Beer enthusiasts can now dine in al fresco style along the scenic Singapore River whilst indulging in Belgian cuisine. Showcasing a selection of up to 55 different kinds of Belgian beers, mussels served in 14 home-cooked styles and unlimited French Fries, Belgian chef Emmanuel Stroobant, who also helms Saint Pierre Restaurant, brings to gourmet lovers a taste of Brussels here in the heart of the Lion City.

• The Vibe
  The use of glass panels lining the 2 corners of the restaurant allow sunlight to illuminate the interior during the day, giving it a vibrant heartbeat. In the evening, the panels double up as a partition from the buzzing crowd. The absence of false ceilings with minimal furnishings employed, contribute to the spacious and casual feel of the restaurant. High ceiling fans are utilized to keep the cool of its patrons throughout the day. In its bid to highlight the signature drinks, which are inherently imported Belgian beers, an open bar has been created and positioned as the centre piece to greet walk-in diners.
• The Food
  The extensive menu is testimony to an anticipated crowd of diners with varying preferences. Whether you are a carnivore of a vegetarian, you can be assured of a suitable dish here. An ideal appetizer to tease your palates for more to come will be the crepe stuffed with wild mushrooms, ham and cheese ($9). Served with its fragrant aroma still lingering, it would be a head-turner for diners seated at the neighboring table. It goes well with a sip of the Pauwel Kwak ($12) which has a sweet and heavier texture of wine blending well with the slightly salty flavour from the ham. Diet-conscious diners fret not for there is the king crab salad on toast ($9) which has large chunks of crab meal freshly scrapped, lightly seasoned, finishing off delectably. The Brussels Sprouts Platter ($25) consisting of grey shrimp croquettes, parmesan cheese croquette, meat loaf with gerkin dressing, mussels fritters and hard-boiled eggs amounts to a substantial portion to be shared among a 3 or more friends. It allows everyone a satisfactory tasting portion of the seafood delights.

  Mussels-lovers will be spoilt for choice with options of mussels cooked in 14 different styles. A typical Belgian dish will be the Vin Blanc ($18 for starter size) which is essentially mussels cooked in onion, parsley, celery, butter and white wine. Taken individually, it is succulent and juicy. Otherwise, go with the Pauwel Kwak, which makes for an interesting array of tastes, a little light on the palate to sweet-tasting. The Provencale mussels ($18 for starter size), gratinated with tomato and herbs was evident upon its arrival, as one can gather from the sea salt smell. However once it has cooled down, one could tuck in with its flavourful sauce accompanied by the Tripel Karmeliet ($14) which had a bitter after taste but overall, an easy drink. Meat-eaters can opt for the Home-made sausages ($20) which proves to be a big and chunky portion with crunchy bites, suitable for diners with a hearty appetite.

  Dessert lovers are in for a surprise treat with the home-made Belgian chocolate mousse ($8) which is thick, rich and smooth. Similarly, the Belgian bread pudding accompanied with a scope of Speculoos ice-cream which is vanilla ice-cream crushed with Belgian cookies ($10) does not disappoint either. Its bread pudding served warm with smooth vanilla ice-cream makes for a wholesome dessert yet a considerably memorable one.

  Beer-lovers may be interested to note that all the beers are served in their respective glasses of different shapes and sizes, reason being each glass is customized to bring forth the best in its flavour.

• The Service
  The staffs were dressed in neat white tops and somewhat funky yet alert. Given its sparse seating arrangements, it is not surprising to see quite a large team of service crew employed to cater to the diners' needs.

SD Food Advisor's Take on Brussels Sprouts
If you are a mussel lover and is game to try a varied selection of Belgian beers, this will be an interesting place to dine in. Otherwise, this eatery serves as a nice hang-out with friends or colleagues after a hard day's work. The tranquil water of the Singapore River proves to be therapeutic to some. An alternative for diners who are looking for a quaint spot and yet, a vivacious crowd to make-believe a little Venice in the heart of Robertson Walk.