Venture to the EU quarter at weekends and you may be shocked to see just how quiet it is.
Certainly compared with a weekday, when the “Brussels Bubble” is a hive of activity, Saturday and Sunday can take newcomers by surprise.
It is just very calm with some restos not even bothering to open.
Those that do are, by their own admission, much, much quieter than during the week.
But there is one glaring exception and that is Kafeino.
Pay a visit to this terrific resto on any given Saturday evening and you will do to find a table. Yes, it is that busy.
That says an awful lot about, first, the quality of the food it serves and also the fantastic quality of service here. Both are excellent which is, notably, why it can rely on a very busy Saturday night when most its resto neighbours are struggling to fill their tables.
When you consider just how nice the food is here, it is not hard to work out why it’s doing so well (not just at weekends, of course, but during the week too).
Part of the delightful menu is taken up by meze which, for those unfamiliar with it, is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in Eastern Mediterranean cuisines. A meze may be served as a part of a multi-course meal or form a meal in itself.
There’s a big choice of meze here and, if you are a bit undecided which to opt for, the assortment (ideally for two) is a good idea as it contains a pleasant selection of hot and cold meze and all for just €24.50 which, considering the quality is a snip.
Otherwise, you can opt for veggie, meat, seafood or cheese meze and, as with other dishes on the menu, look out for the heart symbol which indicates that it is a best seller for the resto’s loyal band of customers.
As is the Greek way, it is nice to share the meze… that way you also get to sample a few different ones and that makes sense as they are all very tasty.
The choice for the mains is just as impressive but, again, some are customer favourites, including the fricassee d’agneau en casserole (this has the additional symbol alongside it, “coup de Coeur”, indicating it is also a house favourite (ie popular with the chef and team).
Another popular mains dish is the duo de calamars and scampi aux pates Greques (another accompanied by the “coup de Coeur” icon) along with grilled poulpe (octopus), served with de Fava de Santorini.
And, of course, no such “best of” list at a Greek restaurant could be complete with that old favourite from down the years: moussaka which, at just €24, is very well priced as are all other dishes on the marvellous menu.
To accompany your very nice meal there is a fine choice of drinks, including Greek beer, cracking cocktails (look out for one imaginatively called “Pornstar Martini”), gins, ouzo (of course) and some top class wines.
This lovely resto is located at the very heart of the EU Quarter, right next to the EU commission and with great transport links (Schuman metro station is also right outside) so no need to come by car if you prefer not to.
It has a great and appreciative customer base, including, as you’d expect, Eurocrats but also, of course, lots of other people, all drawn to the great food and that equally great service.
You really are guaranteed a lovely, welcoming smile from friendly staff members like Dimitri and Efsta, an important (if undervalued) aspect of any successful business,including restaurants.
The fact that, despite the health pandemic and economic crisis, it is still going (very) strongly over two decades since it first opened it testament to the hard work and dedication (and culinary skills) of its Greek-born owners and their colleagues.
It is not just the food that leaves you with a warm glow – so does the very tasteful and comforting décor and ambience. The place can seat about 85 downstairs (there is also a great, and large, terrace from which you can eat even during the colder autumn days), plus a sizeable room upstairs, seating up to 70 or so, which is perfect for parties and the like.
The innovative owner says that one of the things that has driven Kafenio since the beginning has been the “pleasure of sharing authentic cuisine” and that is exactly what this fab place does… in abundance. Closed Sundays.
Kafenio
134 rue Stevin, Brussels
t 02 231 5555
