Does Chez Clément host communions and christenings?

Communions and christenings are a steady part of the brasserie's calendar, in the long tradition of Belgian family Sundays at the table. A first communion in Catholic families, a solemn communion at twelve, a christening for the youngest member, a confirmation, each of these family-life thresholds is, in the Belgian sense, marked by a long lunch that brings three or four generations to the same table. Chez Clément, with five generations of its own family running the place since 1858, understands the format from the inside out.

The brasserie offers several configurations for these celebrations. The conservatory works perfectly for a small gathering of fifteen to thirty guests, with its luminous glass roof and direct natural light, particularly well suited to a spring or early-summer celebration. The main dining room absorbs larger families easily (the total capacity is 230 seated and up to 250 guests for a private event). Partial privatisation is available for families who want a dedicated wing of the room for the day. The chef Vincent Frédéric De Laloy, in the house since 1996, brigade of thirty-two, designs menus tailored to a family lunch, with options that work for kids alongside the brasserie standards for the adults.

The atmosphere is genuinely family-oriented. This is a multi-generational room: grandparents are at ease here, parents recognise the codes, children get tasty food rather than a tasting menu. The crowd around a Sunday lunch service typically includes several family parties at once, which gives a christening lunch the comforting feeling of fitting in naturally rather than standing out as an event apart. The brasserie's identity as a brasserie of family tradition makes this kind of celebration feel native to the room.

Logistically, the same advantages apply as for weddings: gigantic free car park ten metres from the door, accessible entrance, Genval station (SNCB line 161) ten to fifteen minutes' walk away, easy reach from Brussels south-east (fifteen to eighteen minutes), Wavre (twelve minutes) and Waterloo (fifteen minutes). The brasserie keeps 5 baby chairs on site; there is no dedicated children's menu but the kitchen adapts portions and simpler dishes on request.