BAB’s

When we heard that Barbara, the former sommelier from Barge, was opening her own wine bar, we couldn’t wait to check it out. And you should do the same.

Located in the heart of Schaerbeek, the place is warm and incredibly welcoming, reminiscent of the best neighborhood bars. Except here, the wine selection is impeccable, and the small plates are on another level. Since there were three of us, we indulged and ordered a variety from the menu: mimosa eggs with bottarga (€3.50), simple but always effective, black pudding croquettes with creamy apples, a sensation – we almost ordered a second plate -, delicious homemade ricotta with fennel (€9), Belgian ham sliced paper-thin (€12), incredible Opal Coast seaweed tartare (€9), dried for three days – apparently, that makes all the difference –, and delightful mini mushroom arancinis (€10) to finish.

In short, we had a blast. As for wines, we savored a delightful Languedoc orange wine (€7) and a round Corsican red (€8) – all recommended by Barbara, always with a smile and just the right words. Pure joy.

Bab’s is a heartfelt spot, one of those that warms up a neighborhood and makes you want to venture out of your own just for a drink. And with its massive terrace, you might just run into us there frequently in the coming weeks.