Restauration Nouvelle

In the mid-1980s, Albert and Marianne Michiels were looking for a nice relaxed place to eat in Belgium’s capital. They wanted somewhere comfortable and welcoming, with reliably classic brasserie food at prices the young couple could afford. When they could not find such a spot, they did not complain – they sensed a wonderful business opportunity. “My husband was running some clothes shops, so we had commercial expertise, but neither of us knew anything about the restaurant business,” says Marianne.  “So I quickly arranged to spend a few weeks working at a restaurant owned by a friend, and straight away found that I loved it. We were young and energetic and took it from there.”