Briquet

After crossing paths at Camino, Louis Devos and Jonas Van Sant are lighting a fire at this bistro named Briquet (French for “lighter”) in the Borgerhout district. This laid-back bar à manger boasts a giant terrace, loads of neon lights and wines on tap, plus chef Jakub Blogowksi (Kuba for insiders, formerly of Pristine) who’s heating up bellies with well-balanced flavor bombs: fiery scorched BXL sprouts in an indulgent chickpea cream, paired with sautéed shimeji mushrooms and pickled onions; smoked eel livened up with samphire and leeks; a deeply flavorful steak tartare seasoned with black garlic… Call the firefighters, this place is on fire! // Janjan Bon

FEELING THIRSTY? Tanks filled with white, rosé, orange or red vino (€6.50 a glass, €26 for a carafe), like the Zweigelt Rosé from the Austrian producer Christoph Hoch. Louis also put together a drinks menu that boasts espresso martinis (€12) and German skin-contact Gerwürztraminer from Carl Koch (€42 a bottle).
PRICE: Plates €12.50 to €22.50, extra bread €5.