Restaurant suggestions in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium
Feb 4th, 2008, 10:39 AM
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Restaurant suggestions in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium
Hi; my sister (29) and I (38) are hoping to get suggestions for dinner for the following cities. They don't necessarily have to be in the specific town we are staying in if there is somewhere close that is really nice. We will eat light for lunch, but take a late dinner somewhere with great food, great service and plan to spend 2-3 hrs there just enjoying it. Cost not a huge factor; and we aren't drinkers; so wine list not important! 
Food type not necessarily an issue; just nothing too spicy. I have listed the hotels we are staying at in case that helps so far as location. We will have a car though; so getting around not a problem. Thanks for any and all suggestions!
Feb 23: St. Goar - Hotel Hauser
Feb 24: Bochum - Renaissance
Feb 25: Koln - undecided
Feb 26/27: Vaalsbroek (Near Aachen) - Bilderberg Kasteel Vaalsbroek
Feb 28: Liege - Bedford Hotel
Feb 29/30: Brussels - Stephanie
Food type not necessarily an issue; just nothing too spicy. I have listed the hotels we are staying at in case that helps so far as location. We will have a car though; so getting around not a problem. Thanks for any and all suggestions!Feb 23: St. Goar - Hotel Hauser
Feb 24: Bochum - Renaissance
Feb 25: Koln - undecided
Feb 26/27: Vaalsbroek (Near Aachen) - Bilderberg Kasteel Vaalsbroek
Feb 28: Liege - Bedford Hotel
Feb 29/30: Brussels - Stephanie
Feb 4th, 2008, 11:30 AM
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Some starter suggestions for Brussels:
Chalet de la Foret instead.
http://www.lechaletdelaforet.be/
A favorite with a Parisian bistro atmosphere serving a variety of seafood (although they do more than seafood): Les Brasseries Georges
http://www.brasseriesgeorges.be/
Note: they offer you a choice of frites cooking methods: in beef fat, goose fat, or olive oil!
Le Vignoble de Margo is another high end, non touristy seafood restaurant out in the Woluwes along the Ave. de Tervuren. Expensive.
http://www.levignobledemargot.be/
My all-time favorite place for mussels is VriendSchaap in Middelburg, but in Brussels, we like Shake Hands. A popular neighborhood restaurant in a residential area. Near the Stockel metro stop.
http://www3.resto.be/ware/details.js...sid=2452&lg=EN
For vegetarians, Element Terre is very well regarded and in a pleasant part of Ixelles.
http://www.resto.com/lelementterre/
http://www3.resto.be/ware/details.jsp?businessid=733
And finally, I highly recommend En Face de Parachute. However, their menu changes frequently to match with what's fresh. One of the best moderately priced, nontouristy restaurants in Brussels.
http://www3.resto.be/ware/details.jsp?businessid=412
If you are staying near the Place Stephanie, one of the easiest things to do is catch the 91 or 92 tram up Chaussee de Charleroi, get off at the Ma Campagne stop and start heading up the Chaussee de Waterloo and pop into the first restaurant that catches your fancy. There's one good, nontouristy restaurant after another starting around the 300-400 block and up...some already mentioned above, plus other neighborhood haunts like Toucan's, Lettre a Elise, etc.
Chalet de la Foret instead.
http://www.lechaletdelaforet.be/
A favorite with a Parisian bistro atmosphere serving a variety of seafood (although they do more than seafood): Les Brasseries Georges
http://www.brasseriesgeorges.be/
Note: they offer you a choice of frites cooking methods: in beef fat, goose fat, or olive oil!
Le Vignoble de Margo is another high end, non touristy seafood restaurant out in the Woluwes along the Ave. de Tervuren. Expensive.
http://www.levignobledemargot.be/
My all-time favorite place for mussels is VriendSchaap in Middelburg, but in Brussels, we like Shake Hands. A popular neighborhood restaurant in a residential area. Near the Stockel metro stop.
http://www3.resto.be/ware/details.js...sid=2452&lg=EN
For vegetarians, Element Terre is very well regarded and in a pleasant part of Ixelles.
http://www.resto.com/lelementterre/
http://www3.resto.be/ware/details.jsp?businessid=733
And finally, I highly recommend En Face de Parachute. However, their menu changes frequently to match with what's fresh. One of the best moderately priced, nontouristy restaurants in Brussels.
http://www3.resto.be/ware/details.jsp?businessid=412
If you are staying near the Place Stephanie, one of the easiest things to do is catch the 91 or 92 tram up Chaussee de Charleroi, get off at the Ma Campagne stop and start heading up the Chaussee de Waterloo and pop into the first restaurant that catches your fancy. There's one good, nontouristy restaurant after another starting around the 300-400 block and up...some already mentioned above, plus other neighborhood haunts like Toucan's, Lettre a Elise, etc.
Feb 4th, 2008, 01:07 PM
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Wow, you are going to Bochum! This is the city where my children go to school.
Why do you go to Bochum? Can I help you with more tips?
Restaurants in Bochum:
- Our personal favorite is the "Living Room", right in the city, with modern, innovative, and affordable cuisine.
- "Sticks" served good Japanese food, in refined atmosphere.
- "Tauffenbach" is the classical Brauhaus with down-to-earth cuisine.
- "Stadtpark Gastronomie", in walking distance from the Renaissance, serves gourmet cuisine (somewhat posh).
- If you are willing to take a taxi, "Suntums Hof" is a piece of garden Eden, with nice surroundings, and decent food. Very good for Sunday morning brunch.
- Another tip for Gourmet cuisine: "Brinkhoffs Stammhaus". Need a taxi.
- Historical atmosphere: "Brauhaus Rietkötter".
Anyway: You have to spend an evening in the "Bermude-triangle" - dozens of bars and restaurants, a good area for bar-hopping (and eventually getting lost...).
Why do you go to Bochum? Can I help you with more tips?
Restaurants in Bochum:
- Our personal favorite is the "Living Room", right in the city, with modern, innovative, and affordable cuisine.
- "Sticks" served good Japanese food, in refined atmosphere.
- "Tauffenbach" is the classical Brauhaus with down-to-earth cuisine.
- "Stadtpark Gastronomie", in walking distance from the Renaissance, serves gourmet cuisine (somewhat posh).
- If you are willing to take a taxi, "Suntums Hof" is a piece of garden Eden, with nice surroundings, and decent food. Very good for Sunday morning brunch.
- Another tip for Gourmet cuisine: "Brinkhoffs Stammhaus". Need a taxi.
- Historical atmosphere: "Brauhaus Rietkötter".
Anyway: You have to spend an evening in the "Bermude-triangle" - dozens of bars and restaurants, a good area for bar-hopping (and eventually getting lost...).
Feb 5th, 2008, 03:15 AM
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Hello sjbisanz1,
my last post was a little brief because it was already late at night here.
I have seen, you will be in Bochum on a Sunday. If you like, my wife and me would be happy to show you around in the area. We have quite often guests from USA as well as other countries, and they usually enjoy the area which is hardly known overseas but has quite a few attractions.
Bochum and the Ruhr Valley have anything: Industrial history (former mines now turned into museums or cultural centers), splendid castles from all historical periods, modern art museums, gorgeous historical mansions of tycoon families, landscape, nightlife etc.
Here some restaurant websites:
www.livingroom-bochum.de
http://www.stadtpark-gastronomie.de/orangerie.htm
A very trendy place in Essen, 12min driving time from the Renaissance in Bochum, would be:
http://www.casino-zollverein.de/uk/home/index.php
If you want to go top-notch, this is the place (2 Michelin stars) (25min driving time):
http://www.hotel-residence.de/en/restaurantresidence/
my last post was a little brief because it was already late at night here.
I have seen, you will be in Bochum on a Sunday. If you like, my wife and me would be happy to show you around in the area. We have quite often guests from USA as well as other countries, and they usually enjoy the area which is hardly known overseas but has quite a few attractions.
Bochum and the Ruhr Valley have anything: Industrial history (former mines now turned into museums or cultural centers), splendid castles from all historical periods, modern art museums, gorgeous historical mansions of tycoon families, landscape, nightlife etc.
Here some restaurant websites:
www.livingroom-bochum.de
http://www.stadtpark-gastronomie.de/orangerie.htm
A very trendy place in Essen, 12min driving time from the Renaissance in Bochum, would be:
http://www.casino-zollverein.de/uk/home/index.php
If you want to go top-notch, this is the place (2 Michelin stars) (25min driving time):
http://www.hotel-residence.de/en/restaurantresidence/
Feb 5th, 2008, 05:49 AM
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When we lived in Langendreer (a Bochum suburb), our favorite place to visit in the region was Hattingen and our favorite restaurant there was Diergardt's. Although we also had a nice time at Basilea, an Italian restaurant in Hattingen's old town.
http://diergardt.com/dkg/
http://www.hattingen-pur.de/basilea/
http://www.international.hattingen.de/uk/poi1.htm
http://diergardt.com/dkg/
http://www.hattingen-pur.de/basilea/
http://www.international.hattingen.de/uk/poi1.htm
Feb 5th, 2008, 12:26 PM
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Thanks so much for the suggestions!
traveller1959 - Actually; we are going to Bochum because I have a friend who lives there and as we are so close while visiting Koln, it made no sense not to stop for a day. He has graciously offered to act as our tour guide (Thank you so much for the offer though! How kind! If you ever visit Atlanta, let me know; would be happy to reciprocate!) and has given me a short list of places we will see (the mines are definitely on there). He knows I am open for restaurants; so he was actually curious what others thought as well; doesn't eat out a great deal himself. But a free tour guide; who can beat that! No complaints here!!
BTilke - thank you again for the suggestions; I think I'm going to pack you up and take you with us!
traveller1959 - Actually; we are going to Bochum because I have a friend who lives there and as we are so close while visiting Koln, it made no sense not to stop for a day. He has graciously offered to act as our tour guide (Thank you so much for the offer though! How kind! If you ever visit Atlanta, let me know; would be happy to reciprocate!) and has given me a short list of places we will see (the mines are definitely on there). He knows I am open for restaurants; so he was actually curious what others thought as well; doesn't eat out a great deal himself. But a free tour guide; who can beat that!
No complaints here!!BTilke - thank you again for the suggestions; I think I'm going to pack you up and take you with us!
Feb 5th, 2008, 12:48 PM
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sjbisanz1,
what a pity!
We have been several times to Atlanta, the first time in 1987 (actually we had been to a party given by Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter). Last year, we traveled to Atlanta again and had a most memorable 11-course-dinner at Quinones (Bacchanalia). The Water Grill wasn't bad either.
We do not want to interfere with your friend in Bochum, but if you have a fraction of an hour, we would be happy to meet you. We live 10 minutes away from Bochum (in Herne), and I am working at Bochum University.
Just send me an email:
Volker (dot) Eichener (at) t-online (dot) de
Tel. 02325-466060 Fax 02325-466061
P.S. Diergardt in Hattingen is okay, it is somewhat "bourgeois".
what a pity!
We have been several times to Atlanta, the first time in 1987 (actually we had been to a party given by Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter). Last year, we traveled to Atlanta again and had a most memorable 11-course-dinner at Quinones (Bacchanalia). The Water Grill wasn't bad either.
We do not want to interfere with your friend in Bochum, but if you have a fraction of an hour, we would be happy to meet you. We live 10 minutes away from Bochum (in Herne), and I am working at Bochum University.
Just send me an email:
Volker (dot) Eichener (at) t-online (dot) de
Tel. 02325-466060 Fax 02325-466061
P.S. Diergardt in Hattingen is okay, it is somewhat "bourgeois".
Feb 7th, 2008, 10:01 AM
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traveler 1959,
Thank you again for your kind offer; I will send you an email. You have certainly had some fun experiences over here! I'm not familiar with the restaurants you were at; but there are so many here! Which is the great thing about a large city. But small is nice too; cozy and warm like a favorite blanket! Thank you for all the help!
Shelly
Thank you again for your kind offer; I will send you an email. You have certainly had some fun experiences over here! I'm not familiar with the restaurants you were at; but there are so many here! Which is the great thing about a large city. But small is nice too; cozy and warm like a favorite blanket! Thank you for all the help!
Shelly
