In 't Spinnekopke

In 't SpinnekopkeIn 't Spinnekopke
In 't SpinnekopkeIn 't Spinnekopke
Eatery

Place du Jardin aux Fleurs 1
Brussels, 1000
Belgium

+32 2 305 56 65 | map
spinnekopke.be
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.92
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
28
pDev:
17.09%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by Travlr:
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Reviewed by Travlr from District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
A bit difficult to find, but worth the few minutes of extra effort. The main attraction is the excellent food, mostly local specialties and some Belgian classics; great mussels in season. Decent selection of beers, including a Cantillon faro and a few beers from farther afield. Bar staff substituted similar beers without asking, if they were out of what was ordered - very odd. Waiters were actually more helpful, and spoke English quite well. The bar area is small and cozy, but nothing special. 100% locals when I was there.
Nov 08, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.46 by barleywin from Missouri

Oct 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by uturn from Florida

Jan 09, 2014
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Reviewed by youbrewidrink from Vermont

2.65/5  rDev -32.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | food: 2
We decided to gor here after reading reviews and it being rcomended. Big Mistake!

To start with I ordered a bottle of 3F guezue which the waiter said they were out of and suggested a beer on tap the owner brewed, ok it wasn't awful. I overheard the waiter pull the same bullshit line on another table that ordered a different bottle. Nice scam.

The food was poor at best. We ordered traditional Belgian dish that should have been slow braised in various beers. Both dishes we ordered came out as roasted meat with geuzue gravy, not even close to properly prepared.

And the winner is: After my first beer was empty, The waiter never came back to offer me a beer to go with my dinner.

I have owned bars & resturaunts and not a pain in the ass customer, this place just is not as great as advertised.
Oct 01, 2013
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Reviewed by Reagan1984 from Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Gotta admit that i am surprised this location is even on BA. First thing you need to know is that this is a restuarant. Not a bar. We went here as it was suggested by several sources. The meal was amazing and the service was fantastic. They even brought us a special homemade aperitif to close out our meal. It was really good.

Had about 5 items on draft that covered the basic local styles and also had a very nice bottle list. But come here for the food!!!

Black and white Boudin, meatballs (Flemish NOT Italian), Rabbit in Gueuze were all incredible. My wife got an Orange Flambe waffle for dessert that was fantastic.

We had 2 Great meals in Brussels and this was ine if them. Come for dinner, not for the beer.
Apr 20, 2012
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Reviewed by Phanatic from Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -27.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 2 | food: 4.5
Oh, this was disappointing. I'd had it recommended by a number of people.

The food was amazing. Had the best pate de fois gras either me or my friend ever had. The rabbit a la geuze I got for my main course was also incredible. Instead of a basket of bread, they bring you out a plate of sliced boudin noir.

The service sucked. "Sucked" doesn't even begin to cover the depths of horribleness. Apparently, if they're busy, or you're foreign, or whatever, they will feign ignorance of a beer list and claim to just have table beer. And it's *bad* table beer. It would be bad beer here in Philly, I expect it's actually a criminal offense in Belgium to serve beer that bad. Meanwhile, we can see people at adjacent tables ordering Orval and getting them. When the time came to get our check, other servers and bus boys passing our table were making a specific point of avoiding eye contact. Finally we flagged our bus boy down, and he said apologetically "It's not me, it's the waiter." Okay, great, but what, you're not allowed to go get our check? It took *30 minutes* for them to get us our check and allow us to get the hell out.

A solid restaurant experience and an amazing meal marred beyond repair by abysmal service. What a shame.
Dec 08, 2009
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Reviewed by Tut from New York

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
I'm not going to say much about In 't Spinnekopke. I first discovered it in 1998,before it was up on BA. At the time it was an excellent restaurant and I had a number of memorable meals there over the next few years. Then things started changing. More and more tourists started going there, it appeared in the BA Directory, and the whole experience just wasn't the same. I stopped going after a visit in 2006, preferring less touristy places when I'm in Brussels.

I want to correct a misconception some reviewers have. Spinnekopke is a RESTAURANT that has a small(by Belgian standards) but good beer list. It shouldn't be listed as a beer bar and you shouldn't go there just for beers. The place is small and you shouldn't be surprised that they don't appreciate you taking up space during their busy dinner period and just having a few beers and appetizers. There are plenty of good cafes in Brussels that will welcome you for that purpose. If you go here, order lunch or dinner.
Jun 02, 2009
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Reviewed by EatsTacos from Canada (YT)

3/5  rDev -23.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Atmosphere: Very beautiful interior and a quite comfortable terrace. Located away from a lot of the touristy, crowded quarter of Brussel's city center.

Quality: Very high quality in all regards.

Service: Pretty terrible service, albeit I only came here once. My fiancee and I waited 20 minutes to see a menu and then the waiter refused to give me a beer menu because it was dinnertime. Eventually he conceded but was visibly pissed when we only had a few beers and appetizers.

Selection: I can't say because he never did give me a beer menu, assuming I was some ignorant tourist.

Food: The quality of the food was very good no question. The portions were very small, and we left hungry.

Value: Pretty pricey.
Jun 02, 2009
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Reviewed by tendermorsel from Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 2.5 | food: 5
Go to this placed for the Beer not the food. I had a simular issue when tring to get a beer list. Perhaps there was a language barier but I asked twice for a beer menu and the waiter said that they didn't have one?? I ordered a bottle of Gueze of the top of my head.

The service and atomosphere were OK (aside from the lack of a beer list). Pretty crowded for dinner. The place was nicely decorated with also sorts of beer decorations. The Cantillon glass light fixture above the front bar was was particularly cool.

The food was absolutely amazing. I had a Rabbit stewed in lambic which was a revolation. My buddy had a pork tenderloin in a brown beer reduction which was top knotch. His wife had mussels in a Mardous cream sauce which were probably the best mussels I tasted in my entire trip. The Rochfort cream scalops were awesome too.

Overall I would highly reccomend this place for the food. I was a bit pricy but well worth it. There are other places that I would go for a beer.
May 28, 2009
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Reviewed by 0711rconnoll from California

2.95/5  rDev -24.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 2 | food: 5
Literally just got back to my hotel room after dining at In't Spinnekopke. While I'd very much like to blame a disjointed review on a healthy beer buzz, I'm afraid that this review is fueled more by shear disappointment than by alcohol.

After reading the many fabulous reviews of this establishment, I made it a priority during my short stop-over in Brussels. I was dining alone as this was a business trip and a short one at that. I was seated promptly, but then waited 15 minutes before anyone paid attention to me. I was thirsty, and once I placed my food order (carbonnade au lambic -- this was excellent) I proceeded to ask for the beer list. The waiter gestured that all they had was table beer -- TABLE BEER -- and brought me one. I quite enjoy Belgian table beer, but at a restaurant of this caliber, not to mention one that bases their menu on Belgian beer, I expected to have at least one or two options beyond the bier de table I was offered.

Perhaps it was my lousy French that got me into this predicament; I admit that I wasn't forceful when presented with a singular beer choice. However, I know that I communicated "beer list" to the waiter and he baulked.

Other than the very professional waiter, the other table service was pretty atrocious this evening. The bus-girl had a nasty attitude, and was downright rude at times. I was more than happy to pay the check and get out of there.

Unless I hear otherwise, I won't be coming back to this restaurant -- unless perhaps with a Belgian local that can pry this mighty beer list from the hands of the wait-staff.
Mar 21, 2009
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Reviewed by garbercury from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5
A--A little high-brow feeling but very cool, servers are dressed in snazzy outfits and the decor is old style

Q--Well, if you want a nice high-end dinner that will not put you into complete debt, great place.

S--Catered to our needs, recommended a really nice Cherry-wheat house beer that was very tasty.

S--Beer list is fine, you go here more for the food.

F--Get the Rochefort Scallops, a lot of money and not enough of it, but it is a religious experience. My fiance had the Rooster and I had the Steak, both were excellent. Top notch food.

A must stop if you are in Brussels and you want a high quality dinner w/ beer
Feb 27, 2009
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Reviewed by KevyKev from Netherlands

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Last Friday was our second dinner at this establishment. The first time was roughly 3-4 years ago with a group on a beer trip. I remember this as one of the best beer dinners I ever had - particularly the scallops in Rochefort. I have been dying to go back though it took us over a year since we moved to NL.

I was not disappointed. The scallops were nearly as good as I remember them and the mussels in Maredsous (a creamy sauce) were the best I have ever had. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her cheese croquettes but thought her chicken in a beer cream sauce was a bit dry.

The waiter, an older French gentleman, provided excellent service and wonderful beer recommendations. In Europe it is not unusual for a waiter to ask whether you want a blonde, amber or dark beer and how strong a beer you might like in food pairing. The excellent thing about providing input and leaving it to another expert (granted not all waiters are) is that they will often bring out a beer that I otherwise thought I did not like but find how much I appreciate it when paired with a certain food. This happened when our waiter brought out Grottenbier to pair with my wife's main course - not one of her favorites but it paired exquisitely.

I appreciate the ambiance here and the fact that the age of the menus shows that they have been doing the same thing for quite a long time.

In the past year, we have eaten here, Den Dyver and Restobières. I enjoyed all three at one level or another - but In 't Spinnekopke is the only one that I consider to be an absolute must.
Feb 16, 2009
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5
This is an excellent restaurant in Brussels that specializes in beer cuisine. The building itself is a carriage house from the 1600s and the restaurant itself is quaint with a small dining room and small bar but does offer plenty of outdoor seating. The service was very good, givingmy wife and I descriptions and recommendations as well as a free glass of their own beer. The cuisine was aslo of ver high quality. Everything that we ate was wonderful. My favorite would have to be the Gouden Carolud chicken medallions and the sorbet trio (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) made with gueze, lambic and oud bruin respectively. A must if yu are in Brussels.
Nov 21, 2008
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Reviewed by deac83 from Texas

2.78/5  rDev -29.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
Read up on this place, food was the attraction, had heard the beer selection would be less than on the menu. The waiter pointed out that many selections were not available.

Supposedly the meal was supposed to be a production. Took us less than 90 minutes, with no dessert.

The waiter was pushing his own agenda and not worried about what we wanted. Asked about the scallops in Rochefort (17e) but decided on the Escargot (9e), the waiter brought the Scallops.

Asked the waiter to recommend a beer for each course, his response was Brown, Amber or Blond. So definitely no beer pairing here.

We skipped dessert as we really didn't want to give them any more of our money since they were disinterested.
Aug 04, 2008
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Reviewed by citrusjim from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
While in Brussels, I really wanted to try In 't Spinnekopke...I love good food as much as good beer. The place is out of the tourist area (bonus) and has a nice outdoor seating area. We sat there. It is in a neighborhood with a cafe across the street. A good vibe. There was a mix of locals and tourists and was not too crowded. The selection was ok for Belgium. The waiter told us, after we asked for the beer menu, that he was going to be out of several beers. No big deal...it's still Belgium. The food was good, but a bit pricey. I got escargots and carbonnade, both were tasty. The girlfriend got herring and soup. The service was ok. Just not what you get in the US. Nice enough though. A good spot that I would return to. Skip the apps and just get some beers and an entree. Then go find a waffle!
Jul 25, 2008
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Reviewed by tubaguy from Germany

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5
A Belgian gentlemen I met in my hotel was impressed to hear I had reservations to In 't Spinnekopke and I was excited to try some traditional Belgian food.

Come here for the food, not for a vast beer selection like Delirium. Our server Alain warned us that they only had about half of the one hundred or so beers on the menu. This will change as they are in the process of selecting new ones. Still a lot of great beers to choose from though. Over the course of my meal I had a Rochefort 10 and a Gulden Draak.

The meal itself was the best I've had at any restaurant this year. This is traditional Belgian dining. Think fine French food but with beer sauces instead of wine sauces. I chose the beef stew served in a pot cooked in a lambic beer sauce. The beef was very tender and the sauce had a subtle sweet flavor. I ordered some cheese to go with the beer and was thrilled when they served two large pieces of fried cheese- some of the best I've had. Two of my friends had the chicken, also covered in a delicious beer sauce. My other friend had rabbit which he gave me a sample of. I had never had game like this and it was really delicious. The desserts were fantastic as well.

Atmosphere is relaxed, dimly lit and resembles an old-World country cottage.

The service was excellent although if you come here, prepare to make an evening of it. If you think good service equals fast service than this is not your restaurant. Spinnekopke offers a relaxed, multi-course-meal experience to be enjoyed over a 2 or 3 hour period. Alain was very helpful and encouraged us to ask questions about the menu. He was a pretty funny guy who also told us tales of his world travels.

Our party of 5 ordered 2 to three beers each, an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. The total bill came to 200 euros, about 42/person with tip. Great value, I think.

Note: we had a reservation at 7 pm which wasn't necessary. By 9 the place was packed so reserve a table if you'll get there after 8.
Jul 06, 2008
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Reviewed by ManforallSaisons from Belgium

3.1/5  rDev -20.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
(UPDATING MY PREVIOUS REVIEW, just to help clarify for posters as of late 2009/early 2010: This is not a cafe or a place just to have a beer, it's a full-service restaurant. It still rates as a place to have classics cooked with beer, like the lapin a la gueuze. In any case there's little beer selection on offer, albeit a few viable options to pair with the food. If this is seen, I hope it helps avoid disappointment.)

As of my visit a couple months back (my first in almost a year), they were still in the process of revamping the beer menu. The staff is pushing the owner's brew, Bretchard from Tubize or something like that. I enjoyed it but didn't take tasting notes. I do recall a good dose of hops and possible some other spice balancing out the root-beer-like malt of the brune. *However* they still had Drie Founteinen's draft lambics, complex and more rounded than, say, Cantillon, producing a slightly less sweet Carbonnade sauce, as well as DF's dark and smokey faro -- try it with fois gras (just don't tell your Sauturnes-soaked French friends). The cooking remains perhaps too traditional, and it's OK for what it is. Enjoyable but unadventurous, an institution but not the revolution it once was.
Jun 15, 2008
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Reviewed by 4thoseabout2bock from Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -27.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | food: 4
We had been very impressed during our visit in 2003 to this biercuisine eatery. (We came here twice during our last trip!)

This time the place seemed a little tired and the beer list was severely limited. (Beers were still listed but they did not have the regional beers in stock). In place they are offering a beer brewed by the owner (Betchard). It was an okay blonde.

We did find one regional brewer they had in stock: Mortal. They had/we ordered a Black and a Yellow. Especially the Black was very nice -- with some roasty qualities rarely found in Belgian beers. A little curious that the labels were all in English. Perhaps we will be seeing this in the states soon. (invariably after we find "obscure" beers during our trip, some pop up here in Chicago by the time we return). Or maybe we just notice them better.

Anywho, later in our trip we visited Restobieres, 32 Rue de Renards, which was head and shoulders better in the beer cuisine department. Its not a bar -- and the beer list may not be extensive enough to warrant the full entry in Tim Webb, but it is quite thoughtful and well selected. The owner the most gregarious/ebullient of the beer cafe owners we met by far. The food was excellent and reasonable for around 20 euro for several courses. Restobieres is not to be missed!

Sadly, the Little Spider is now on my missable list.
Aug 18, 2007
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Reviewed by Globetrotter from Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +15.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Wow! A serious restaurant with an amazing beer list. Just five taps, but pushing 100 bottles, few of which are weak and almost all of which are Belgian. The place is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth a visit when you get hungry. But it will cost you.

The place consists of two rooms, with a small bar in between. Floral wallpaper walls, a kaleidoscope tile floor, pink plaster ceiling. Posters and pots on the walls. Dark wood furniture, with red and white plaid tableclothes. Cheap kitchen curtains cover the windows. French oldies were on the sound system. The menu is extensive, albeit a bit pricey, but the offerings were outstanding. The place opened at 6:00, and was still empty when I arrived at 6:30. It was half full at 7:30, and packed to the rafters by 9:00. Even when it was busy, the service was prompt and helpful.
Dec 11, 2006
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Reviewed by GCBrewingCo from North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5
Before we ever left home we set a reservation for Spinnekopke. Finding the place was not so bad, we missed it by a street and then found it immediately. We were sat inside, a big mistake at first due to the hot September day. After speaking to the waiter he turned on the AC and made our meal much more pleasurable.

At first the waiter asked for our drink selections and then we asked if he had a beer menu and after he produced that, we were able to order some drinks. The drinks arrived fairly timely, but did not arrive in what would be considered the proper glassware. We had translated the menu before we arrived so that facilitated the ordering process. After a few minutes of thinking about it we made our selections.

Everything seemed to be going wonderfully. The Foie Gras was a pricey starter but very tasty and if you want to play it safe, get the house chicken dish, it was phenomenal. The pork was very good as well, the sole was very nice, and the mussels were very good. The beer list was acceptable but missing some selections.

The prices were not as bad as we had originally thought, but we had to split our own check after the waiter became MIA near the end of the entrees. Desserts were not offered nor was any further service given after the entrees arrived. A major flaw was that our waiter was either overworked or was just a very poor waiter. Several Euro worth of beers could have been sold as well as coffees and desserts had he bothered to return to the table.

I'd got back, and I would also suggest reservations. Excellent food, good beers, however, substandard service.

Visited on September 16, 2006.
Oct 20, 2006
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Reviewed by JulieRFoster from Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +24.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This is the best meal a beer fan can get in Belgium. They have about 150 different brews; most of the trappists (including westvleteren!) and a good selection of local artisanal beers and general belgiums, and of course the abby beers that everyone else has. They're about a euro or so more than at the average bar, but for an up-scale restaurant, that's not bad! This place is, first and foremost, a stellar restaurant. It doesn't really have a bar to speak of, but has a very classic, intimate restaurant feel that is great for a date or a large group of people. Many dishes are prepared with beer, like the fantastic lapin au gueze, and escargots in a rochefort sauce (which you MUST order). The wait staff is also very familiar with the beers: the owner will be opening up a brewery soon!
If you're only in town for a night, this is where you should eat.
Mar 20, 2006
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Reviewed by dauss from Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +13%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
So, it was early afternoon, on a Tuesday in July 2005. I had browsed BeerAdvocate's BeerFly at the lobby of the hotel. I had picked out a couple places to go for lunch, before my trip back to England. They were all closed, and found this place in a old Fordors guide book that we had carried along. Later I found out that this place was listed in BeerFly.

Situated in a circle off the main roud, its a quiet intersection. We had the address, and a detailed map of Brussels, but was still unable to find it. After asking a few people for directions and wandering for about half an hour we finally got it. I didn't know what to expect, but I was real glad that I game. Tables, chairs, and umbrellas were set up outside, white tablecloth and everything. We were the first ones there, though there were a few customers sitting inside.

So our waiter had brought us a couple of beer menus, and I was shocked to see what they had. Over 100 beers were listed in the menu, including Westvleteren, but the real price was Cantillon on tap. The food menu was quite nice, a lot of the food had incorporated beer, and my dad had ended up ordering the rabbit braised in gueuze, and I had the pork tenderloin with Gouden Carolus sauce. They were both excellent, and when the food first comes, there isn't much. It did come with bread and french fries, but that was what really filled me up. For the price of about 15 euro a dish, it was extremely expensive, and the actual dishes were really small.

For dessert I had ordered a Faro which they made. It was also good. The inside of the restaurant was old school. Much like a English pub, lots of wood, dimly lit, with a cozy homey feel.

Oh yeah, watch out for the bathroom, the sink to wash your hands is sorta a pain. The faucet is either off or full blast and sprays water everywhere when you try to wash your hands.

This place is great. Food is amazing, beer selection is huge, beers served in accompanying glassware, and the service was good. Be sure to bring extra money, because this place isn't cheap.
Aug 24, 2005
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Reviewed by Goldorak from Canada (QC)

4.58/5  rDev +16.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
Since we got shot down from a few restaurants in Gent, I went ahead and reserved our seat here the day before. Smart move, because even on a monday night the place was pretty full, people got turned away at the door, or waited in the pooring rain.

The bar is just to your left as you walk in. Notice the certificates from different culinary/Beer related institutes on the wall. This place has credentials! We got seated in the dining room to the left, that had a cool framed poster from the Toon puppet theater, as well as signs from Lambic breweries that have probably been closed for decades.

When the waiter handed us the menus, he apologised because there wasn't any Cantillon available on tap tonight. I was dissapointed at first, but then I checked the rest of the menu...Westvleteren and all his trappist buddies and fine selection of Belgian brews for every kind of Beer lover. I figured that since this was to be my "big fancy dinner", that I wasn't going to pull any punches and order the Saint-Lamvinus. They didn't have any left at the brewery, and when I saw a bottle of this stuff in the states, it was ~45 US$! It was worth having it here.

My girlfriend and I ordered the coquille st-jacques with Westmalle sauce as an entree. Quite simply, the best entree I've ever eaten.
We wiped our plates clean, and came close to ordering another on the spot. I've had day fresh scallops right off the fishing boat, but never with such an awesome sauce.

I had the Carbonnade a la Gueuze, and it was fantastic, and the profiteroles with chocolate sauce were great too.

If you like Beer, and if you like to eat, do not pass this place by.
Oct 08, 2004
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Reviewed by Crosling from Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5
I enjoyed this place. It was a last and final treat before departing from Brussels the next day. I was accompanied by my hetero life mate Zach. He ordered a Gulden Draak while I had Cantillon Faro on draft. The beer list was pretty extensive, nothing rare, but about 100 or so.

People don't come here for the beer though. They come here for the famous cooking, by owner Jean Rodriquez, in which most of the entrees are cooked with a Belgian beer. I had chicken cooked in Cantillon Gueuze while Zach had pork cooked in Gouden Carolus Classic. They were both excellent. Fries were served with the meal as well. We both had dessert. I had chocolate ravioli. It was delicious. I'd love to take my girl here someday.
Jul 26, 2004
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Reviewed by francisweizen from Washington

5/5  rDev +27.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Simply put, this place is f'in amazing! We walked in with a bit of trepidition as we were not dressed up, and my Francais is not perfect. We entered the awesome looking building from the street and we were greeted by an older french speaking man you asked us if we wanted smoking or non-smoking. We opted for non and he said "do you have a reservation?" We said no, but he gave us a table anyway, a nice one tucked up the stairs, and over-looking the kitchen. Our waitress came with menus and a basket of bread, and luckily she spoke decent English (even though I pretty much ordered completely in French...and she understood me...cool;-) Anyway, I asked for the beer list, and we ordered some Cantillons (I got the gueuze, Erica got the Rose de Gambrinus). I did not see any draught Cantillon lambic or faro on the menu...(d'oh!) perhaps it was listed by the bar or something? THe atmosphere in here was simply beautiful. Old lambic posters, nice woodwork, mirrors, etc...The waitress bought our beers, and poured them correctly into the proper glassware and than we ordered our dinner. Erica is a vegetarian, so I was worried about what she would get. The waitress said that the chef could make up a veggie plate for her (awesome!). I had the escargot for an appetizer, and Erica has some fried Maredsous abbaye cheese. Both appetizers were amazing! The fried chees was rich, creamy, and delicous and the escargot was a BIG portion, with a rich garlic/pesto sauce, served over a huge lump of crusty bread! Four our main courses Erica got her veggie plate (which she said was awesome!), and I got the Lapina a la gueuze (rabbit cooked with onions, in gueuze). The rabbit was excellent and filling. So tender...Mmmm. Anyway, the desserts looked heavenly, but we were too full for that. So, the food and beer selection here is amazing, as is the service, quality, atmosphere and food. A place deserving of all 5's if there ever was one. These best of the beer world and the culinary world. Oh, and this place is sooo cheap compared to what you could pay for a meal of this caliber. I think the total bill was under $80, with 2 beers, 2 appetizers, and 2 entrees. Don't miss this place!
Apr 05, 2004
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Reviewed by frank4sail from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This place was one of the best places I have been on earth!! I am not shitting you. My wife and I had one of the best meals of our lives there. I of course had the Cantillion Gueuze which should be mandatory on draft. We also had the kriek as well. We started with a tomato stuffed with shrimp and a St. Catherine's Shrimp scampi. Both where great and the beer infused scampi sauce was so good I was held back from licking the plate. Our main courses were Mussels is a leek white beer cream sauce that would make you want to slap your mother and a salmon cooked in white beer. I have had alot of Mussels in my life.. and these were the best I have ever had. Excellent service but understand the menu will be entirely in French. A relaxing laid back non-rushed atmosphere. One day before I die I will eat there again... this place will make your trip. You must eat and drink here. Make a reservation.. we got very very lucky to get a seating I begged and almost bribed for a table. It is not cheap but in comparison to places of this quality elseware it is a bargain . Highly reccomended.
Mar 31, 2004
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Reviewed by Popsinc from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
A great looking bar from the exterior. Light cream coloured building and found a little outside the busy streets of Grand Place.

I didn't really stay here long, popped in for a Gouden Carlous Classic and then moved on. There were only only 2 other people in the bar at the time. I would liked to have stayed longer. The interior was very simple and nicely decorated. A little more of a "classic" feel...whatever that means.
Oct 29, 2003
Photo of TheLongBeachBum
Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
After a visit to the Cantillon Brewery on 11/27/02, my friend and I (both ramblers) decided to walk it back into Brussels Central. In t’Spinnekopke just happens to be on the route back. It lies in a recently resurfaced/refurbished small square, which acts as the junction of several roads. The cream and grey painted outside brightly highlights this 2 story building from its surroundings. There is a third story but it is part of the steeply sloping roof. Hanging Baskets are always outside, but what really attracted my attention was the long black and white “Gueuze . Lambic . Cantillon . Framboise . Kriek” painted sign above the ground floor windows that runs the entire length of the building. Has a low doorway - so watch your head as you enter!!
The Beer List is stated as 90, but may well top 100, the highlight of which (for me) is the draft Cantillon Lambic and Faro (very rare indeed). The draft Lambic is gorgeous, a well carbonated desert dry offering, you have to drink this whilst here. Beer List does change, through omissions and deletions so do not be afraid to ask about new additions.
However, the “Little Spider’s Head” is truly known for the exceptional quality of its cuisine. The meals are simply legendary. The owner is a well known chef, and has written a Cook Book called “Cuisine Facile à la Bière”. If you like your food and beer, this is THE place to eat in Brussels, forget the overpriced Cafés and Restaurants near the Grand Place. Portions are sized for the hungry, so be careful if ordering Starters and a Main Meal, you may not have any room left for the Beer.
I visited during a slow Wednesday afternoon; when it is was quiet, and just having a beer in here is no problem at all when it is like this. However, later on as this small Brown Café/Restaurant fills up, it is difficult, and you will feel uncomfortable, if you just want to have a beer.
Generally the advice is to visit on a quiet afternoon for drinking only (it opens at 11.00 weekdays which is ideal). But I would strongly recommend that you do not miss the opportunity to eat here, if you want to eat - you may to have book - check first they speak good English.
Dec 29, 2002
In 't Spinnekopke in Brussels, Belgium
Place rating: 3.92 out of 5 with 28 ratings