Dining Around The World: Kom Bij Ma in Brussels, Belgium... traditional Belgian food where the locals like to eat!

After enjoying a few hours of window shopping and walking the beautiful cobblestone streets in the center of Brussels, I stopped by an English Pub and asked to see the menu. The young bartender told me they only serve burgers. I asked him if he could recommend a great place for mussels and he suggested I check out an area where the locals like to dine. He was kind enough to take me outside, point me in the direction I needed to go, and said it would be about an eight minute walk. He said to look for the big church (Saint Catherine's) and that's how I would know I'm in the right place.

There are several restaurants in this particular locale, but I felt drawn to Kom Bij Ma (traditional Belgian food) after reading the entree choices on the outside menu.

Owner, Eric Dosogne

Eric was the first person to greet me when I walked in the door. His warmth and charm made me feel like I walked into his home. I noticed he genuinely greeted all the customers, seated them, and served their meals too. He did the work of at least three people by himself, without skipping a beat. It was obvious he takes great pride in his restaurant and making people feel welcome. He told me the name of the restaurant, Kom Bij Ma, is Flemish and means "come with me". The standard form of Dutch used in Belgium is almost identical to that spoken in the Netherlands, but is called Flemish.

The walls are decorated with photos of actors, celebrities, and politicians well known in Belgium. The restaurant is very modern, clean and cozy.

The chicken stew in a vegetable and cream sauce (17 Euro) is under the "Belgium in your Plate" section of the menu. There is a hearty sized piece of chicken buried underneath the vegetables, potatoes, and light cream sauce. I wondered if the chicken had been simmering in a slow cooker all day since it was so tender and falling off the bone... no knife needed! This dish is excellent and I'd gladly come back for seconds. There were several entrees on the menu I'd love to try.

The majestic looking Saint Catherine church is located right across the street from the restaurant and was open until 8:00 pm. I had enough time for a quick peek inside after dinner.