When is the Chez Clément Raclette season?

The Raclette season at Chez Clément falls each year between October and November. The exact start and end dates are set by the brasserie team in coordination with the visiting Swiss cheesemakers; they typically follow a four-week consecutive block, with raclette evenings replacing the regular evening menu in the dining room. The lunchtime service (12:00 to 14:30) continues with the brasserie's normal menu, as does the bar (open continuously from noon until 1 a.m. seven days a week). Only the evening dining service (19:00 to 22:30) is given over to raclette.

The choice of October-November is climatic and cultural. It is the moment of the Belgian autumn when the temperature drops below the threshold where a melted-cheese, cold-cut, charcuterie-and-potato evening starts to feel right. It also sits cleanly inside the brasserie's annual rhythm: after the September Pétanque Tournament that closes the summer season, before the festive bookings of December and the family Sunday lunches that punctuate the early-year months. The four weeks are calibrated to give a proper season, long enough for everyone who wants a place to find one, short enough for the format to retain its distinctive character.

Reservation is essential. The Swiss cheesemakers visiting on site impose a tighter cover count than a normal evening service: the wheels of cheese, the equipment, the personalised service each table requires, all of this means the brasserie cannot just absorb a walk-in flow at the volume of an ordinary night. Tables routinely fill up several days ahead. The simple recommendation for visitors planning a special evening is to book as soon as the team announces the start date of the season, and to pick a midweek night rather than a Friday or Saturday if you want a less rushed experience.

The Raclette season is generally held in October. The exact dates and the identity of the visiting cheesemakers are finalised closer to the date by the brasserie. The cleanest way to check is to call +32 2 652 33 92 or to write to info@brasseriechezclement.be. Sometimes, when calendars allow, the team extends the format by one week or shifts the window slightly, another reason to confirm directly rather than rely on the previous year's dates.