Restaurant review: Brussels lake setting offers surprise Bohemian rhapsody

Dining out is more than just food on a plate, ambience is key. And this is where The Bohemian in Anderlecht excels. Its stunning setting overlooking Parc Astrid lake is perfect for a special occasion, whatever the season of the year.

What could be more romantic than a dinner or cocktail à deux on the fairy light-lit wooden terrace with its overhanging plants? Granted, if you are celebrating a December birthday, a sunset drink is not meteorologically possible. But the interior is beautiful too, with its abundant greenery, deep dark colours, plush seating and plentiful wood details.

We visited on a Sunday evening, when the atmosphere was calm but not quiet, with ambient music setting the tone. Service is efficient but not intrusive; waiters are happy to let you choose your table and mull over the menu.

Atmosphere and mood are key, but not if the food does not match. Happily, it did. “Quality is at the heart of everything we do,” the restaurant proclaims proudly when detailing its daily changing menu that features seasonal produce from local markets. “Our passion for sourcing fresh ingredients from the farmers and suppliers we know, combining them with traditional flavours and rewriting familiar recipes into exceptional cuisine, is our mission and our greatest joy.”

It was ours too – as everything we tried was delicious. The menu recommends sharing two dishes per person. We enjoyed delicate red mullet with a salsa sauce and a medley of vegetables; chicken brochettes with spicy peanut sauce and parmesan truffle fries; and juicy authentically spiced Turkish lamb chops with deliciously crunchy wild rice.

Other options included the signature lemon olive chicken, Japanese heaven in the form of tuna Tataki and crispy, succulent ‘Bohemian dynamite shrimps’ in batter. Closer to home, there was sea-fresh Dutch Kibbeling to try.

The Bohemian’s Mediterranean/fusion influences are evident. You can re-live your Greek or Spanish holidays with Mykonos salad and grilled octopus, to-die-for watermelon, feta and mint salad, or Spanish style grilled peppers steeped in salt.

If Italian is more your cup of tè, the Bohemian boasts a delectable variety of ‘pizzetta’ with aubergines and zucchini, carpaccio and burratina, or tartuffo, not to mention classic linguine alle vongole and carbonara rigatoni pasta dishes.

Rounding off the meal are sweet treats such as melt-in-the mouth Baklava with vanilla ice cream and a wonderful ‘pain perdu’ French brioche style with salted caramel sauce. Other delights include New York- or San Sebastian-style cheesecakes or Belgium’s beloved fondant au chocolat.

The extensive wine list is predominantly French, offering Pouilly Fumé, Sancerre and Chablis whites and Saint-Emilion and Merlot reds. Beers embrace the restaurant’s Belgium-based home, with Triple Karmeliets, Leffe Brunes and Hoegaarden Rosées to choose from.

The Bohemian’s drink options also feature gorgeously-created cocktails, perfect for a summer’s evening looking out over the lake, or simply celebrating at any time of the year. The huge range, with or without alcohol, includes ‘Tout est bon dans le melon’ (with melon, mint and gin), the sparkling white sangria and champagne ‘Queen’ and ‘incontournable’ Mojitos, Cuba Libres and Moscow Mules. Or opt for a ‘Coffee Martin’. With vodka and Bailey’s, this makes a perfect way to finish your meal.

Finally for a real ‘Bohemian’ finish, after your coffee, herbal or veritable fresh mint tea, you can descend into the other worldly shisha bar to relax until closing time.