Restaurant review: Bar Recyclart
Go vegan or halal in this hearty Molenbeek eatery.
Manchesterstraat 13
What’s good? The no-frills fare and bountiful portions. From the chickpea curry and Turkish tabouleh to the Indonesian loempia and stewed veggies, every dish packed a solid culinary punch.
You can get an “assiette” Recyclart in vegan, veggie or halal, stacked with a series of micro-helpings. For carnivores there’s also a thick beef carbonnade in apple compote and delectable chicken wings in house sauce. The homemade hummus is like velvet and there’s a heart-stopper baklava cheesecake.
What’s not? It’s a simple menu, so don’t go expecting haute cuisine. There are only nine food items on the list (compared with nearly 40 alcoholic drinks), which limits experimentation and means you’re strapped for starters and desserts.
My Recyclart cocktail was heavy on the rum and light on the bissap (not the worst problem, I know). The restaurant’s also only open three days a week — Wednesday to Friday.
Vibe: A charmingly eclectic place tucked between the post-industrial Brussels canal and the edgy hubbub of nighttime Molenbeek. Think Berlin’s Kreuzberg before it was hip. There’s a big terrace for lunch goers and the bartender — for better or worse — played soulful Romanian pop on loop.
Who’s picking up the check? Pleasingly affordable prices here. The largest main course is €15, while most plates are €12 or €13. The cocktails are €9 and the beers €5. It’s a good place for a big group to feast and make merry.
Spotted: No one you know — which might be a good thing, of course. Locals unwinding midweek and one very happy Polish babushka.
Insider tip: Get the hummus with crunchy bread and prepare to loosen your belt.
Fun fact: The restaurant is part of a social project, offering long-term jobseekers stable positions as servers and kitchen staff for two years.
How to get there: It’s a 10-minute metro ride from the European Quarter to Delacroix or a leisurely half-hour stroll from Sainte-Catherine or De Brouckere.
Review published on November 8, 2024. Illustration by Natália Delgado/POLITICO.
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