Les Larmes du Tigre
This excellent Thai restaurant is about to celebrate 30 years of service to the Brussels public. Tucked behind the Palais du Justice, it has bright décor (upside down umbrellas adorn the ceiling) and very friendly staff. We allowed ourselves to be led by the chef for our starters.
We particularly liked the Triangles d’Amour caramelized chicken in honey, wrapped in a baitoey leaf, Todman Pla deep-fried curry-flavoured fish cakes and the Khao Tang Na Tang puffed rice cakes served with a peanut sauce. For the main course, I plumped for the succulent Pla Phao Sea-bream grilled in a banana leaf and my dining partner went for the L’Agneau de Pattani lamb with matsamane curry, coconut milk and tamarin juice. The sorbets between dishes to clean out the pallet were ideal for me since they contain very little sugar.
We went in the evening, but they do a very good value three-course lunch, consisting of starter, main course and coffee for €15.50. Always inventive, they also have ‘Tigre Thursdays’ with a new menu every week and special themed evenings (recently ‘No Noodles Soup’ was the curious title).
www.leslarmesdutigre.be
Tom Yam by Walkin’ Thai
Around 25 years after it first opened its doors, what is probably the best-known Thai restaurant in town is back in business. If you have dined there previously, you are in for two pleasant surprises; the décor has changed and so has the menu. You may not think that change is a good thing but when it’s being handled by the brains behind one of the big restaurant success stories of recent years, you know you’ll be safe.
The first bite, as they say, is with the eye. In days of old, you would walk in to a cosy but slightly dated palace of orange and fabric. These days it’s wide open, tasteful and bright with comfortable banquette seating or well-made chairs. There’s even a small yet pretty garden for the brave.
The second bite is certainly with the mouth. The place is owned and operated by the team behind Walkin’ Thai on rue Lesbroussart. If you’ve ever tried to get a table in there, you’ll know what sort of weight that carries. Their first ‘proper’ restaurant, they imported some of the Walkin’ Thai staff to cook the food. The menu is simple, yet provides a range of flavours and experiences; a fiery green curry with duck, a classic Som Tam or even a whole grilled dorade. The house wine is a Pays d’Oc Chardonnay at a very reasonable price that complements a variety of spicy dishes with ease.
You may be able to walk in and get a table but take my advice and book.
www.tomyam.be
PHOTO CREDIT: cyclonebill
