The Anonymous Widower

An Excursion In Brussels

I had nearly three hours to wait for my train in Brussels Midi and as I wasn’t sure about our eating arrangements, I thought a quick snack would be in order in the city. From previous experience, I know that the city has good places where I can get a good gluten-free meal.

A quick look around the station after my  gentle argument with the guy in Information, indicated that there was nothing but bars and gluten-rich snack places in the station.  There was a Starbucks, but you don’t go to one of the gastronomic capitals of the world to go to Starbucks.

So I decided to get a Metro to the area around the cathedral.  I couldn’t fathom out the automatic machines, but at least there was a friendly ticket office, where they could understand my French. After getting confused and being sorted on the line to take to go north by an Italian from Milan, where we mused on the confusing maps and directions in the Brussels Metro, I finally got to a station called de Brouckère somewhere near where I thought I wanted to be. I emerged and found my way with ease.

If I’d had more time there was an exhibition of the Terracotta Army, which looked worth visiting.

Eventually, I found a street full of Thai restaurants, which I walked down to the end and found a welcoming-looking place called Le Roi des Belges.

So I took a chance and entered.

I asked if the waitress if the food and especially the plat du jour of salmon was gluten free. It wasn’t just gluten-free but delicious, being cooked with asparagus, tomatoes, herbs  and mashed potato. The Belgian speciality of frites was absent. with a Pepsi, it cost me just €12.

it appeared to me though, that this could be the sort of restaurant, that will often be full.  So be prepared to go somewhere else, if you turn up on the off-chance.

I walked on to the next Metro station and got the tram back to Brussels Midi.

When I was on the high speed train, it made another stop in Brussels Central station.  If you know the city, then you might pick up your onward train to The Netherlands from here.

January 10, 2013 - Posted by AnonW | Food, Transport/Travel | Brussels, Coeliac/Gluten-Free, Restaurant