Celebrated table

Chez Richard

Name: Chez Richard
Address: Rue des Minimes 2, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, Brussels, BE
Telephone: +32 479 61 12 56

A 19th-century building meets modern Belgian bistro cooking in Brussels’ Antiquaires quarter. Listed by Le Fooding for its steadfast approach to classic fare and curated drinks.

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The story

Chez Richard Brussels: A Historic Belgian Bistro Revived

Roots in the Antiquaires Quarter

Chez Richard has anchored a Brussels corner since 1890, now serving refined Belgian bistro cooking. Chefs Sadri Rokbani, Mallory Saussus, Thomas Kok, and Fanny Schenkel recently renovated the space to honor its working-class past while upgrading the kitchen. Le Fooding placed the venue on its 2026 list, praising how the team balanced neighborhood authenticity with sharper culinary execution.

Classic Plates and Curated Sips

The kitchen pairs traditional Belgian dishes with seasonal discoveries sourced from regional growers. Regulars often start with the shrimp croquette paired with a béchamel-bisque dip or share the Ardèche saucisson cut alongside fresh sourdough. Natural and biodynamic wines dominate the glass selection, complemented by an extensive vermouth and cocktail program.

Wood Panels and All-Day Energy

A sturdy timber bar draws students, locals, and passing tourists throughout the afternoon. The adjoining terrace introduces light and greenery to the otherwise dark-walled dining room. Staff welcome guests continuously from late morning until midnight, adapting quickly to solo lunches or group dinners.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026

Le Fooding

Listed

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

Le Fooding 2026 — Listed

Cuisines Belgian, Bistro, Spanish

Services Outdoor Seating

History

On the record

2026

Le Fooding — Listed

When they took over Chez Richard, an old restaurant in the Sablon neighborhood that kind of has that part-beer, part-sawdust Brussels’ odor about it, Sadri Rokbani, Mallory Saussus and Thomas Kok (who also launched Chez Franz into orbit), teamed up with Fanny Schenkel and decided that a Belgian bistro should remain… a Belgian bistro – with the exception of the terrace, which feels very Parisian. Around the wood-paneled bar, the crowd of cool young people and handsome oldies do what they’ve always done: down pints, gobble up fries, chew the fat, and carry on elsewhere. That day, perched on a barstool, we ate a solitary shrimp croquette with a sort of béchamel-bisque dip and a plate of tasty Ardèche saucisson, served with some swinging sourdough bread from the guys at Fine. What we didn’t order: American-style fries, frikandel with the meaty Richard sauce, a seafood platter (€27) with raw mussels, prawns and gray shrimp, whelks and oysters from Oléron and flat oysters from Zeeland, or the ginger, orange and chocolate lava cake. Sometimes, if we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change. // Toni Negroni

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Established

Location

Find us

Rue des Minimes 2, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
+32 479 61 12 56
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