Comme Chez Soi, Brussels

Yesterday, my husband and I went out for a meal at Comme Chez Soi. We remembered enjoying it 4 years ago. Well, not anymore. It was A W F U L. We had the 5 course meal and every course was worse than the last. The scallop ceviche was a joke - dried spices, no citrus as promised and dodgy smelling scallops that tasted bad. The carpaccio was tasteless. The second course of goat's cheese was edible but nothing special. The salad was basic and drowning in Kraft Basamic vinaigrette...just yucky. Our mains were so disappointing: my husband's rack of wild boar was one bone (can a single bone be called a rack???) overcooked to become tasteless, drowned in sauce and mystery vegetable sludge. I have no idea if this was actually boar as it could have been any meat for the lack of taste. My venison was almost still alive it was so raw and the berry reduction sauce tasted burnt. Yet again, there were sludgy brown mushed up veg that I wouldn't even think of mashing to give to my 8 month old. Then, horrible coffee and a basic lava cake which was burnt on the bottom. This meal cost us 140$ and we ate almost none of it. I sent back my venison to get it back still rare. The scallop made me feel ill. When we complained, they just said sorry. I am sorry I paid for this meal. I hope nobody ever goes there. They are supposed to be moving to St-Anne's... poor St-Anne's! Just stay away. I rarely say this but the food is just plain gross.

Scrumptious entrées and plats, refined desserts, but service has declined since Pierre Wijnants took leave of his toque and his wife turned over the running of the Salle. The wine list is lengthy and justly renowned, but the sommelier was obviously not interested in helping us choose. The salle is pleasant, if a bit yightly packed. When time came for choosing a dessert wine, not only was there no advice, but we had to flag down a passing waiter to even see the list. Perhaps this is a teething problem, but one expects more when paying €100 per person for a meal.

Food from a different planet... at least I can't make food like this, and that is what I want when I go out and pay shed loads of money for a meal. Fantastic, but I can only afford to go once a year!

The experience was truly wonderful and we will return someday for another outstanding dining experience. We were there for lunch and although we arrived early for our reservation, we were escorted into an anti room and made to feel very welcome. The staff was generous with their time and suggestions as to wine and other decisions. I could not give them any higher accolades. Yes, very expensive, but the best things often are.

dining at the kitchen table in this restaurant is a fantastic experience, however they allow smoking (very annoying in every gourmet restaurant!) and the service is quite ordinary. We did not get our waterglasses refilled during the whole evening, neither were we asked whether we would like to have more wine. For dessert wines WE had to ask for the wine list and when desserts came we still had not been able to place our orders. We have visited many 3 star restaurants and the food and service in all others were of a higher standard. Value for money is also far out.

Had the chance to eat in the kitchen with another 9 guests whom I did not know. We all had a great time seeing what was going on in the kitchen while eating a memorable meal and drinking a great wine. It takes long. Save at least three hours for this experience.

I had heard of Comme Chez Soi from friends who had raved about this restaurant a few years ago, and I was delighted to find it across from a little hotel which I had booked last year! The ambiance, the service, the cuisine are phenominal and the decor is out of a Horta dreamscape. I had a lunch there in December and I am returning in June for another round at this exquisite place