Top Belgian Thai resto gearing up to celebrate its 40th birthday

Almost 40 years and counting….. that’s at least one venerable Belgian restaurant business.

It was way back in 1984 that Bois Savanes first took its bow.

Apart from giving its name to the famous George Orwell book it was the year of Band Aid, when Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated and the original Apple Macintosh personal computer first went on sale.

But the year was “notable”, here at least, for another happening – the birth of a restaurant business that, remarkably is still going strong today.

The “original” version of Bois Savanes opened that year in an impressive town house in Rhode-Saint-Genese.

It was first run by the grandmother (Jeanine), then the mother (Maryse) of current co-owner, Marie Back.

Marie took over ownership with her brother Jerome in 2006 and they subsequently opened another “branch” in Saint Job. A third, in the Schuman area of Brussels, followed later.

Back in 1984 Bois Savanes was one of the very few Asian (let alone Thai) restaurants in Belgium.

There are plenty of them now but few, surely, can match the quality (and longevity) of this establishment.

While the Rhode resto has since closed its memory lives on. The façade of the building has been retained and the resultant luxury apartment block has been called “Residence Bois Savanes.”

It is a nice touch and one fitting for a resto “brand” that has outlived everything from global health pandemics (which hit business hard) to an economic crisis.

Overseeing things on a day-to-day basis at the Saint Job resto is the very friendly and welcoming Chai was hails from Thailand but has lived so long in Belgium that it considers it “home.”

Chai explains one of the secrets of its success over so many years, saying, “It is simple really: it is all about maintaining quality.”

The adherence to such a laudable objective permeates down to even the basics, such as insisting on the use of genuine coconut milk during the cooking process.

The rising cost of raw materials, ingredients and products may tempt some to opt for cheaper alternatives but that does not apply here.

“We always try to keep what we call the ‘real taste’ of Thailand,” says Chai who, amazingly, particularly in the horeca trade, has worked here for well over three decades.

On the longevity of his service, he asks, “When you feel so good in one place as I do here why would you want to move anywhere?”

Another Thai national, a lady called Aoy, is in charge of the kitchen, while its former head chef, also female, helps out occasionally at weekends when the restaurant can get particularly busy.

A delightful menu is full of all the classics you might expect at a quality Thai resto, such as red and green curries, a good range of soups and great selection of cold and hot starters.

These include dishes such as Thung Thong (parcels filled with meat) and Thod Mun Pla (fish pate with curry, citronella and coriander).

You will be spoilt for choice with mains which include splendid dishes like Sec Krong Moo (grilled spareribs), Kaeng Massaman (diced lamb with Southern curry), Kaai Preaw Waan (sweet and sour chicken) together with several duck offerings like Ped Pahd Prik (duck filled with Thai basilic). All are wonderful as are the good range of salads like Yam Nuea (beef salad with mint and lemon).

There is a €12 “kids corner” for children up to the age of 12 and a €17 lunch of the day option. Apart from the a la carte offerings there is also a €35 fixed menu (minimum two people).

Try not to leave without sampling the delights of the Jasmin tart, one of several nice deserts. There is also a fine choice of wines and beers to wash down what is sure to be a mouth-watering meal.

The Schuman “branch” of Bois Savanes has a smaller menu, reflecting the generally different client base it attracts. This includes some of those working in the nearby EU institutions such as the European Commission, Council and Parliament.

It has a slightly different business approach, given the emphasis on time-conscious lunches. Even so, the importance of quality is exactly the same.

2024 marks the official 40th birthday of the Bois Savanes story and, given the often huge events that have unfolded over those four decades, it is truly staggering that it is still “going strong”.

However, thanks to Marie, Jerome and people like Chai and its hard working team, this business is now a firm favourite of many.

Bois Savanes
Place de Saint-Job 24, Uccle
T. +32 (0)2 358 3778
www.boissavanes.be

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