Food and gastronomy
An establishment that will appeal to all lovers of Italian gastronomy eager for discovery.
Located a stone’s throw from the Ixelles cemetery, Nina is an Italian restaurant that looks great. With its contemporary and warm decoration, the establishment promises a pure moment of escape to its customers. Curious to know the menu and the chef’s palette, we opted for the five-course discovery menu at 62 euros. Indeed, from Monday to Wednesday evening, in addition to her usual menu, Nina offers a discovery menu including a street food tasting and her glass of prosecco, an antipasti, primi, secondi and dolci according to the Chef’s inspiration. To get an idea of the prices, the dishes vary between 17.50 euros and 24.50 euros.
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From the hall we have a direct view of the kitchen. We were able to see the cooks in action. The pasta goes delicately from the pans to the plates, the fish and the meat are returned minutes under the astonished eyes of the customers. In large fridges you can see the many fresh products that the restaurant offers on its menu. Cheese, charcuterie… all are products from Italy.
A finely thought out menu
Our tasting started with a basil bruschetta, a very fresh and appetizing appetizer. We continued with a buratta served with a pepper cream and smoked over oak wood. This dish alone is worth the trip, served under a bell it is revealed under a cloud of smoke that perfumes the entire room with a delicious smell. Then make way for homemade pasta of course, served with a creamy cream and sautéed prawns. For the main course, we enjoyed a piece of grilled octopus served with courgette cream, seasonal vegetables and new potatoes. Finally, the meal ended with a ricotta cannoli, a typical Italian dessert that is crispy and refreshing at the same time. To accompany us throughout the tasting, we opted for a typically Italian dry white wine, the pecorino, even if the cocktail menu also caught our eye.
The menu seduced us from start to finish and above all filled us up. The portions are generous, especially for a five-course menu. The dishes take us directly to Italy and all have a touch of the unexpected that we hope to find when we go to the restaurant. The venue managers are also lovely and genuinely care about the guest experience. For the record, the restaurant is named Nina in homage to the grandmother of the manager of Italian origin who managed to pass on her passion for gastronomy to her granddaughter.
A place that also wants to be cosmopolitan, since if during the week the atmosphere is calm, on Friday and Saturday evening a DJ takes over the premises to offer a new entertainment experience to customers. Good to know, the establishment also offers tailor-made menus for your events, such as birthdays. Want to discover Nina? Don’t hesitate to book your table here on the restaurant’s website.