We’re often asked the same question on a Friday evening: “could you take twelve of us, Sunday lunchtime?” Grandmother, the parents, the little ones, sometimes a cousin who’s turned up from Brussels at the last moment. The answer is yes, but what really matters is how that meal goes once everyone’s seated.
Why Sunday lunch is a different kind of exercise
A Sunday family meal in Hainaut has its own particular constraints. There’s mass for some, the little ones’ nap time approaching, the father-in-law who doesn’t like to wait, and the aunt who always arrives twenty minutes late. Lunch service finishes at 2.30pm, so the timing isn’t infinitely flexible: it’s better to arrive together than in three waves. That’s the first thing we ask on the phone — not the menu, but the actual arrival time of everyone involved.
A successful meal for twelve isn’t a meal that’s twice as complicated. It’s a meal where the table is ready before the family walks through the door, where the order goes to the kitchen all at once, and where no one is waiting for their plate while everyone else has already finished.
What we can do, in practical terms
Twelve people fit comfortably into the dining room without needing a private hire. For a larger table — an extended communion, grandparents’ birthday, or a christening gathering bringing both families together — the room can be privately hired for up to 42 guests, and that’s where things get interesting: less background noise, a space that’s entirely yours for the duration of the meal, and an organisation we prepare with you beforehand rather than in a rush. We go into more detail on the private hire page.
As for the menu, a large table works best when everyone starts together. One or two antipasti boards in the centre of the table while everyone arrives and settles in, followed by the pizzas and other dishes at the same pace. The menu is designed for this kind of sharing: antipasti, focacce, generously sized pizzas, and dolci to finish without rushing.
Three scenarios come up most often on a Sunday lunchtime: the classic family meal, with no particular occasion, just the habit of getting together; the meal following a communion or christening, where the table suddenly grows with guests you don’t often see; and a grandparent’s birthday, where you want the person being celebrated to have nothing to organise themselves.
How it unfolds, from the first call to the bill
It starts with a call or an email, a few days ahead if there are more than eight of you — that gives us time to prepare the table and plan the order in the kitchen in advance. On the day, the table is laid out beforehand, in a corner of the room quiet enough that three generations’ worth of conversation don’t trip over each other.
On arrival, we seat everyone at once wherever possible. The antipasti arrive quickly, while everyone chooses their pizza or dish — it’s often the moment the children settle down, distracted by the bread and olives. Service follows its normal rhythm, without rushing anyone, right through to the dolci and coffee that close the meal. The bill comes either together or split, depending on what you ask for on arrival: it’s worth mentioning from the start, as it avoids end-of-meal calculations.
What’s decided a month ahead, what’s decided on the day
A month ahead, or at least a few weeks, we settle on the number of guests, the arrival time and the format of the meal: a simple table in the dining room or a full private hire if the family exceeds a dozen and wants a space of its own. It’s also the moment to mention any particular diet or allergy within the family, so we can take it into account in the kitchen.
On the day itself, there’s little room left to decide: the order of courses, who sits where, whether the children want to share a pizza between two. What isn’t decided on the day is the number of covers — the earlier it’s confirmed, the more ready and calm the table will be when you arrive.
For a communion, christening or larger family celebration, our article on communions, christenings and family celebrations details what’s prepared in advance for this kind of specific occasion.
The questions we’re asked most
There are twelve of us, should we book?
Yes, as soon as you’re more than eight people. This allows us to prepare the table in advance and avoid waiting on arrival, especially on a Sunday when service is full.
Can we arrive in several groups?
It’s possible, but it complicates service for everyone. Arriving together, even within five minutes of each other, makes the meal run more smoothly for both the family and the kitchen.
Is there food the children can easily eat?
The menu offers pizzas and simple dishes that suit younger diners well. For the practical side of things with children — high chairs, space, patience from the staff — our article kid-friendly restaurant in La Louvière goes into more detail.
Can we privately hire the venue for a table of twenty or more?
Yes, the room can be privately hired for up to 42 guests. Beyond fifteen or twenty people, it’s often the best option for keeping real calm around the table.
How to book
A call to +32 64 28 32 73 or an email to mammamarianet@gmail.com is enough to secure a table for twelve on a Sunday lunchtime between 12.00pm and 2.30pm. Tell us the number of guests, your preferred arrival time, and whether the occasion warrants looking into private hire. We’ll take care of the rest, so that the only job for the family that Sunday is to sit down and start talking.
