La Boussole

Une très belle découverte. Un service très sympathique et de très bons plats. Pour ma part, je me suis laissée tenter par le risotto de la mer et je n’ai pas été déçu! Cela a même été je pense l’un des meilleurs risotto que j’ai pu manger ! Je vous le recommande vivement ! Conclusion: une adresse à tester si vous êtes dans le quartier (quartier très sympathique par ailleurs)

Yes, you come for the moules frites and you walk away with a full happy tummy. La Boussole is a charming little restaurant and located on a neat street away from the huge crowds (at least when I was there). The décor is simple and rustic. The staff are friendly and welcoming. I had the moules frites and my husband had the bouillabaisse (both not on the menu online but is listed on the special menu in the restaurant). We both enjoyed our meals and left nothing on our plates. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Had a great dining experience at La Boussole!

I wanted to have an authentic Belgian meal before I left for Paris and this was highly praised. When I arrived, I was immediately seated neat the window which was great for people watching. Being in Belgium, I had to order Moules Frites. I ordered it Marnieres which I ‘ve had many times elsewhere including Paris. I had high hope but was immediately disappointed. As soon as the lid was lifted off the pot I knew something was wrong. The pungent shallot and garlic smeall was missing. It was not at all aromatic as I’ve come to expect. They cooked the mussels in a broth made entirely of leeks. I was definitely disappointed.

My wife and I arrived in Brussels as a stop on our honeymoon, and we visited La Boussole on our first night in town after reading other Unilocal reviews. I was looking for some good mussels and frittes — which I certainly found — and my wife enjoyed a great tarragon chicken dish. The service was excellent, there were a number of locals having dinner as well, and the atmosphere and food felt very authentic in every regard. Our server was delightful, in particular. She spoke good English, was extremely friendly, and even brought us a complimentary dessert to congratulate us on our recent marriage! I’d highly recommend this restaurant to savvy Belgian diners and curious tourists alike!

In Brussels, I was on the lookout for good moules et frites (like everyone else) and decided to try this place based on the reviews on Unilocal.I was not disappointed. The moules et frites were delicious, with the moules being the standout (frites were about average for Brussels). Also got to taste the linguini con vongele which was quite good. They had a nice selection of beers on their menu and the proprietor was kind enough to recommend a good pairing with the moules. The proprietors are Greek and there were several Greek diners there as well; at one point I had to remind myself we were in Brussels. :) Really nice place with good food on a really cool street. Highly recommend this place for seafood and beer.

Friendly service, great quality food, nice cozy atmosphere.
Myself and another diner were actually in search of moules-​frites when I logged on to ye olde internets and typed in a generally overreaching quiery that read «Best moules-​frites in Brussels.» I was rather disappointed to find that most of the answers I got back wanted me to either visit overpriced tourist traps or one of those moules-​frites establishments that offer over 50+ varieties of «broth» in which the moules-​frites are cooked, which seemed like a hassle to hack through unless we were on some god-​forsaken quest to try all fifty.
I then stumbled upon one of those «top ten dinner spots in Brussels» articles and stumbled upon this La Boussole, which was listed as a sensible choice for moules-​frites, served other food, and best of all, was not in the overly crowded part of town.
We got to La Boussole at around 6.30pm expecting having to wait, but to our surprise we were immediately seated by the window. We ordered the moules-​frites as advertised, and also ordered the Filet américain as we were both very curious about how the preparation of this dish differed from the way we’ve had it before (both of us had tried the Russian and Korean counterparts of this dish.)
Both dishes were very well-​prepared, and as expected, without any bells and whistles; there was absolutely negative about our dining experience here – quite possibly the most straight-​forward meal we’d had in Brussels – but nothing quite stood out for me to merit this as a five-​star experience. Maybe I should try the lobster next time.

We wanted moules et frites so we decided to come here. Rather traditional atmosphere and seemed to us like an old neighborhood favorite with a very welcoming staff. Got beer recommendations which we enjoyed with our meal. The food was good, but I’d definitely check out other seafood joints next time we’re in Brussels.

Looking for Mussels and Fries around Sainte-​Catherine? You’re spoilt for choice really. So among the many, which rises above and beyond average when it comes to the national dish?
La Boussole would be a strong contender.
At first glance you’ll be forgiven for thinking you were not at the right address. A bit off from the main restaurants on Sainte-​Catherine, it does not look like much from the outside. Inside is not that much different, it is a rather simple setting with nothing fancy about it. You’ll find a few locals and some casually dressed waiters, including the owners.
Looks aside, what makes this place tick are its reputation for a good portion of ‘moules frites’ (mussels and fries) and a generally good selection of dishes executed in a simple family cooking way.
I appreciate the very relaxed atmosphere. I know I’ll come out having spent around 25 euros tops, completely full and very satisfied. This is good value no nonsense food.
Fish is the main ingredient here beside mussels and fries. The seabass, sole and other fishes are all very good. Sometimes you feel it is a little lost in its simplicity. I won’t complain about it, but if it weren’t for the mussels and fries then I’m not sure I’d go four star for this establishment.
So, the real reason for coming here: mussels and fries. These are excellent! Standard moules marinieres, nothing unordinarily fancy. The broth is delicious, the mussels carefully sourced and the portions are good (though a tad under compared to what you’d get at some other places).
Accompanying mussels are the fries. They equally important to get right. As in any symbiotic relationship, if one fails then the other does too. Fortunately for them, they get it right. The fries are just right, sufficiently crispy they can get a dunk in the broth without losing too much integrity.
Sure you’ll find better fries elsewhere in Brussels, but probably at a ‘fritekot’. But this place does a very good combo! One that I always feel requires a slightly crispier fries (but that’s just me)
Service can be a bit slow. They throw in bread and a small nibble to entertain you but what I appreciate is the good nature of the place. The waiters and owners are a talkative and friendly bunch and the relaxed atmosphere is just what I like when sitting down to a moules frites with a pint of beer.
For any newcomer to Brussels, or simple tourist, I’d recommend you try ‘Moules Frites’ here.
PS: Good for groups

This place was fantastic. It’s a small family restaurant with a wonderfully courteous and respectful staff. Our mussels were delicious and flavorful and the atmosphere was charming.
Would go again.

Service was good and attentive. We were starving and looked for a place since Nordzee was sadly closing. We ordered so much food eager to eat. When we got it the sea food was fresh but the dishes lacked depth in flavor. It was good for being good. Mediocre. I would not come back here. Between 6 people we each paid 20.30 € since we all shared.

Our group of four arrived at 7:30 or so on a Wednesday evening and the place was basically empty. No reservation, but no problem and they sat us right away (about 45 min later, the place was full, so we were clearly rather on the early side for a July evening). The place looks like an old man bar, but in the best way. Servers were very friendly, spoke English, and were probably not at all surprised that all four of us ordered moules frites, though it isn’t on the normal menu, but the specials board. No garlic options that the others on Unilocal spoke of, but no matter. The frites were nothing special, but the moules were very plump and sweet. My glass of house white was only 2.50, so that’s a steal. Overall, decent value and nicely prepared, very simply seafood.

EDIT: I got food poisoning after eating the moules frites at this place. Food was good and of good value but after becoming quite sick after eating here I would not come back and cannot give the place more than one star. Original review in Swedish below.
Åt moules frites (19 €) och avslutade med crème brûlée (7 €). Bland de bättre moules som jag någonsin ätit, inte för vältillagade så de blev sega utan de smälte bra i munnen med en fin smak av vin och vitlök. Musslorna kom med väldigt bra pommes tillsammans med en hemmagjord majonnäs. Till efterrätt åt jag en crème brûlée som i sig var en av de bättre jag ätit men som tyvärr var alldeles för bränd ovanpå vilket var tråkigt när själva cremen var väldigt bra. Servicen var helt ok men lite oengagerad. Genomgående var upplevelsen bra men saknar det lilla extra vad gäller mat och service för att förtjäna en femma.

Stopped in on a Monday for lunch looking for mussels. We got the mussels in garlic cream sauce which was really good. The mussels themselves seemed to be of good quality and were quite large. The waitress spoke minimal English but enough to get by. The mussels and fries meal was slightly more expensive than other places but well worth it. This place is slightly away from the main tourist area if you want to get more of a «local» experience.

La Boussole! God how I miss you!
Oh the garlic cream mussels, lobster bisque, cold orval beer, and seabass. This was a meal from the heavens.
The staff was phenomenal. They believe in their food quality and taste, and were so helpful! Gave beer selections, food pairings, and were so very generous.
Nothing disappointed. Nothing at all. I wish we went back, but were on a mussels mission allover Belgium lol.

Great dining experience. I had grilled pass which was done perfectly. The mineral water was also excellent.

Really wonderful, family business. Huge portions of superb food. Our sea bass and steak tartar were perfect, as were the fries! Great friendly service. Romantic atmosphere. Recommended.

Amazing Mussels and Fries. The servers are terrific. I highly recommend. I wanted M & F as my last meal in Brussels and this place did not disappoint. Just off St. Catherine’s Square. You’ll love it

I have been to La Boussole twice now and love it! This is an amazing place for seafood but their duck is fantastic as well. On our most recent trip, my husband and I took his parents here for seafood. Between the four of us we ordered the grilled squid, duck a l’orange, mussels and fries, and the fish soup. The wine is also good and the service is friendly. Everything was delicious and we plan to visit La Boussole again when we are next in Brussels.

Great restaurant all around
The interior here is very welcoming and homey.
The staff here is very nice and helpful and really try to make your experience enjoyable.
The food here is very fresh and delicious, and they have a good variety of seafood on the menu.
The Mussels were delcious, fresh and flavorful.
The bass was delicious, filet was fall off the bone, good seasoning.
The lobster bisque was amazing, true lobster taste, good consistency.
Overall this restaurant is a great place to stop in for delicious food and great service

Si vous êtes à la recherché d’un resto de fruits de mer sympa et sans vous ruiner! Je vous dirais: LA BOUSSOLE (Place Sainte-​Catherine), de la qualité, de la fraicheur, des prix raisonnables et le tout avec un patron sympathique et comique! Un resto qui connaît un succès auprès des Bruxellois. Mon coup de cœur, la sole meunière! A tester !!!

Next to St. Catherine cathedral is a row of restaurants. We walked by each one and choose this one because of a trip adviser sticker.
The service was excellent, menu in French and English. I recommend the grilled octopus that is sprinkled in olive oil and comes with a filling salad.
There are about 12 great beer selections and several ½ liter bottles of wine to select. Be sure to try the nettle soup appetizer.

I love seafood and this restaurant was recommended for it’s seafood and entrecôte. It’s a family owned business, the daughter and father were serving the tables. The father is Greek, and the mom Belgium. The restaurant is cosy, and filled up fast on a Friday night by 9:00pm. While definitely not a Greek restaurant per say, there was soft Greek music playing in the background.
We reserved in advance and had a table in the main area near the kitchen. We only noticed one other table that was «obviously» from out of town like us, otherwise it seemed to be a local affair. You could hear a mixture of French and Greek being spoken. I felt right at home as those are my two languages besides English.
The service was incredibly friendly, one table was curious about the entrecôte, and the owner came out with the large slab of meat they were slicing from to show them! The top items being ordered from the menu by others were indeed the entrecôte and mules + frites. The entrecôte looked fantastic. But, we opted for the seafood. My husband took the fresh fish, and I the moules + frites. We ordered a starter of lobster bisque soup, and a bottle of white wine that the owner recommended to go with it all. I would definitely not order the soup again, it wasn’t great. But everything else was a clear four star winner. We ended by sharing a house chocolate mouse dessert, which was OK. Overall, a very lovely meal.

Je vous dirais bien d’y aller juste pour le charisme haut en couleur du patron mais cela serait omettre la cuisine de La Boussole car on y mange bien, même très bien !
Les produits sont frais, en même temps il vaut mieux quand il s’agit de moules, poissons et autres palourdes !
Aux beaux jours, inutile de vous dire que la terrasse a autant de succès que le patron et ses petits plats ! Un petit verre de blanc, quelques fruits de mer et vogue la galère !