Le Tournant

The story

Le Tournant Brussels – Seasonal Home Cooking, Bib Gourmand Bistro in Ixelles

A Bistro Born from a Love Story

Le Tournant in Ixelles is not a restaurant that followed a business plan. It began as a love story. Owner-chef Denis Delcampe first came here in 2000 as a regular at the old bistro, falling for both the place and his wife, Virginie. Eight years later, at 40, he retrained at CERIA and took over the restaurant in 2012. "I put my personality into it," he says, "but I kept what I liked so much since the beginning: the love for beautiful products, the slow-cooked dishes, the warm atmosphere without fuss."

A Sincere, Seasonal Cuisine

The cooking at Le Tournant is a straightforward, seasonal Franco-Belgian affair. The kitchen lets the market dictate the menu, which changes regularly. Dishes are generous, built around local, small-producer ingredients. The team believes the "Grandmothers' dishes, these stews that nobody takes the time to cook anymore" deserve a place at the table. Every plate is served with an assortment of five to eight seasonal vegetables, and there is always a vegetarian starter and main. This commitment to honest, home-cooked flavours earned Le Tournant a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2021, an award for quality and value that the team calls a consecration.

Wine, the Secret Weapon

A meal here is built for pleasure, and that includes the glass. The cellar holds over 150 references, almost entirely natural wines from vignerons who work with respect for the land. Wine pairings are a natural part of the experience. For a deeper exploration, “The Grand Tour” menu offers a four-course meal with four glasses selected by Denis and his team. The energy is convivial, the atmosphere warm and without pretence. It is, in the restaurant's own words, "the happy fork, the high glass, the big laugh."