Hearty traditional brasserie near the Grand Place

Popular plate: You can get grilled steak all over the world, so consider being more adventurous and ordering eel in green herb sauce, a Belgian speciality.

Word to the wise: Vincent is not a vegetarian's paradise.

In an area packed with so-so restaurants aimed at the tourist trade, traditional brasserie Vincent stands out. Its décor, largely unchanged since it opened in 1905, is bursting with character, with seats shaped like boats and tiled walls covered in dramatic depictions of sailors caught in storms.

The menu is almost as traditional as the décor, offering rich, hearty Belgian comfort food including mussels, fish in buttery sauces, flame grilled meat and creamy desserts. While the waiters can seem a little harried, they're good at their job, making this restaurant one of the Old Town's most reliable.