Exploring the world one bite at a time

Category: Province of Antwerp / Antwerpen

ko’uzi: “Sushi magic!”

Ko’uzi is a superb sushi restaurant with a real Japanese sushi chef, that no sushi lover should miss. Of course you can go for the classic sushi here, but why not try some of the creative sushi’s on the menu? What about sushi with scallop, mushroom and walnuts? Of how about tartar tuna with basil oil and crispy quinoa? Or smoked eel and beetroot? Every sushi is a work of art in itself and a feast for the senses. I enjoyed every bite of it!

The restaurant itself lies next to the shop and is lovely and light, but not very big. So make sure to have a reservation, if you want to visit. Ko’uzi works in two shifts, so if you come early you’ll have to leave at eight o’ clock in the evening.

Highly recommended!

ko’uzi, Leopoldplaats 12, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
http://www.kouzi.be/
322322488

Visited May 2017. You can find my review about ko’uzi also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 4/5, service 4/5, food 5/5.

Wagamama: “Asian fast food”

Of course Wagamama is a fast food chain, so you get what you pay for. The restaurant in Antwerpen is conveniently situated on the Meir, the big shopping street, nearby the Central Station. The interior is nice and modern, with big wooden tables. The staff could be better trained though. You would suspect that a fast food chain would have efficient and friendly staff, but the waiters who served us lacked on both fronts.

I ordered the wagamama ramen, the portion was very big, so no complaints there. Sadly I found the broth rather tasteless and as the broth is the ingredient which gives the ramen its flavor, I was kind of disappointed. Perhaps this was due to the fact, that the broth was made of vegetables.

Good for a quick meal, nothing more.

Wagamama, Keyserlei, Antwerp, Belgium
https://www.wagamama.be/
+32 3 234 99 80

Visited May 2017. You can find my review about Wagamama also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 4/5, service 1/5, food 3/5.

Dogma Cocktails: “Superb cocktails, great atmosphere”

Great place in the heart of Antwerp to enjoy outstanding cocktails. Since our dinner ended early, we were lucky enough to be able to enjoy the cosy sofa’s in the cellar. A great place, only lit by candles. Between the four of us we tried seven different cocktails and I have to say: all of those were really excellent. Staff was very friendly, but somehow our orders weren’t put into the system, so when we asked for the bill, another waitress came to ask us what we had drank so she could make the bill.

Mind you, a Dogma cocktail is not cheap. We paid between 13 and 17 euro per cocktail. The mocktail costed 9,50 euro. Since the place is very nice and we stayed there talking for about two hours, we didn’t mind the price ticket.

Dogma Cocktails, Wijngaardstraat 5, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
http://www.dogmacocktails.be/home.html
Wijngaardstraat 5

Visited November 2016. You can find my review about Dogma Cocktails also on TripAdvisor.

Central Station: “One of the most beautiful train stations in the world”

When you’re visiting Antwerp I highly recommend spending some time in this wonderful building. The architectural combination of new and old will blow you away. It is definitely one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, so don’t forget to take your camera!

Central Station, Koningin Astridplein 27, Antwerp 2018, Belgium
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/stations-and-train/search-a-station/6/antwerpen-centraal.aspx
+32 2 528 28 28

Visited December 2014. You can find my review about Central Station also on TripAdvisor.

Hoffy’s Restaurant and Catering: “First time trying kosher food”

Hoffy’s is located walking distance from Central Station in Antwerp right in the middle of the Jewish neighbourhood. First thing you see when you enter this dated looking restaurant is the huge counter with lots of different precooked dishes. If you’re looking for a quick take away place, Hoffy’s will offer you a broad variety of choices.

We visited the restaurant with friends. For me it was my first time eating kosher. We decided to have the discovery menu. We started with a variety of four different entrees which were all very nice. My personal favorite was the “stuffed fish” (not quite sure if I understand this correctly). The patron explained us the meaning of kosher food and also some typical customs from orthodox judaism. Lots of rules to follow!

Main course was really nice, even though the food was precooked and heated in an oven. Especially loved the more sweet taste of the dishes (the chicken with prunes and raisins was lovely). The stuffed eggplant was also very nice. Food looked delicious and tasted great.

We drank some Israelian red wine with our meal, which was just ok, nothing special.

The interior of the restaurant felt very dated and not that cosy. But if you want to try a different kind of food, this is your place to be. If I lived in this neighbourhood, I would definitely stop by to buy some precooked dishes.

Hoffy’s Restaurant and Catering, Lange Kievitstraat 52, Antwerp 2018, Belgium
http://hoffys.be/
+32 3 234 35 35

Visited December 2014. You can find my review about Hoffy’s Restaurant and Catering also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 4/5, atmosphere 3/5, service 4/5, food 4/5.

Zuki Sushi: “Horrible sushi restaurant”

We ended up in this restaurant because of a Groupon deal. The Groupon deal claimed that for only 30 euro you would get a Japanese meal for two persons worth 73 euro. That’s one hell of a deal. To good to be true? Of course it was!

The interior of the restaurant isn’t much to speak of. They try to create an oriental feeling in which they more of less succeed, but the room is very dark.

We started of well enough with basic miso soup which was fine. The sushi boat, supposedly worth 73 euro, looked ok, but the sushi was really terrible. The rice was super dry and the little fish served, chewy and not that fresh. There were only four pieces of nigiri sushi on the boat and the sashimi was nowhere to be found. This boat was at best worth 30 euro. Nowhere near the 73 euro we were promised (which I didn’t expected, it’s Groupon afterall). The sushi rolls were very clumsy made and not at all refined. I had to drink lots of water to swallow the sushi, because it was so dry.

As an avid sushi lover, I was appalled. Possibly people using the groupon deal will have their first sushi experience in this restaurant and will think this is the real deal. One advice: skip this restaurant all together.

A plus: the girl who served us was very friendly.

Zuki Sushi, Sint-Paulusplaats 21, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zuki-Sushi/342865172480183?rf=529483663757531
+32 489 33 43 55

Visited September 2013. You can find my review about Zuki Sushi also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 2/5, atmosphere 3/5, service 4/5, food 1/5.