A cubist façade that’s decorated with a painted geisha, an elegant Japanese-inspired dining room, zen-like tableware… everything here is sleek and refined. Welcome to Dim Dining, opened in 2018 by sakephile sommelier Jonas Kellens and chef Simon Van Dun (ex-Cent pour Cent in Sint-Katelijne and Pentagone in Anderlecht), who meticulously composes his dishes on a golden work surface. On the omakase menu the night we went: crispy cod tempura with a kefir and Japanese parsley sauce; plump king crab with konjac noodles electrified by a blood orange ponzu sauce; an Irish oyster dressed in a black sesame tofu cream with clover leaves; incredible raw swordfish belly with wasabi and a plum broth; before a series of briny delights, including scallop prepared with white koji and notes of citrus, and whelks cooked in sake, beurre blanc and hen-of-the-wood mushrooms… Plus a surprisingly delightful sweet potato, tapioca pearl and yuzu composition for dessert. The bill for this moment in paradise? Stratospheric! // Peter Vandenberghe

FEELING THIRSTY? Beautiful food and sake pairings (€65 to €125), featuring a rare Regulus junmai from Abe Shuzo in the Niigata prefecture or a Pink Ladie rosé from the Amabuki brewery in the Saga prefecture. Food and tea pairings are also available (€55-99).
PRICE: Omakase menu €99 (lunch), €145 to €175; sushi €12-32 for two, mains €32-109.