Tucked away in the remote vicinity of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center (OCEC), Crowne Plaza OCEC is an oasis of luxury and tranquility. And the beautiful Le Petit Belge, its Belgian concept restaurant, is a wonderful addition to its array of dining options.
Step into Le Petit Belge, and an air of warmth and welcoming engulfs you. It’s almost like stepping into a different world, from the brightly lit passageway of the hotel, into the softly lit ambience of the restaurant. Divided into two sections, the restaurant has a quiet dining section that’s perfect to enjoy a meal with the family, while the other section is complete with sweeping high counters and high seating that’s just right for a group of friends to hang out.
With inky blue walls, dark woods, black panelling and exposed ceiling, Le Petit Belge is a stylish yet cosy haven. The décor is an escape from everyday humdrum; a journey back to yesteryear… The simple globe lighting emits a delicate glow, while the dark tiled walls and the polished concrete floor add to the laid-back vibe of the restaurant. The dark tones are beautifully offset by rust leather sofas and plush midnight-blue velvet chairs. The mix of textures and colours, along with the unique mirrored wall are reminiscent of age-old cafes that line the streets of Belgium.
We arrived at Le Petit Belge on a Tuesday afternoon, hungry and waiting to be swept away by pure Belgian hospitality. And were our expectations on point! While the space was extraordinary, it was the food that would be the cherry on the icing!
Upon arriving, we sat down with Chef David Swannet, the Belgian Chef who has been working behind the scenes of the restaurant long before its opening in July this year. Chatting with him gave us an insight into the thoughtfully planned menu that is packed with authentic Belgian delicacies such as Belgian fries served with mayonnaise made in-house; tender Flemish Beef stew cooked with onions and mustard; flavourful Deviled Chicken Livers; host of steaks boasting of lavish meat cuts and scrumptious sauces; and the Truffle Mac & Cheese, an ode to the weekly Mac & Cheese dinner that mothers across Belgium cook for their families.
Two Belgian specialties that are worth a mention are the Croquettes and the Mussels. The bite size croquettes, available with an assortment of fillings such as small grey shrimp, cheese, blue cheese or beef, are enjoyed by Belgians; while mussels, steamed to sweet perfection, are a true delicacy of the region.
For our first course we were brought the LPB Teaser Platter which consists of Spicy Chicken Wings, Crispy Calamari, Steak Tartare on toast, Shrimp Cheese Croquettes and Smothered Fries. While the wings were packed with a nice kick of heat, the steak tartare – raw beef cut finely with a hint of mustard – was a real stunner. We couldn’t get enough of the Belgian fries smothered with beef stew and beef bacon crumble. And the Shrimp Cheese Croquettes were the star of the show…crispy and golden on the outside, and oozing with cheesy goodness on the inside.
We also sampled the Vegetarian Taster Platter which serves up Mushroom Crostini, Mini Nachos, Cheese Croquettes and Avocados on Toast. While the nachos had all the trappings of what makes them popular, the Avocados on Toast brought a mix of soft and crunchy textures along with incredible flavours. The Cheese Croquettes were testament of how good Belgians really are at making them, and the crispy crostini topped with buttery mushrooms was a definite highlight!
In rolled the main course. We savoured the Lamb Rack served with green beans, baby potatoes, roasted tomatoes and grain mustard sauce. Every bite of lamb was pink and juicy, complemented perfectly by the soft baby potatoes, crunchy green beans and delectable sauce. Along came the Classic Mussels, steamed to succulent perfection and served with a buttery sauce – a rich, flavoursome mouthful that coated the palate and left us in awe.
For dessert we were served up a Belgian classic – the Dame Blanche with Belgian Chocolate Sauce. A dessert of homemade vanilla ice cream, with Belgian hot chocolate sauce, crispy biscuit crumble and whipped cream. While it sounds simple, the flavours in there were anything but. The homemade vanilla ice cream was full-bodied and creamy, the crumble crackling with every bite, and the hot chocolate sauce was dark and rich, and so delicious, we have been dreaming about it since!
If our review was not enough to send you on your way to Le Petit Belge, here are a few more reasons you absolutely need to go… Part of a chain of cafés with outlets in Dubai and Belgium, Le Petit Belge is open from 12pm–3am from Saturdays to Thursdays and from 2pm–2am on Fridays. With a DJ playing over the weekends, the restaurant turns into a buzzing hotspot for party goers; with games and football matches being relayed on the screens all week, this is definitely a great space for sports lovers to cheer on their favourite teams. And of course, there is the amazing food. But then we have already talked a lot about that, haven’t we? Head on to Le Petit Belge and experience true Belgian cuisine first hand…there’s nothing quite like it, we promise!
