In October, I participated in the Dwars Door Hasselt race. I wasn’t scheduled to run until 2:00 p.m., but I arrived at 11:00 a.m. to pick up my race bib. I didn’t know how many people would be there, but I got my bib in just 5 minutes, so I needed to find something else to do. We decided to grab a drink first (or rather, Stefan had a drink—I didn’t—I didn’t want to risk having to go to the bathroom during the race!), but after that, I thought it would be a better idea to grab a bite to eat. A few days earlier, I’d come across Mister Spaghetti on Facebook—a new place in Hasselt. Why not give it a try? Nothing beats pasta before a race, right?
All right, enough about my walks—time for… SPAGHETTI! Since I liked it so much there, we went back again last Sunday. And did I ever enjoy it!
It’s a beautiful place, with some really lovely touches. You can see the industrial style reflected here as well, particularly in the light fixtures. They make extensive use of natural materials, such as wood for the bar and leather-like materials for the chairs and bar stools. Yes, the interior is one to fall in love with.
The people here are also so friendly—that was one of the first things I noticed on my very first visit, and now, a month and a half later, I’ve noticed it again. You get your drink quickly, along with a small bowl of salted chips. I went for plain water, and Stefan went for Coke Zero. Then we picked out our spaghetti.
Stefan went with the Asian Chicka, with chicken, onions, and stir-fried vegetables. It was a little spicy for me (I’m not a big fan of spicy food), but really, really tasty! And there was more than enough—he even had trouble finishing it. I helped him out a bit, but if you’re not lucky enough to have someone like that with you, you can even take your leftovers home in a doggy bag. Yay! No food waste!
I went with a vegetarian option, but of course it had to include my second great love: cheese. So the “Cheesy Lover” was perfect: spaghetti with a cheese sauce made from Emmental, Parmesan, Pecorino, and herb cheese. Heavenly—that’s all I can say. A pure delight for cheese lovers. I also eagerly made use of the cube of cheese and the grater that come with your meal. I usually go for cappellini, but you can also choose regular, whole-wheat, or even gluten-free spaghetti!
An extra treat: you can get a bib while you eat. Yes, please! A stylish black bib with “spaghetti hero” printed on it—I just had to wear it. They also have a loyalty card, which I received on my first visit. And besides Hasselt, they also have locations in Roeselare and Aalst! They also offer takeout, and you can buy their Bolognese sauces by the liter.
I think it's pretty clear that I'm a fan. Mister Spaghetti is now my favorite restaurant in Hasselt. I can't wait to go back—there are still so many things on the menu that I want to try!
THE BILL
Cola Zero: €2.40
still water: €2.40
Asian Chicka: €19
Cheesy Lover: €15
