I had a few frites disappointments during my vacation in Brussels. If only I had done some research, I could have saved myself from the subpar frites. Thankfully, my hotel offered free wi-fi and I did a quick web search for the best frites in Brussels. Many people claimed Maison Antoine was the winner. And the review that sealed the deal, Gourmet magazine’s review.
Maison Antoine has been around since 1948, for three generations. Maison Antoine offers more than just frites, there are sandwiches, croquettes, and burgers for reasonable prices.
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| Maison Antoine’s menu |
Of course, I came here for the frites, and stood on line for about 20 minutes (yes, there were a lot of people ahead of me) pondering what sauce to get. We opted for the “Spécial” sauce. What’s the Spécial sauce? It seems like a concoction of ketchup, mayonnaise, and fresh onions.
And now the frites…
Crunchy outside. Melt-in-your mouth goodness inside. Sauce…delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a flavorful frite. Definitely the best I’ve ever had.
How do they get the frites cooked perfectly?
The frites are cooked twice. Once you order the frites, they fry it the second time, pour into into a steel bowl and dress it with salt. Another key factor, according to Lonely Planet, “Antoine’s chips are twice-fried in beef fat.” Extra flavor right there. Sorry vegetarians.
So if you’re in the area, trek on over and grab a cone. Maybe you’ll spot a celebrity. You’ll notice on display are photos of patrons like Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger.
Maison Antoine
1, Jourdan place
1040 Brussels (Etterbeek)
Phone : + 32 2 230 54 56
www.maisonantoine.be
Open 7 days a week
Sunday to Thursday: 11:30am to 1:00am
Friday & Saturday: 11:30am to 2:00am
