Garden lovers in Brussels usually make for the usual places when they want to admire horticulture.
Somewhere like the Botanical Gardens or Laeken Palace would probably be top of their list. But what are chances of getting the same vibe at a restaurant?
Well, believe it or not if you’re into gardens you’ll be as impressed with what’s on offer at a particular restaurant in Brussels.
It is Cite Du Dragon, a leading and long established Chinese resto, located appropriately with the wonderful La Foret de Soignes on its doorstep, which surely has by far the most impressive garden of any restaurant, not just in Brussels but Belgium.
Before or after (or during) a sumptuous and very satisfying meal here, you can take a stroll in the quite amazing Asian-style garden at its rear. You will then see what Liem, the owner, means when she says it is the thing she will miss most when she – finally – calls it a day (hopefully, not for a while yet).
It would be a crying shame if you ate here and did not also admire the incredible and very expansive collection of plants, flowers, water (filled with Koi fish) and much else. It’s all clearly visible from one side of the huge glass windows (another feature here) but, in order to fully appreciate it all, you really need to step outside and have a walk round.
The garden boasts maple trees from Japan which, with their red colours in the autumn, are particularly beautiful to behold right now.
As Liem points out, this is all the work of both herself and her hard-working team who,between them, maintain the garden, all 3,000 square metres of it (the front part facing the road is also quite a sight).
Of course, the primary reason for dining here (as elsewhere)is the food and, like the garden, you will be most impressed by what Liem and her chefs deliver.
One thing that is worth stressing is that the crepe/pancake for the duck dishes – a house speciality here – is genuinely home made and, henceforth, very fresh.
Liem explained that the dough is prepared on the spot in the kitchen for each order. A tell-tale sign of their freshness are the holes that puncture the crepe.
Sadly,too many such establishments are thought to choose to take a short cut and buy in frozen products which are then just re-heated.
“It isn’t the same, of course,” says Liem. “Others may simply lack the necessary technique for making crepes – not everyone can do it as we can.”
Judging by the enduring popularity of her renowned resto, her customers agree because they keep flocking back year after year.
It is a very large resto but, as it can easily get full, you are best to reserve a table.
Another key ingredient of Liem’s success story is her ability to stay in tune with what her loyal band of clients want.
That means rotating the menu from time to time with the introduction of new dishes.
That is what is expected to happen very soon with an exciting choice of new-created offerings set to appear on Liem’s menu.
These are likely to include Ramen Tonkotso, Ramen Shoyu, Ramen Miso, Ramen Aux Lagumes and garniture au choix Tonkatsu.
Other possible new entries on the card in the coming weeks include Poitrine de Porc Croustillant, Riz Garni De Poitrine De Porc and Bun Bo Nem.
All promise to be terrific and add to what is an already very tempting menu, consisting of some really top-notch Chinese cuisine.
There is a great mix, from chicken and pork to beef and duck but the thing that many people visit Cite Du Dragon for is the fantastic buffet, available 7/7, that contains the best that Chinese cuisine has to offer.
It is incredibly well priced (another likely reason for its popularity) and there really is something for every pallet and taste. Of course, you are also able to “eat as much as you like” which, when the food is this good, could be quite a lot (so best to come armed with quite an appetite).
For those who may work in this very pleasant part of Uccle (it’s also on a busy bus route which affords ready and easy access to the centre of Brussels), note that the lunch menu, priced just €18pp, is also excellent with a choice of starters and mains (there’s even a “quick lunch” menu, priced even less (€14pp).
The main card is wonderful with a big choice of soups and cold/hot starters such as the Panier de Dim Sum, Raviolis Au Canard and Croustillant de Scampi.
Meat dishes for mains include eminces de boeuf aux choux au poivre de Sichuan (hot but not too hot and a very authentic Chinese dish) along with the aforementioned duck dishes. Another reason why this resto remains a “must-go” on the culinary scene here are the prices which are very affordable, particularly considering the top quality of the food.
Liem herself has a fascinating story to tell. She first arrived in Belgium way back in 1969 and attended university here. At first she worked with her sister at their resto on Liege (her sister still runs it) but, in 1991, Liem opened Cite du Dragon and hasn’t looked back since.
She is a pensioner now but puts people half her age to shame with her tenacity, industry and sheer enthusiasm for her work.
As to her lovely resto, well, there really cannot be anything to compare with this at another restaurant in Belgium.
Cite Du Dragon
Address: Chaussée de Waterloo 1024,Brussels
Telephone: 02 375 8080
www.citedragon.be
