices of veal lying on a tuna mousse and seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper. A correct taste that's clean and neat. I loved it.
- Parmesiana: Served in a clay pot, a generous portion of melted cheese, eggplants and tomato sauce. A strong acidity, a plate that's oil-free, a strong, flavorful melted cheese... So yummy!
- Warm oysters in white wine and fresh cream sauce with a green Italian vegetable that looks like a piece of broccoli. It was the first time I've eaten warm oysters and this plate was perfectly done. The blend of flavors was exceptional.
- Spaghetti Bottarga: What an exceptional plate. The perfectly cooked al dente pasta is firm, with the flavor of the sea in every bite. The taste of the bottarga and its richness was impressive! The best part is the bitter aftertaste
- Tagliatelle Langoustine: As good as you'd expect, homemade and it clearly showed.
- Pasta fantasies: A rectangular plate with four different kinds of pasta. Orichiete, ravioli, lasagna and zucchini pesto; a huge portion, perfect for pasta lovers.
A lovely experience tonight in Brussels, we enjoyed good Italian food as if we were in Italy. Visiting Brussels and seeking to eat good food, iTrulli is a recommendation for sure.
