Our first morning at Hilton Brussels City, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at Brasserie L'Oliva. The young fellow who seated us walked, talked, and motioned like a budding maitre d’, but without the tuxedo. Two women were also working at the seating podium, but they stayed there while the lad with the elegant gestures moved around the floor. Several of the serving staff were among tables, mostly empty ones, and at serving stations. Why so much help for a buffet? I wondered. The place soon filled up, and all the staff were busy performing service that was notably exquisite. Every gesture was perfectly deliberate. I had forgotten the term "French service," even though I used to be employed at it. So, this is what it looks like in France (Belgium)! Everyone was so calm. The energy in this restaurant was so clean. I was impressed until I began to worry about how much our bill would be. I had read that a meal can be as much as $300 in Brussels.
Looking around, I noticed that the decor was nicer than I had at first realized, so
subtly chic. By this time, we had already visited the food bar for an assortment of fruit, so we went back for some heartier courses: brie, gouda, potatoes, bacon, lamb
sausages, scrambled eggs, and some sweets. The lamb sausage was something different
for me and delicious, and the eggs were distinctively rich, loaded with butter and heavy cream. Yum! We were happy! This breakfast was special. Everything about this
restaurant was so pleasing and the food so hearty, we were ready for anything,
even the frigid Belgian December and a full day’s trek around Leige.
Our bill for the breakfast was $48 total for the two of us. We hadn’t asked before we
indulged, had simply flashed our key at the woman at the podium, and we probably
wouldn’t have opted for this choice if we had. But this was a small price to pay to be
reminded to inquire about prices before digging in. We were relieved that it wasn’t
more. Now, I am convinced that it was this much only on Sunday--perhaps weekdays are less. Yes, I’m sure I will have breakfast here every weekday when I return. After all, you can’t put a price on that fantasy of living on a French country estate and going downstairs to see what the kitchen staff has cooked up for breakfast! Something about this dining room made me feel that privileged.