Warm Burgundian interiors and a kitchen that has stayed true to its roots since 1962 make Ciro's one of the most characterful brasseries in Antwerp. It is where I send guests who want honest, traditional cooking, what the locals call burgerkeuken, the classic home-style cuisine of the city. Albert De Herdt, a former Red Devil footballer, founded the house in 1962. Gene Haesaerts took it over in 2010, and twelve years later chef Claude Sondag and hostess Sabine Huyssen took charge. The mood is cosy, welcoming and very much Antwerp.
Steak Ciro's is the signature dish and has been a classic of the house for decades. The menu is nostalgic: steak tartare, stoofvlees, vol-au-vent, sweetbreads, cod and eel. As a starter, I recommend the shrimp croquettes, the tomato soup with meatballs, the smoked eel on toast or the escargots. To finish, you can choose between crêpes Suzette, dame blanche with homemade chocolate sauce, profiteroles and rice pudding.
Ciro's holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, is listed by Gault&Millau and was named Brasserie of the Year 2022. A covered terrace is ready for fine weather. Please note that the restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday. You can easily walk there. Parking Nationale Bank is 400 m away, and the street parking nearby has parking meters.
