Nénu
Nénu is by far one of my top places to eat. A mecca for food sharing on a spectacular level. Situated on a pedestrian parallel street from Avenue Louise in Saint-Gilles, it’s a nice contrast from the high fashion shopping area. On my last visit, my daughter and I had a memorable lunch, sipping cocktails and watching the chef and his team do their thing in the open kitchen.
The story behind Nénu comes with high accolades. This Saigonese Eatery is the little brother of Nénuphar. A reputated Vietnamese restaurant in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, which opened in 1982. It also falls into my soft spot for family businesses. Tutu Pham, owner and executive chef at Nénu, is the son of Nénuphar’s founder. The quality of the products and the execution of their dishes maintains all high expectations.
The interior is in calming mossy greens, brick walls, velvet seating and soft light. Everything about it invites you to relax and enjoy the surroundings. I always like to sit in the back of the restaurant. There you have a view on the open kitchen and if you go in the day time, the whole ceiling is a skylight, and the added sunshine (or sound of rain drops) is very pleasing. The terrace is placed in front of the restaurant. No cars to bother you, just some people watching and nice vibes from this lively little street.
My daughter and I shared some incredible food. Head chef Robin has talent and is not afraid to put it out there. The Nems “Nénuphar” are a must, a satisfying crunch and filing with these homemade delights. The clams in coconut milk were delicious and I couldn’t help spooning the last of the spicy sauce. And their meats are mouth watering. We had the Iberico pluma pork with cockles and the aged beef rib eye with carrots and tapioca. A large choice of vegetarian dishes are offered and look just as good! Don’t hesitate to have a cocktail here. Their inventive style of mixing and shaking is a great compliment to the food and they have a very nice natural wine selection. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly, always ready to help and assists you in having a perfect moment.
The evening services tend to be busy, so I recommend reserving or calling before heading over. But lunches are a little more quiet and tempting a pop in is a possibility.
Open for lunch from Wednesday to Saturday, 12h00 to 14h00
Open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, 19h00 to 22h00
Nénu
21 rue Dejoncker
1060 Saint-Gilles
Call 02 850 31 35
Photography by Shamless_days. My favorite gastronomical partner, an incredibly talented food photographer and my daughter.
