We tried Le 203 in Saint-Gilles: seasonal menu, open kitchen in Brussels

Updated on November 13, 2025 by Pierre

In Saint-Gilles, on the Chaussée de Waterloo, 203 is one of those addresses that we hesitate to share because they deserve to be kept secret.
Sincere cuisine, raw products, a passionate team: here, everything breathes simplicity and accuracy.
The menu changes every week according to market availability — a short, coherent formula, without any missteps.

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An intimate room and a bar facing the kitchen

From the moment you enter, the atmosphere is relaxed.
A few tables, a tasteful yet understated decor, and in the back, the open kitchen where everything happens.
We choose to sit at the bar, right opposite the chef — a perfect spot for two, or even solo.

Watching the plates being plated, hearing the cooking sizzle, observing the precise rhythm of the service: it's a real spectacle.
And we appreciate this proximity, rare in Brussels, where the customer is part of the culinary scene.

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🍽 A short, seasonal, and well-executed menu

The 203 operates on a fixed format:

• Evening : two starters, three main courses (meat, fish, vegetarian) and two desserts — menu around €44.
• Noon : Dish of the day at €18.
• First service until 20:30 pm, convenient for early dinners.

The adress is Open Tuesday to Friday, midday and evening (12h00-15h00 / 18h30-22h00).
Good news: we can now book online — No more queuing on the sidewalk!

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🥩 Our dinner at 203

That evening, we started with a matured beef tartarefinely chopped with a knife.
The meat is tender, tasty, perfectly seasoned; each bite reveals a subtle balance between power and freshness.
A raw, elegant and unpretentious entrance — exactly in keeping with the spirit of the house.

For the main course, we continue with a Sea bream served with pickled onions.
The flesh is pearly, the cooking is impeccable, the onions bring that tangy touch that awakens everything.
A precise, masterful dish, where everything is in its place.

We didn't have not really hungry anymore, but it's impossible to leave without the dessert, which is worth every spoonful.
Meltingly tender, intense, and perfectly salty. A finale that brings the meal to a truly emotional close.

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🍷 Carefully selected natural wines

The wine list is short but fair.
We let ourselves be guided by the team: the fruity red recommended on the tartare, like the mineral white on the sea bream, are perfect.

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🏡 To extend the evening: the Our Stay apartment

For those who come from outside BrusselsThe 203 offers a complete experience: it is possible to sleep just above the restaurant, in the apartment Our Stay – Number One Hundred.

A place designed in the same spirit as the restaurant: sincere, calm, refined.

• Minimum 1 night (check-in after 15pm / check-out before 11am)
• Bed linens, towels and taxes included
• Fully equipped kitchen, small Belgian pantry and “goodie cabinet”
• Living room with record player, books and carefully chosen vintage furniture

In the morning, coffee in the inner courtyard; in the evening, dinner on the ground floor.
A real slow & local weekend in BrusselsAll in one. We haven't tested it, but it looks nice too for those who don't live very close to Brussels.

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✅ In summary

Asset	Details
ambience	Warm, intimate, open kitchen
Experience	Seat at the bar with a direct view of the chef
Booking	Now available online
First serve	Until 20:30 a.m.
Kitchen	Local, fresh, creative
Service	Friendly, attentive and efficient
Hosting	“Our Stay” apartment nearby
Ideal for	Dinner for two, solo, or a weekend in Brussels
Price	Excellent value

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📍 The 203 — Practical Information

📍 Chaussée de Waterloo 203, 1060 Saint-Gilles
🌐 le203brussels.com
📸 Instagram: @le203brussels
🕒 Tuesday → Friday: lunch (12pm–15pm) & dinner (18:30pm–22pm, first service until 20:30pm)
📅 Online booking available