Al Piccolo Mondo
Our dinner at Al Piccolo Mondo was like coming home to a warm hug. The smiles and greetings at the door were enough to make us feel like we were long lost friends, finally seeing each other again. Even though it was our very first visit.
I’d had Al Piccolo Mondo on my list for months now. A need for a comforting and yet romantic dinner came over me and then I remembered it: Al Piccolo Mondo! A Friday night, without reservations can be tricky, it was 20:30 and I didn’t have a plan yet! But this place is quite large and open until midnight every day of the week. So chances are, you can still find a last minute spot!
A family owned business since 1979, created by Leo Spagnuolo. His sons, Valerio and Olivier, now proudly run the day to day show and Mom and dad are still very hands on.
The cuisine is very classic Italian. We started with eggs florentine (I was instantly in love with the perfectly poached eggs) and the Assiette Al Piccolo Mondo, a selection of cured meats, lovely mozzarella and fresh tomatoes.
Then came the spaghetti with lobster in papillote and the Gratin of lobster and scampis with rice. Both delicious dishes, and perfectly cooked seafood.
We couldn’t resist desserts. We could hear the waiters working on a Zabaione in the room next to us and had to have one. A refreshing lemon and meringue tart accompanied it.
I can’t say enough positive things about this place. This Brussels institution has kept it’s classic charm with their perfect service, beautiful decor and incredible food. It’s a meal I won’t soon forget and will be back very soon for more.
A very big thank you to Valerio Spagnuolo for his warm welcome and to Eric Boschman for writing about it and allowing me to discover this wonderful restaurant. It’s classic restaurants like these that make Brussels such a rich culinary experience.
Al Piccolo Mondo
Rue Jourdan 19
1060 Saint-Gilles
CALL 02 538 87 94
