Bistro Bis (Tongeren)
The Place
Bistro Bis is a bistro restaurant in Tongeren, located on the first floor of the 1 Michelin star restaurant Magis. When the owners (Dimitry Lysens & Aagje Moens) heard that Johan Haiverlain, their former sous chef, wanted to open a bistro they offered him the chance to start his dream on the first floor of the restaurant where he previously worked.
Johan prefers to keep things simple and that is reflected in the food and the interior. The dining room is cosy, dark and boasts several robust wooden tables. The cosy atmosphere makes us think of an American western bar – a perfect place for foodie cowboys!
The Chef
Johan Haiverlain serves simple but delicious dishes in Bistro Bis and the menu only lists nine seasonal dishes with Belgian, Mediterranean and Australian influences. Guests choose à la carte or compose their menu themselves (3 dishes € 35, 4 dishes € 47). On Sunday there’s an interesting special degustation menu on offer (“Bis-off menu”: 8 dishes, € 50).
The Food
We visited Bistro Bis together with our colleagues from Be-gusto and Le Gourmand Belge and had the opportunity to sample the Bis-off! Menu.
Appetizers
Kalamata olives, crisp from Pane Carasau (Sardinia), chard roll, home marinated salmon in whiskey
Aperitif:
Ruby Rose Brut Nature, Method traditionnelle – Jesseren
Champagne Bzart blond beer, beer according to traditional method
Warm sourdough bread is served in a white linen basket
Menu
Beetroot, maple syrup, ricotta
Wine: Le petit Beaufort Brut, Domaine Alice Beaufort
Duck, quail egg, frisee
Wine: Insolite 2011, Vin de table bottled by Optimbulles in Hasselt-Jesseren
Bouchot mussel, tetragon, saffron
Wine: Insolite 2011, Vin de table bottled by Optimbulles in Hasselt-Jesseren
Cepes, apple butter emulsion, charcuterie Andouillett
Wine: Insolite 2011, Vin de table bottled by Optimbulles in Hasselt-Jesseren
Bonito, peppers, artichoke
Wine: Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais
Pig, carrot, kohlrabi
A simple but incredible dish and one of the best ribs we’ve ever tasted!
Wine: Laperre Morgon, Beaujolais
Manigodine savoie cheese, quince, sorrel
Wine: L’hermitage Zellberg 1998 Sylvaner, Julien Meyer, naturally
Apple, milk jam
Wine: Domaine Alexandre Bain, 2010, Pouilly-Fumé
Chocolate, wafer, raspberry
Beer: Bzart Kriek Lambic brut nature, Old Beerzel, sur latte method traditional
Coffee, tea
Served rice pudding & madeleine
The Wines
Yannick Roemers presents beautiful biological wines and beers and interesting regional drinks. It’s quite the challenge to work with (almost) exclusively bio drinks, but everything we had matched the dishes perfectly and surprised with honest, earthy flavors.
The “Belgian Taste Buds” Experience
Bistro Bis took a remarkable start and established itself as one of the best Bistro restaurants in Belgium. An honest kitchen with great flavors, a rock & roll setting and great biological wines… Bistro Bis has everything to make you swing!
Belgian Taste Buds:
– Food Buds 7.5/10
– Wine Pairing Buds 7/10
– Price/Quality Buds 8.5/10
– Service Buds 7.5/10
– Experience Buds 7.5/10
Bistro Bis
Hemelingenstraat 2
3700 Tongeren
http://www.bistrobis.be/