The area around Brussels Nord station has, until recent times, not exactly been the swishest parts of the city.
In fact, for some it used to be an area best avoided after dark.
But that’s all changing now with the district undergoing something of a makeover.
This includes the arrival of new hotels, restaurants and shopping projects.
The aim of all this energy and investment is to inject new life into what was, formerly, a “forgotten” part of the capital.
One such new project is called ZEYYA, a pleasant restaurant just a few metres from the city’s well-known Botanical Gardens.
Having opened in February, it is a newcomer to Brussels’ culinary landscape but is already making its mark with customers.
ZEYYA, which set in quite refined surroundings, seeks to combine Mediterranean flavours with contemporary sophistication.
With its Turkish-born owner, it celebrates Greek, Lebanese and Turkish traditions and invites you to an “unforgettable taste journey.”
At the helm is a highly promising young chef, Russia-born Artem Goncharov.
He overseas things from an open kitchen and is responsible for some tasty dishes.
The current menu is soon to be replaced by a new version which will continue throughout the summer so be ready for a few pleasant additions.
This place is perfect for a business lunch, a dinner for two or an evening with friends. The terrace, decorated with fountains, wisteria and lavender, offers a total change of scenery and, with some better weather on the way, makes for a good spot to enjoy a drink or meal outside. The unique acoustic design, thanks to a recycled paper ceiling, is ideal for the live music which is another attraction here.
An exciting new addition also will be the rooftop bar, expected to open from mid June and which will be open to anyone not just people using the restaurant downstairs.
It will have a capacity of about 200 people, with some excellent views across Brussels and continues a new trend in the city for rooftop bars.
The idea is to make the place as trendy as possible, with live music and a DJ. It will stay open until around 4am.
The whole project has been something of a labour of love for the owners, Rhan Liman, the founder of the business, and his son Rkun.
They both came from an entirely different, non-horeca background – Rhan is a banker and Rkun worked in finance.
So, it was appropriate that the premises they chose for the new venture was, at the time, a bank.
Having chosen their location, they had the bank, part of four buildings which was part residential, demolished.
A delay ensued as they waited (some five years, in fact) for the necessary planning permission. Construction then took another five years and all this was happening during the awful health pandemic.
The result is that their plans to open the place in 2021 were delayed four years until earlier this year.
But the good news, for those who enjoy good food anyway, is that it has been worth wait.
For both son and dad this has been a “new challenge entirely”, says Rkun who has thrown himself 100per cent in the horeca business (the pair also own a hotel above the resto).
Rkun and Artem grew up together and are lifelong friends and Rkun says his new chef is “doing great things” with some stylish and inventive dishes. There is also a very nice selection of finger food and mezze.
The idea, he says, is to combine the best of French gastronomy with a typical Turkish and Lebanese kitchen. Starters include crispy octopus,smoked eel and anise-flavoured salmon while mains offerings feature oriental-style chicken, sole with browned butter and veal cheek cooked for 24 hours. All are delicious, with some very nice desserts, such as Baklava with kaymak to follow.
The whole place actually extends belowground as there are meeting rooms there, seating about 100 people.
Throw in the car parking valet service (just hand the keys to your car to the staff and they will park it for you – no bad thing in this congested part of the city) and you have pretty much the complete “package”.
The service is very good too with Laurent Dessart, the F&F manager, in charge of a keen young team.
The resto stays open until around midnight althogh the kitchen closes at 11pm and, after 10pm, they “pump up” the volume (on the music) so that the place gets even livelier.
As Rkun says, this whole area is now undergoing a real transformation and is “evolving in the best possible way.”
ZEYYA is the new kid on the block and if you have not discovered it yet, make a beeline for it…. you won’t be disappointed. Closed Sunday and Monday.
ZEYYA
199 rue Royale, Brussels
02 304 1441
