Category: Leuven / Louvain (Page 1 of 2)

If you like authentic Sicilian food, you’ll love Etna Trattoria. The couple who runs this cozy restaurant in the heart of Leuven sure knows what they are doing. The beautifully tiled floors and nice bar with lots of Italian specialties give of a really authentic vibe.

The husband makes sure his clients are served well and is very helpful in explaining the menu. He also knows his wines, so do yourself a favor and enjoy a nice glass of Italian wine with your dish.

The wife is the master of the kitchen and seems to really enjoy her job. When going to the toilet in the cellar, I’ve seen her countless times singing and dancing to the music. It must be this love for the art of cooking that translates onto the plates. The Sicilian food really is a feast for the taste buds. Most of the time I just order the specialty of the day, because I’ve never been disappointed by the food they serve.

A gem of a place.

Information
Sicilian, Italian restaurant Etna Trattoria
Tiensestraat 123
3000 Leuven
Belgium
+32 494 377 344
etna.leuven@gmail.com
http://restaurantetnaleuven.be/

Visited July 2017. You can find my review about Etna Trattoria also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 5/5, service 5/5, food 5/5.

La Cucaracha is one of those restaurants in Leuven that have been around forever. La Cucaracha serves authentic Mexican food in a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant is decorated with very colorful wall paintings, so when eating there you’ll have an instant holiday feeling. Be sure to make reservations though, because certainly in the weekend it can get very busy.

The food at La Cucaracha is very good, I have been there multiple times and never have I been disappointed. The service is also very friendly (although they don’t always speak Dutch). Last time when I ate there we got served by a lovely Spanish lady. So nice to be able to practice my Spanish a bit!

Only complaint: sometimes it takes a bit too long before the food arrives on your table. So make sure, that you have enough time, when you visit La Cucuracha.

La Cucaracha, Tiensestraat 21, Leuven 3000, Belgium
https://facebook.com/La-Cucaracha-121619677914990?__nodl&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLa-Cucaracha-121619677914990&ref=www.facebook.com&_rdr
+32 16 23 44 68

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

The ViaVia in the Parkstraat lays a bit further away from the touristic heart of Leuven in a neighborhood where there aren’t that many restaurants. The concept of this bar and brasserie is the same as the one in Leuven: a relaxed place where you can enjoy drinks or order some daily specials (written on a chalk board).

I have to be honest, it has been a while since I met a waiter that was so rude and unhelpful. When asked if we could have a look at the menu, he at first declined to bring one and just pointed at the chalk board, saying to my friend: “You have been here before, you know we only serve what’s on the chalk board.” But I was the only one who wanted to order food, my friends just wanted some drinks. So then my friend asked: “So can you please tell me what beers you have?” The waiter let out a big sigh, turned around without saying anything and brought back some drink menus. We were quite taken aback by his attitude.

I was contemplating just leaving right there and then, but since it was such a beautiful summer evening and I was very hungry, my friends and I stayed. The first dish I tried to order was sold out (not that the waiter made an effort to erase this dish from the chalkboard), so I went for the chicken tandoori. The chicken tandoori was fine, I guess, nothing special and the meat was a little bit dry. But the dish wasn’t that expensive (15 euro), so no complaints there.

When we wanted to leave the ViaVia, it took us some convincing before the waiter brought us the bill. I guess he must have had a really bad day? O yeah, he also couldn’t be bothered to clean our table. Such a shame, because the patio is a great place to sit outside for drinks in the summer.

ViaVia, Parkstraat 146, Leuven 3000, Belgium
http://viavia.world/nl/content/wiewaar-4
0478-36-24-82

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

My boyfriend and I expected more of this restaurant. We were looking forward to enjoying a nice romantic evening and some good food. Alas, the reservation we made, got booked on the wrong date by the restaurant. I received e-mails from the restaurant confirming the date I had written in my calendar, so it was there mistake. We drove all the way from Leuven to Tienen to learn there wasn’t room for us. We had to return home with empty stomachs and eat take away food instead of the meal we were looking forward to.

We rebooked our dinner (we had to, because we used a gift voucher, otherwise I wouldn’t have returned), expecting some kind of compensation for the trouble we went through. We didn’t even receive a free drink. Very disappointing and not what you would expect from a restaurant with such a reputation.

The food was also disappointing. Not that it was bad, but I found the dishes unimaginitive. The venison wasn’t that great and served with very basic vegetable and potatoes. Was expecting something more out of the norm, to be honest. The skrei with shells was fine, but again, a very basic dish. The desert from cherry and dried apple was a more complicated dish, but I found it to be a bit of a mismatch. All in all the food, of course, was enjoyable, but no dish could really wow me.

Fidalgo, Outgaardenstraat 23 Tienen, Tienen 3300, Belgium
http://www.fidalgo.be/site/
+32 475 61 21 55

Visited February 2015. You can find my review about Fidalgo also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 3/5, atmosphere 3/5, service 4/5, food 3/5.

The university Library looks like an old historical building, but don’t be mistaken, this libary was built after WWI. The construction was funded mostly by American money. A visit to the tower gives you an overview of the tragic history of Leuven during both World Wars. The rather small exhibition shows some historal images of the destruction.

The highlight of your visit is the gorgeous view from the tower balcony. Absolutely stunning. Be mindful though, you are quite close to the tower bells and the sound they produce can be very intense.

University Library & Bell Tower, Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein 21, Leuven 3000, Belgium
http://www.visitflanders.com/en/things-to-do/attractions/top/university-libary-and-bell-tower.jsp
+32 16 32 40 10

Visited March 2014. You can find my review about University Library & Bell Tower also on TripAdvisor.

This museum is rather new (it opened in september 2009). When you are visiting Leuven, M is a must see. The building is a stunning compilation of old and new. Combining old buildings with modern architecture. When it is sunny you can relax in the peaceful garden with the lovely tree.

The exhibitions change frequently, so make sure to return now and then.

M – Museum Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, Leuven 3000, Belgium
http://www.mleuven.be/en
+32 16 27 29 29

Visited February 2015. You can find my review about M – Museum Leuven also on TripAdvisor.

If you like beed, Bistro Tribunal is definitely for you. The meat (delivered by the famous butcher Rondou) served here is really outstanding. You can choose your own piece of meat at the refrigerated counter. The cook will give you lots of information on the meat, so you can choose wisely.

The meat is served with fries and a simple salad. When you order the specialty (the Royal Tribunal) you can choose four different kinds of meat, which are served with four different kinds of sauces.

If meat is not your thing, don’t worry, they also serve lobster and a little bit of fish. The wine selection is nice and you can always ask to try one of the wines if you’re undecided on which one to choose.

Staff is really super friendly. Went here twice and twice I was greated like family.

Atmosphere is relaxed and cosy. A little bit of and old fashioned vibe. Very friendly, indeed.

Highly recommend this restaurant.

Bistro Tribunal, Vaartstraat 9, Leuven 3000, Belgium
http://www.bistrotribunal.be/
+32 16 89 66 55

Visited December 2014. You can find my review about Bistro Tribunal also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 5/5, atmosphere 5/5, service 5/5, food 5/5.

We visited this restaurant because it was close to our friends house. From the outside the building looks like nothing special, but inside, you’ll find a nice, cosy and classical interior. We went there during christmas seasons, so the rooms were nicely decorated with christmas trees.

Our company consisted of six persons and a small child. There is a seperate room for the children to play in, so they won’t get bored. Staff was super friendly and really helpful. One of our friends had some allergies and an other friend was pregnant, so when we opted to go for the menu, we had to make some modifications. This wasn’t any problem whatsoever. Our excellent waiter even offered the allergic friend a totally different menu for the same price. Included with the menu came a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine. Both were of good quality.

The menu consisted of four courses, which were all excellent. The food was very nice and prepared with care. Not fancy, but just nice and honest food. Portions were huge! I especially loved the lobster. One slight remark: my entrecote wasn’t saignant as I ordered, but cooked a point.

The four course meal was just too much, so I couldn’t finish my desert. Really, really impressed by the friendlyness of the staff and the quality of the food.

De Kleine Kauter, Leuvensesteenweg 82, Boutersem 3370, Belgium
http://ww5.dekleinekauter.be/
+32 16 72 09 44

Visited December 2014. You can find my review about De Kleine Kauter also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 5/5, atmosphere 5/5, service 5/5, food 4/5.