The story
At Certo, on Rue Longue Vie in the Ixelles district of Brussels, the wine list tells you everything you need to know about the place. It reads like a who's who of the natural wine world — Gravner, Radikon, Valentini, Frank Cornelissen, Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen, Pierre Overnoy — names that serious drinkers seek out across Europe. This is not a restaurant that happens to stock a few natural bottles. The wine is the philosophy, and the Italian cuisine is its ideal companion.
The kitchen works within the Italian tradition, a natural pairing for a cellar so deeply rooted in Italian producers. The recognition from Gambero Rosso — Italy's most authoritative food and wine guide — speaks to the coherence of that vision. Being singled out by Gambero Rosso in Brussels is no small thing; it signals a kitchen and a cellar operating at a level that rewards the attention of serious diners.
What distinguishes Certo is the breadth and depth of its vignerons. Alongside Italian icons, the list spans France — Patrick Bouju, Jean-Pierre Robinot, Domaine Ganevat, Domaine Labet, Les Frères Soulier — as well as Austria's Gut Oggau, Spain's Partida Creus, and a long tail of smaller, harder-to-find domaines. It is the kind of list assembled over years by someone who tastes widely and chooses carefully.
The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner through the week, with a Monday evening service that reflects a neighbourhood rhythm rather than a tourist-facing schedule. Private parties are catered for, and the address on Rue Longue Vie — a quiet residential street in Ixelles — gives the whole experience an unhurried, local feel that suits the food and wine on offer.
Recognition
Location