Spot the rascals behind the potplants
If your child is fiddly like my little Lollo, please do not take him/her to Watel’s World Piece Café. If he can sit for an extended period of time and refrain from touching everything, then he’s in for a real treat at this Lower Greenville neighborhood spot.
Eating at Watel’s World Piece Café is like eating a sherbet lolly for the first time and discovering the burst of flavor at your first bite. The menu takes inspiration from all corners of the world from a Japanese cold soba noodle appetizer with smoked salmon, to kobe beef meatballs with harissa aoili from Northen Africa to a rich Moroccan tagine with succulent pieces of chicken breast.
Moroccan Chicken Tagine
The décor like the menu are treasures gathered from the world travels of owner, René Peeters. African masks, tapestries, a spinning old globe of the world or the stack of travel trunks turned into silverware drawers proved too much for one curious 2 year old (and his parents).
The soup of the night was mushroom soup, an intense puree of mushrooms with a touch of cream so good it rivaled The Grape Restaurant’s signature soup up the street. Pikelet was so enamored with it he asked for a second bowl which he finished all by himself.
My beef tenderloin were two flavorsome medallions charred on the edges and moist pink on the inside, cooked in a Portuguese wine and garlic pregos sauce. Beefcake chose a slow cooked tender duck confit in a tummy warming cassoulet of black eyed peas, ham, sausage and bacon bits. On a different occassion we savored the grilled shrimp in a Muamba sauce from Congo which was equally divine.
Grilled Shrimp in Muamba Sauce
All this time as Pikelet’s tastebuds went on a world tour, little Lollo had his head flipped backwards as he tried to aim fleur de sel into his mouth. It’s funny now as I write but our nerves were as raw as sashimi. And if the staff were worried, it never showed. They were gracious and we were eternally grateful for that.
Lollo finally settled when the poached pears in a festive spiced port and the Belgium chocolate torte arrived.
We can’t wait to go back to Watel’s World Piece Café though next time, we may have to leave Lollo out of this culinary trip.
Till our next Happy Meal!
Itty Bitty Info:
- Food: Fabulously rich menu from around the globe
- Ambience: Eclectic and filled with bric or brac. Cozy and great for date nights.
- Service: Gracious and attentive.
- Kid Friendliness:
Too many things for curious kids to touch. Go if your child can sit down properly. - Cost: 1 course for $19, 2 course for $28 and 3 courses for $35
- Itty Bitty Foodies Tip: On warmer nights, try seating in the patio.
- Parent Foodies Tip: Parking can be tricky on Greenville Ave but Watel’s has it’s own parking lot on the side street. Park there so you won’t be towed.
For more information on hours, location and all that good stuff : go to Watel’s.
QUICK UPDATE: Two exciting pieces of news. Bites, a global tapas restaurant will be opening next to Watel’s World Piece Cafe and look out for Watel’s Bistro coming soon to Lakewood (Skillman and Live Oak) in the old York Street location. More details to come.
