Bon Bon is Brussels’ best restaurant, says Gault&Millau

While it may not be open right at the moment, Bon Bon in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre is still the best restaurant in Brussels. That is according to foodie bible Gault&Millau, which has released its restaurant guide for 2021.

The prestigious guide began visiting restaurants for the 2021 edition last November, so was able to get in eight months’ worth of meals while restaurants in Belgium were open. That was enough time to produce the latest local edition of the guide that covers Belgium and Luxembourg.

Under chef Pierre Gagnaire, who just joined Bon Bon in 2018, the restaurant earned a 19.5 from Gault&Millau, which almost never awards a perfect 20. The only other restaurant to achieve a 19.5 in this edition was the famous Hof Van Cleve in East Flanders.

The guide also gave an extraordinarily high score of 18.5 to the renowned Comme chez Soi, in the Stalingrad neighbourhood of central Brussels. The scores are not a huge surprise, as these are oft-quoted as the capital’s finest restaurants.

Other top scores in Brussels went to Le Chalet de la Forêt in Uccle (17.5), La Paix in Anderlecht (17.5), Bozar’s restaurant (17) and La Villa in the Sky (17), located on the 25th floor of the IT Tower on Avenue Louise.

Chef of the Year

It was a restaurant in the little town of Tinlot, however, that ran away with the Chef of the Year prize.  Christophe Pauly of Le Coq aux Champs in the town of 2,500 was awarded the honour. “Christophe Pauly works with the best ingredients, often from the region and, as a NorthSeaChef, opts for the best quality that our fishermen bring in,” said Marc Declerck, director of the Belux edition. “Like all the best chefs, he attests to his creativity and technical skills by surprising us with exceptional desserts, light, airy and fun. Finesse and a perfect balance on the plate are two recurring characteristics of his style.”

Le Coq aux Champs reeled in a 17.5 from the guide, but it was not Wallonia’s top restaurant: That accolade went to L’air du temps in Éghezée, Namur province. Also with top scores in Wallonia are Arabelle Meirlaen in Marchin, Liège province, with 18, and Le Prieuré Sazint-Géry of Beaumont, Hainaut, with 17.5.

The prize for Newcomer of the Year went to Le Pristine in Antwerp, run by no other than celebrity chef Sergio Herman. Massive and gorgeously appointed, the Italian restaurant in the city centre was immediately popular when it opened in July.

Le Pristine pulled down a 16 in the guide, but three Antwerp restaurants were awarded 18 points: Het Gebaar, Zilte and The Jane – also co-founded by Herman.

Other titles awarded this year include nicest terrace, best restaurant design, dessert of the year and three Best Young Chefs – one from each province. The winners can be found on the website. But for all the listings, you’ll have to buy the guide.

Photo: A table at Bon Bon