Restaurant: Ellis Gourmet Burger

Ellis Gourmet Burger is a small hamburger chain. It is concept by some young enthusiasts: to serve good burgers!

The restaurant at the Dansaert quarters, next to Saint-Catherine, is a modern, lively, and enjoyable place full of life. The burgers are very good, but not heavenly, and your interpretation of raw/medium/well done may differ from theirs. Nice side meals are offered and they are generous enough. Service is a bit "distant"; they are friendly when attending you, but let's say they don't mind leaving you alone either.

Of course, it is a chain, so things may be different in another restaurant of theirs. For better or worse.

Grades given by Good Food in Belgium:
Food: 3+
Atmosphere: 4
Friendliness of staff: 3
Would I go there again: yes
Would I recommend the place: yes, for going out with friends and colleagues. Not for business dinners.
Value for money: yes

Check out the review by TripAdvisor

Restaurant: Eccetera

Eccetera is a nice Italian restaurant hidden away in a backstreet from Place Jourdan. If you don't know about its existence, you will probably not find it by accident (which we, strangely enough, did). But it is a good find! Food is really good, among the best ones in its price category. Service is fast, but not hectic, and very friendly. The atmosphere is nice if you like to have some noise and chatter around you.

Grades given by Good Food in Belgium:
Food: 4+
Atmosphere: 4+
Friendliness of staff: 4+
Would I go there again: yes
Would I recommend the place: yes, for going out with friends and colleagues. Business dinner may be okay if it is not suoposed to be formal or you need to continue business talks.
Value for money: yes

For more reviews, check out TripAdvisor

Restaurant: Cool Bun

Cool Bun has two restaurants, one at Place Stephanie, the other at Schuman. This place is for some serious burgers! Everything is handmade and the beef is flamed grilled, so what you get on your plate is real food done with a good heart for an empty stomach! And make sure your stomach is empty when you get here, because portion sizes are huge. The atmosphere is nice and service is really friendly. It is especially interesting to go to the one at Schumann while serious EU meetings are going on, because you may spot people having a bite while waiting for their cell phones to call them back into the meeting. You are right where things happen! Or at least close...

Grades given by Good Food in Belgium:
Food: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Friendliness of staff: 4
Would I go there again: yes
Would I recommend the place: yes, for going out with friends and colleagues. Maybe not for business dinners, though.
Value for money: yes. It is a bit pricey, but considering that everything is handmade, it is value for money.

For more reviews, check out TripAdvisor

Food Truck: Ty Penty

Ty Penty is a creperie on wheels serving wonderful and authentic crepes at various markets in Brussels. The crepes are as thin as they should be, coming with various fillings. You have both savoury and sweet alternatives. The owners of the food truck are extremely friendly and warm. The atmosphere surrounding the van is comforting, like you would be in a small village market somewhere in France.

Grades given (in the #foodtruck category) by Good Food in Belgium:
Food: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Friendliness of staff: 5
Would I go there again: yes
Would I recommend the place: yes
Value for money: yes

Food Truck: El Taco Mobil

El Taco Mobil is what you already could call a famous food truck in Brussels that serves Mexican street food every Thursday at Parvis de Saint-Gilles (and every second Sunday of the month at Atelier des Tanneurs). In addition to a real fun atmosphere, they serve heavenly tacos with a delicious guacamole, and just perfectly spicy sauces. Both meat and vegetarian versions are available, most made out of organic ingredients. Furthermore, you have an option of beer, Mexican lemonades, and a few other drinks as well. The service attitude is friendly and happy even when the place gets busy. This food truck is really worth a bus/metro ride to even if you don't live in the area. 

If you are a tourist in Brussels and you wish something different than your average restaurant meal, this one is worth a visit. Not only will you have good tacos, you will also be able to explore a part of the town you probably would not otherwise wonder into. There you will discover a multitude of restaurants and bars (for the days the El Taco Mobil is somewhere else). Just take the metro to Hallepoort (Porte de Hal) and walk, or the premetro/tram to Parvis de Saint-Gilles (Sint Gillisvoorplein), and you are there!

Grades given (in the new #foodtruck category) by Good Food in Belgium:

Food: 4+ 

Atmosphere: 4 

Friendliness of staff: 5

Would I go there again: yes

Would I recommend the place: yes.
Value for money: yes

Restaurant: King Hwa

KingHwa is a Chinese-Thai restaurant in the heart of the European Quarter. It is one of those standard Far-East Asian restaurants; not fine dining but not a dump either. In summer, there is a terrace in the backyard. The food is pretty good depending on what you choose. If you choose from the regular menu, you will get a decent portion of food with a fairly good taste. It is not something that you will jump up and down out of joy for, but you will find yourself coming back on a day when you are too lazy to cook and feel like something Thai or Chinese. However, if you choose one of the chef's suggestions, you are in for a better treat! The chef's suggestions really remind you of why there are - well, chef's suggestions! These are delicious. Service is good; friendly, but not over the top.

Grades given by Good Food in Belgium:
Food: 3- regular menu, 3++ chef's suggestions 
Atmosphere: 3-
Friendliness of staff: 3
Would I go there again: yes
Would I recommend the place: I would not specifically mention the place, but in case someone asked about a decent Thai/Chinese in the area, why not. This is where you can go with your significant other, your family, or a friend you just want to grab something to eat with. I would not book for a business meeting. 
Value for money: yes

For more reviews, check out TripAdvisor!

Restaurant: Zio

Zio is an Italian restaurant in Waterloo. It is quite cosy with friendly staff and a good atmosphere. Although quite booked from time to time, they always seem to find a way to squeeze you in, if only possible. In summer, there is a nice terrace in the backyard. The portions are generous, so you will not leave hungry. In the beginning, one may find that the dishes take some liberties with regards to their names, however, the result is nonetheless delicious. This is a warm and comforting place to come to whenever you want to have a nice dinner out.

If this place was to be reviewed only within its own category (cosy, family friendly Italian places), it would score much higher. However, to be fair; Zio is not closing up on Michelin stars in any way, nor should it. But with the given reviewing principles, this has to be taken into consideration when comparing restaurants. After all, everything is subjective. And, by the way, so is taste! This is still a very good place to go should you be in Waterloo!

Grades given by Good Food in Belgium:
Food: 3++ 
Atmosphere: 4
Friendliness of staff: 4
Would I go there again: yes!!
Would I recommend the place: yes, for family and friends. If you are not too formal, you can even take a close business colleague out for dinner. 
Value for money: yes

For more reviews, check out TripAdvisor!