Not far from Olympic Park, the tranquil neighborhood around De Karmeliet makes you feel like you’re in the suburbs. And the restaurant makes the best use of its green surroundings in its dishes. A seemingly ordinary caprese is topped with fresh pesto made from basil grown in the nearby garden. The restaurant grows five types of herbs including basil, and almost all of the herbs used in the dishes are freshly picked from the garden. The mixed seafood grill consisting of marinated mussels, lobster, shrimp, calamari, flatfish, and salmon is reminiscent of Sicialian cuisine. But De Karmeliet puts a special spin on the dish, by adding a sauce made with mussel stock and tomato sauce. The savory and light taste of the sauce calls for a beer. Sit in the open garden with a Heineken bottle in one hand to get that road trip feeling. Along with some great Italian dishes, De Karmeliet also serves excellent European family meals and a Belgian favorite, mussel stew.
