Head-to-Head · Brussels
Café des Spores vs Henri
Saint-Gilles's all-mushroom counter against a modern Belgian bistro on Rue de Flandre. Book Spores for a theme-led date, Henri for range and a terrace.
The Verdict
Two Brussels neighbourhood rooms with strong points of view. Cafe des Spores in Saint-Gilles builds every course around mushrooms, raw in tartare, roasted and stuffed, or folded into a mousse, with a three-course menu around 34 euros and a cèpe cheesecake that has become its signature. Henri, on Rue de Flandre near Sainte-Catherine, is the modern Belgian bistro the Campens brothers have run since 2003, where chef Jurgen Campens swings from mussels in pastis to lacquered Holstein beef ribs across a menu that changes every four weeks, at roughly 80 to 90 euros a head. One is a single-ingredient obsession; the other is a confident all-rounder.
The split is theme versus range. Spores is a narrow, counter-led room where the kitchen cooks in front of you and the menu follows what the foragers bring. Henri is a livelier bistro with a cobbled terrace, a deep wine and beer list and a carte that wanders the Mediterranean and Belgium at will. See both in the Brussels dining guide.
Scores, Side by Side
| Score | Cafe des Spores | Henri |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Atmosphere | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Value | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| A theme-led date night | Cafe des SporesAn all-mushroom menu cooked at the counter makes for a memorable, conversation-starting dinner. |
| A flexible group dinner | HenriThe wide-ranging carte and bigger room suit a table that wants choice and a livelier mood. |
| Value | Cafe des SporesA three-course menu around 34 euros is hard to beat for cooking this distinctive. |
| A long lunch with wine | HenriThe terrace and the deep wine and beer list make it the better midday lingerer. |
| Something you cannot get elsewhere | Cafe des SporesA whole menu of fungi, dessert included, is genuinely singular in Brussels. |
Price Comparison
Spores is the better-value table. Its three-course mushroom menu sits around 34 euros, with the cèpe cheesecake worth the visit on its own. Henri runs higher, roughly 80 to 90 euros a head across its three and four-course options, for a wider, richer carte and a serious drinks list. Both are neighbourhood prices rather than fine-dining ones, but they are not the same spend. Weigh them against the best modern European restaurants worldwide and the top French restaurants worldwide.
How to Book
Cafe des Spores is small and counter-led, open Tuesday to Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday, so book ahead for a weekend table in Saint-Gilles. Read the Cafe des Spores review in full before you go.
Henri takes lunch and dinner reservations at Rue de Flandre 113 and holds better availability midweek, with the terrace the prize in warm weather. Read the Henri review first. For occasion fit, weigh both against the best Brussels tables for a first date and solo dining. For more match-ups see Cafe des Spores vs La Buvette and Henri vs La Manufacture, and browse the compare index.