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78 The pick
Rachel
The nostalgic burger
“Eating burgers makes me think of my
childhood, and I wanted to revive that,” says
Boston-born Frédérik Haspeslagh, the owner
of Rachel. Having been impregnated by
American culture during his formative years,
Haspeslagh thought to bring a little touch
of American comfort to the city’s streets,
opening up his burger joint Rachel in the
heart of Brussels’ S t Jacques neighbourhood
– right opposite Le Fontainas. Playing the
nostalgia card to great effect, the eatery’s
interiors delight in their quirkiness (think
Sponge Bob pillows, Rubik cubes, comic
books and lots of colour) whilst the burgers
on offer place Rachel right at the top of our
list. Traditionalists will no doubt go for
’the Chuck’, a 130 gram, 100 percent pure
Belgian beef patty burger with sliced pickles
and tomatoes, cheddar cheese, ketchup,
mayonnaise and mustard, held together by an
authentic soft burger bun topped with sesame
seeds and served with nachos and green salad.
It’s the kind of burger that’ll send you on a
trip down memory lane.
Classic ’Chuck’ Burger: ¤ 10,00
Rachel
Rue du Marché au Charbon 100 Kolenmarktstraat
1000 Brussels
a burger bonanza
New burger joints have been popping up on the city’s
streets with more urgency than sesame seeds on a burger
bun. And we’re talking the trendy, Kobe-beef style joints
here. The kind of places where the fries and coleslaw
come extra (a big no no in our books). Intent on setting
the record straight and shining a light on the true school
originals, we highlight three burger bars that, for us, pass the
credibility and provenance test.
Writer Sarah Schug Photographer Ulrike Biets