2023-12-30 07:00:00
For the hospitality sector, the holidays are synonymous with excitement… at least for those who remain open during New Year’s Eve. In Waterloo, many establishments take time off during the two public holidays and their New Years Eve. Many prefer a take away service.
At the Brasserie du Couvent, in the heart of the commune of Lion, Julie made the opposite bet this year: “This is the first year that we have opened during New Year’s Eve whereas before, it was an institution for us to remain closed. But as most of the restaurants in Waterloo were closing, we decided to open ourselves.”
In Waterloo, traders are ready for “the rush of the last days” before the holidays
First experience of the new year in this brasserie… but given the reservations, the experience will already be renewed on the last evening of 2024. In the conversation, made in a flash between the preparation of the service and the shopping, comes the The thorny question of personnel: “we don’t have much to complain regarding the lack of personnel. Regarding students, if they stay more than six months, we then keep them for a long time”.
Julie, Patrick and the rest of the Brasserie du Couvent team are preparing for their first New Year’s Eve. ©DR
At the Brasserie Les Six Colonnes in Joli-Bois, the various crises which have shaken up the hospitality sector do not seem to worry much. Indeed, they can count on their many regulars arriving at all hours. And for New Year’s Eve, they will also be open: “It is still possible to make reservations, even at the last minute” informs Hicham.
He also sees a change compared to previous years: “Before, people reserved more in advance.” Regarding the dishes, no big changes. Seafood will still be on the menu. “There will be oysters ”, warns Kaltoum. In any case, New Year’s Eve is intended to be more festive than December 24: “At Christmas, we closed at 6 p.m. because customers prefer to stay at home to celebrate.”
For Kaltoum, this New Year will be a service similar to the others but with more oysters, all the same. ©DR
At Mémé Café, the atmosphere will also be festive and this time with a menu of several services: “So far, we are at 80% of our capacity for New Year’s Eve,” explains Régis, one of the two owners. There will be four of them to cover the entire evening, two in the dining room, two in the kitchen.
Barely enough for Régis but we have to compensate for the lack of staff: “but as the menu is prepared in advance, we will be able to be more present to take care of our customers”. And then once everyone is full, the Mémé Café will transform into a dance floor to move on to New Year.
At Mémé Café, Régis will guarantee quality service and once everyone is fed, it will be a dancing evening. ©DR
Other restaurants in Waterloo will remain closed… but will still offer takeaway meals during the day.
Le Mémé Café leaves Brussels for Waterloo: “I wanted to start a new life with friends, good humor and in a nice community”
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