Saturday early afternoon. It was busy. Easy metro access. Loved the outdoor seating. The male host was amazing interactive and engaging. House salad $ 4.00 mixed greens light yourt bland. Grilled sea bass over a bed of bok choy perhaps $22 giving it 5/5. Great flavor citrusy (lemony) good amount of soduim.Burger medium was excellent great presentation condiments were laid out very well roma tomatoes,mixed greens and light yogurt. a side of french fries. 5/5 Dessert flourless chocolate cake great 5/5. Glass of Kastel (must try) beer on the sweet side,sauvigon blanc and a sprite Serever Christine was great although we were a bit rushed it was shift change Total tab $ 77.55 Go for it! I would go back and try the mussels. read more

Belga Cafe - Burger - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Fantastic place with authentic Belgian cuisine. As a Belgian I can confirm that the stoverij (beefstew) was spot on. Service was great. Very friendly. read more

I always love this place. It's always lively but never a wait. Food is tasty and interesting. Unique things I can't get anywhere else. But the best part is attention to detail. Everything is Belgian (without being pretentious). And today they had blankets at the table close to the door for your legs in case you catch a draft. I wish more people knew about this place, but at the same time I hope they don't come (because then there would be a wait)! read more

What a delicious brunch spot! We also had excellent service for a party of 6 on a busy Sunday. They never rushed us, just made sure that we had everything we needed to enjoy our experience. I had two yummy sparkling wine bases drinks and ordered the Tartiflette as my main dish. It was everything I could have hoped for! Between the eggs, thick chunks of bacon and gooey Raclette on top... Just delightful. I would definitely return! read more

Belga Cafe - I almost forgot about the soft-boiled duck egg!! Soooo tasty - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have never been to a Belgian restaurant before but now I know it definitely will not be my last time. Every little detail made the experience so memorable. I recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area looking for a unique spot with incredible food choices you can't get anywhere else! read more

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Belga Cafe is a wonderful place to spend part of an evening or an afternoon. I really can't say enough about the food. Bart, the chef and owner, was actually on Top Chef at one point. Daniel, Joey, Brian, Christine, Eduardo, Fernando, they are all great people, just as important to Belga as the award-winning cuisine. After eating there more than a few dozen times, I was faced with a decision as to where to take a good friend on a special occasion. Belga won. From the cornbread waffles to mussels diabolique, you just can't go wrong. Do yourself a favor and try out this DC classic. When you seat 700 hundred people in a four hour brunch, there's a good chance someone will have to wait, but look at how few seats the place has...they are doing a remarkable thing. Keep it up, my friends. read more

Belga Cafe - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Belga Cafe has a cool vibe with exposed brick walls inside and outdoor seating, but the interior does feel a bit cramped. The waffles (we tried Liege and had the rosemary waffle with my duck) were tasty, but not overwhelming. I ordered the duck and my friend ordered the chicken with tarragon jus. Both dishes have good flavor but did have crispy skin. Crispy skin would have made for standout dishes. My friend and I enjoyed the experience overall and would return (though perhaps wouldn't hurry to do so). read more

Really excellent. I went here for brunch, which was wayyy crowded (though the wait wasn't bad at all). Despite the busy-ness, the server was very friendly and attentive, so I'm not sure what the other yelpers are complaining about. I got a pretty typical platter, eggs, english muffin, bacon, potato. It was like $11, which is pricey, but it was delicious. Weirdly enough, the potato was the best thing on there, little cubes of potato seasoned with pure awesome. Perfectly cooked, too. I'll say it, I've never had better prepared potato. So, pricey but definitely tasty. read more

Belga is more than a touch too expensive in a few areas, but they really shine in the areas they execute well. The service I received was above average, friendly servers and attentive manager, and even with no reservations I was seated immediately. Their menu is far more eclectic than most of the places I've eatin in D.C. They offer lots of daring dishes including rabbit, venison, blood sausage, beef tartar as well as special menus with tasty options like duck wrapped in prosciutto, chocolate mousse with bacon, and lots of other dishes that peak interest of the more adventurous patron. I don't know if all Belgas mussel pots are as good as the GREEN mussel pot I had, but this is the type of dish you crave...and go back for time and time again (its also one of their cheaper items at only $18). The spicy crab and chicken Kigar is also a tasty & inexpensive appetizer at $8. Honestly, the trick to enjoying Belga is knowing what to get and what to stay away from. Steer Clear of: Alcohol....the beer selection is extensive but the markup is outrageous. Belgian fries....expensive and not that impressive. 5 Spice Duck....I sent mine back because it was bland (how can something advertised as 5 spice anything be bland that was a major fail) Try: Green Mussel pot...eat up, evidently there's a law in DC against carrying out mussels. Lamb and Chorizo burger Spicy Crab and Chicken Kigars read more

Belga Cafe - Chicken & Lump Crab Cigar - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been to Belga many times for dinner and brunch. I'm generally a fan of the food, but sometimes the service lacks. Even with a reservation I've been forced to wait more than once. The restaurant is very small and they have virtually no waiting space. This isn't a problem during the warm months but in the winter it can be very difficult to wait for a table stacked on top of everyone else. Brunch menu is tasty. It is not bottomless and the mimosas are pretty pricey and very small. Don't skip the bucket of bacon or sausage. Both are delicious. For dinner I usually opt for mussels and fries. A few times they've been overcooked and still containing sand, which is off-putting but when they're done right they are delicious. Always get the french onion when it's on the menu. Chef makes it with garlic bread and it is delicious. Overall I enjoy meals at Belga but tend to have a better experience at its sister restaurant Btoo. read more

Belga Cafe - Cheese plate - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had the mushroom scrambled eggs based on yelp reviews. I was disappointed. I could see that there were mushrooms in my eggs but I could not for the life of me taste them. Wasn't a fan of how the potatoes were prepared. They dice them into really small bits. I prefer my potatoes in larger chunks. Also my english muffin didn't come with butter or any other condiments. The slice of watermelon, which im not a huge fan of, was surprisingly really sweet and good. The only reason this is being rated a 3 instead of a 2 is because of the service. I was seated promptly and my waitress was very nice and attentive. I am not a beer connoisseur by any means but she was helpful in narrowing down something I might enjoy off of the more than 100 options. She even offered to bring me a couple of samples however, I told her that I was fine with just ordering the Corsendonk ($10). A dark, almost chocolaty beer, just as she described. read more

Belga Cafe - Wild mushroom eggs and Corsendonk - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went here with some friends for brunch and it was a great experience. We opted for outdoor seating and it was a bright sunny day, so it was so pleasant to be in the midst of the Eastern Market hubbub while enjoying our food. We had a very sweet, patient waiter (with a Belgian accent) and he was very positive and accommodating. My girlfriend didn't like the first dish she got and he immediately got her another one. Really great service. But the brunch is so yummy- the poached eggs are perfect, bacon crispy and light. But my favorite is the crepe with what seems to be a variation of Nutella drizzled all over! Absolutely delightful. Will definitely be back! read more

Belga Cafe - Bucket of bacon! - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

everything was amazing, from beginning to end as always, OMAR was absolutely right with all he suggest, can't wait to comeback to another amazing experience, the new endive salad was good but the rabbit was incredible. big thanks to OMAR and the crew!! read more

I came for brunch on a Sunday morning - parking was plentiful and convenient at 10:00 in the morning (as expected). My boyfriend and I shared the Ham & Cheese Omelette and French Toast. I'd have to say it was one of the better brunches I've ever had. I didn't think portion sizes were too small, as others have stated on here. I left feeling satisfied to say the least. Service was OK. The hostess was not that friendly. No smiles. The other downside is the space within the restaurant. It feels a bit cramped and there weren't that many seats. I highly recommend making a reservation as it is a fairly small restaurant. Besides that I would recommend this place for brunch to anyone as the food triumphs the service in this particular case! Definitely a cute kinda restaurant for a date. read more

Belga Cafe - French Toast // Ham & Cheese Omelette w/ Hash Brown & Sausage Links - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Poor service, super pricey. Yes, they have around 300 mostly Belgian beers. Unfortunately, they are mostly more than $10/e. Yes, they have frites served in cones. Sadly, they are soft and the sauces lack taste. Yes, they have authentic Belgian food, and some creative vegetarian dishes. But nothing in particular stuck out as really great. Had the watercress soup and maitake mushroom dish, and neither had a ton of flavor. Both good, not great. Service was the main issue here. Slow. Not enough menus for our table. And generally grumpy. Our waiter eventually split our check but scowled through the process, and took to arguing if anyone had a question or issue with the food. Overall I was genuinely not a fan. Entres are over $20 each, apps around $10. If you have a beer or two, you're looking at at least $50/head. Atmosphere is nice, but not likely to return. Oh and did I mention they include asparagus and beets in various deserts. Why, oh why? read more

Belga Cafe - Maitake Mushroom Dish - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here a few times and has great food and service. Outdoor seating available. Need to go back to to try other items read more

Belga Cafe - Brussels, fries and couldn't get pork belly buns in pic but they are awesome. - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend and I split the chorizo skillet with ratatouille and the green eggs. I loved the skillet! It was nicely spicy with the chorizo and the blue cheese was great. As for the green eggs, I personally thought they were just OK, nothing special, but my friend seemed to enjoy her half, so to each their own. We also got mimosas which we're delicious. The service was great and Ray, our server, was very friendly. Don't worry about not being able to pronounce the names, even he couldn't. Ambiance was nice and I wish we could have sat outside. But inside is just fine too! read more

Belga Cafe - In the foreground is the chorizo skillet with ratatouille. Highly recommended! In the back is the green eggs. We also got mimosas - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came back this place for Restaurant week in August. I think the three course menu was worth for money. I had a cucumber soup. It came with smoke salmon and some sorbet. I felt that cucumber soup and smoke salmon were weird combination. The next main course was duck breast. I love the sauce. It was nicely cooked. However the waiter didn't bring the right night for duck. It was very difficult to cut. I had pineapple as sweet. It was Okay. My husband had strawberry ones. It was nice. I really appreciated that they were so kind to our baby. They brought a high chair for her. This is a place that we can bring kids but still enjoy great food and drinks. I will come back again. Love it. read more

There's a reason why the typical brunch wait time may be upward of two hours! The food is incredible. My friend & I ordered different meals & shared them in order to experience more of the menu in a single visit :) We were glad we saved room for dessert: a variety of creme brulees. The service is very good & the ambiance is lovely. Highly recommend this wonderful place. read more

Belga Cafe - Waffle with goat cheese stuffed with tomatoes - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Specialty waffles - yes please! Was here for brunch and the unique brunch dishes were "lick your plate" good. All four entrees our group ordered were DELICIOUS. Savory 'N Sweet I ordered the MAIS WAFELS $17.50 Cornbread waffle, avocado, pulled pork, fried egg (sans the egg as I don't eat egg - I know weird but that's me). I devoured the dish and wanted each bite to last. The cornbread waffles complimented the pulled pork well. The avocado was fresh and I liked the additional crisp the added lettuce added. I also got the complementary tart YELPers get. This dessert was so delightful. Not too sweet and the coffee ice cream with the cinnamon tart and strawberry all and together as a blissful combination. I would have loved a second! Why not a 5? Great food but a bit pricey for the meal. Overall, would come again and suggest to friends. read more

Belga Cafe - Cornbread waffle with pulled pork - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Well was pretty much forced to come here by friends. I let them know it's been a year or so since I ate there and I used to frequent the place often but over the years the service took a nose dive. They assured me it was better, or good. Well, maybe I need different friends with better judgement (just kidding) but seriously this place feels like its waiting to die. The restaurant was almost dead empty on Friday night. Food was still good although portions have gotten smaller and prices have risen. Service is still horrible. read more

Pretty solid brunch spot. We arrived around 9:30am on a Saturday with no reservations, but we were able to get seated immediately. My husband ordered the Brusselse Wafels which was absolutely delicious! Cooked perfectly with very fresh fruit served on top. I ordered the De Met Kreeft Burger, this was just OK. For the price I expected a lot more lobster in the sandwich, instead it was mostly just filler. Overall, a great experience. read more

Belga Cafe - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Omar and Christa are the best! I always have the greatest time here and these two are so fun! The food is incredible and the waffles are a must! Don't skip the drinks! Ask for the "Hallie" read more

Delicious waffles ! So many options to choose from ! The patry basket was a nice appetizer as well fresh & warm pastries ! Place is small so i would recommend making a reservation first . read more

Belga Cafe - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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today was my first visit to Belga Cafe, I must say the food was excellent close to perfectio, however there was a person I assume a manager which made it pretty uncomfortable to be a patron there, he seems to be in a power trip with the waiters, the cooks as well to the bartender, in one instance he did shove one of the waiters and kind of reprimand them in a loud voice, he paced in an erratic manner back and forth like looking for some employee to be mean to, making the atmosphere unhappy,he messed up what would have been an otherwise beautiful experience for me and the other two people I was with. read more

Exquisite! Fine dining at it's best. Aside from all the reviews that peg this restaurant as place for lunch or brunch, it really does offer fine dining as well. Typical to the belgian tradition, it focuses on the quality of the food and keeps the decor to a minimum. So you may be surprised that a "cafe" can offer 4-star dining in the evening. My husband and I went for a special wine-pairing dinner. Each course was expertly prepared and presented, from the marianated halibut to the lamb loin to the foie gras to the final sorbet. It was a memorable dinner shared by all- each course an absolute delight and discovery. While you may think of the standard casual meals like the moules and frites and the famous dessert waffles, take a step out of the ordinary and venture into the fine dining. You won't be disappointed. read more

Was really underwhelmed by this place the first time I actually had food there. I had been there before in the afternoons for beer and fries and would definitely return for that...but their brunch is not worth the wait, the unfriendly staff or the snobby clientele. Their waffles are not much better than the ones you make yourself in crappy hotel breakfast buffets (the ones that make up for low quality by providing a 'fun' do it yourself experience; fun that wears off after you reach the age of 4). Anyway, that's what my girlfriend said about them. I had a sandwich of some sort; it was okay but tiny. They make up for the tinyness by serving a massive basket of fries, but their fries weren't as good at brunch as I remember them being when I had stopped in on summer afternoons. (both summer afternoons that I dropped by, I was drunk, so the fries had a little help.) Anyway, if someone suggested this for a brunch spot, I wouldn't be absolutely averse to returning, but it wouldn't be hard to do better. read more

I can see why so many people leave this place underwhelmed. We had two interesting-sounding appetizers and some mussels. One of the two appetizers (asparagus and poached egg) was a soggy, bland, disaster. The other one (bread pudding, wine-marinated figs, blue cheese) was at least interesting, if not mind-blowing. The mussels were plump and fresh, but badly handled (many had fallen out of their shells and many of the other shells were shattered). The fries were pretty good, but slightly undercooked. The service was simultaneously inattentive (we probably spent no more than 3.5 minutes talking to our waiter over the course of the night) and slow (we asked for the check when the entree came and still didn't manage to get it paid until well after we were done). And the experience wasn't cheap, either. No thank you, Barracks Row. read more

Delicious waffles and excellent presentation. The menu offerings are drool worthy. I'd give this place five stars if it weren't expensive. I mean, don't get me wrong... i LOVE my waffles, and I especially love Belgian waffles. But I've had better waffles from Belgium, and for $11 for a small waffles with some berries, I find it expensive. I have yet to try the other dishes, but I was a fan. My friend liked his french toast, but again... it was two slices for over $11. The coffee was good. Service was friendly. Cozy, busy restaurant. Make sure you have a reservation on weekends and that your whole party is present, otherwise you'll be waiting in line foooreeevverrr. Also, the executive chef is cute. And hilarious. Pure entertainment for when you're waiting in line and drooling through the window. Also, for the people who order the fruit salad in restaurants-- why are you out at a restaurant ordering fruit? Seriously, now. It's bound to be a waste of money. read more

Ever wondered what a melted stick of butter tastes like? Order the grilled salmon and you'll find out. The salmon itself was unremarkable, but it was atop leek stoemp (or as I came to think of it, basically liquefied potatoes that were buttery and yellowed beyond all reason) I can only hope the fish oil offset my spike in cholesterol from eating this entrée. The fish was accompanied by Brussels sprouts and deep fried capers that were okay. Overall, this dish had good presentation but quickly proved that looks aren't everything. I noticed a lot of other patrons ordering the mussels...apparently they knew something I didn't... The bread we received was sourdough I think, and was actually good...for being cold. The accompanying butter might as well have been a cut of Land O'Lakes Salted. The dessert menu was nothing if not inventive and we tried the chocolate mousse, which came with three different types: white chocolate, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate. As a dessert connoisseur, I thought the white chocolate was not impressive--it had the consistently of crème brulee not mousse. The dark chocolate was probably the most authentic except it had was topped with carrot shavings on top that tasted like orange Sunkist fruit gems. At least if something is going to taste like a gel candy, it might as well be the red one. Le sigh. The milk chocolate mousse was alright. The other desserts sounded good and were pretty creative, but I wasn't in the mood for adventure after going with what I thought was a safe bet on the entrée and being unimpressed. The wine list at Belga was fairly extensive with some good offerings, so maybe I'd consider returning here for drinks. Service was okay and the restaurant atmosphere was nice enough and not too loud. The total cost for two (wine, appetizer, dessert and two entrees) was slightly in excess of 100--which seemed a excessive given the mediocrity of the entrees. I'd not return for dinner, but might try brunch, which countless reviewers seem to rave about... read more

Delicious brunch spot, great service but it is PACKED! Definitely recommend reservations... Want to come back for the dinner before giving them 5- stars. For Brunch, we ordered the duck confit waffles, cornbread waffles with pulled pork and the salmon burger. All delightful! Can't wait to come back. read more

We ordered mussles (+ frites!) and delicious beer. The bartender was PHENOMENAL. He was really friendly, despite being really busy, and had an incredible memory for what he's recommended, what our preferences were, all while simultaneously doing or remembering 1,000 other things. Everything was delicious and I definitely want to go back for a full meal! read more

Belga Cafe - Had the most delicious mussels and beer! - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Mon dieu! I mean, uh... well I don't know how to say that in Flemish... but, brunch at Belga was delicious. I can confidently say that Belga served us the nicest salad I have ever eaten at a restaurant. Romaine lettuce would have been too plebeian for this array of mixed field greens, and the dill yogurt dressing was fantastic. We had been wanting to try Barracks Row's Belgian citizen for a while now, and had been previously scared off by remarks like "oh it's good, but it's so pricey," and "don't go hungry or it will cost you a fortune." Finally one Saturday after walking up to Eastern Market and facing an out-the-door line at the market breakfast stand, we decided it was time to bite the bullet. I ordered the goat cheese waffle and my date went for the eggs benedict with smoked salmon to which she added frittes and a salad, which you've already heard about. The waffle was golden brown and crispy, topped with copious amounts of goat cheese and several roasted tomatoes, and accompanied by an equally fine, but slightly smaller salad. The eggs benedict looked like a work of art. Given that it is a Belgian restaurant, I feel I can't rightfully give it 5 starts without having tried the mussels, so I will definitely be going back soon. read more

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The food was not what it looks like on their website or on yelp. Do not go here, they have poor customer service service and they charge you $25 if you want to cut your own cake. Horrible restaurant. I will not go here again read more

I came here for brunch on Easter Sunday with a reservation for 9am and it was already packed. I ordered the brusselse waffles with whipped cream and mixed fruit. I was expecting it to be overwhelmingly sweet since they are waffles after all. But nope! They were just right! They were fluffy but still crispy on the outside. The portion size was perfect with the right balance of fruit and waffle. Too bad I don't live in DC; otherwise, I would come here every weekend. Give it a try! I would love to come and try their lunch and dinner menus if I'm ever in the area again. read more

Belga Cafe - Brusselse waffles with mixed fruit and whipped cream - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This spot is very tight food ok nowhere to park please do public transportation. I didn't want to pay a dinner price for Brunch. You are better off going to farmers and distillers at six and Mass Ave., Northwest their Sunday brunch is 3595 and it is delicious oh it is great you have so many things to choose from and you can go back a few times everything is fresh farmed it's beautiful great atmosphere. Please save my life read more

Don't recommend this place for dinner. This is a brunch, drink, or dessert spot ONLY. I now see why all these reviews are about the brunch. Silly me for going here for dinner. Appetizers: Was debating between the the Truffle Mac and Cheese Side Dish and the Kip and Krab Sigaars (spicy sigaars of chicken and crabmeat with dipping sauces). I opted for the Sigaars. Wrong Choice --- they tasted like frozen chinese spring rolls. I wonder if there was even any crabmeat in there. Dinner: Ok I love scallops, so of course I chose the Coquilles Saint-Jacques entree, per the waiter's suggestion. The scallops were cold, the orange cardamom sauce did not impress, and the presentation of the dish was a disappointment. My friend got the the grilled salmon with the duvel sauce, which I thought was even worst. It was coated in a beer sauce that was buttery and lacked flavor. Dessert: Desserts here are very good, and bonus points for them for having some unique items on their menu. Guys, they have asparagus ice cream here (!) and it is actually pretty good. I got the Triple Crown of Chocolate Mousse, and it was fantastic. You get three different types of chocolate mousses that are each very decadent and rich. Great dessert item to share with another. read more

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AMAZING!!! Go here for brunch! They have amazing flavors and the most interesting dishes. If you are visiting and you want something to talk about when you go back home, go here! If you are local and haven't gone yet, GO!!! I ordered the MAIS WAFELS ($17.50) Cornbread waffle, pulled pork, avocado, fried eggs, crème fraîche which was so unique. My friend ordered the WAFEL MET EEND A L'ORANGE ($18.00) which was a crispy rosemary waffle, duck confit, orange, carrots, ginger, poached egg. The waffle was GREAT! I also had a side of sausage but it wasn't anything special so for $5.50 don't bother if you aren't craving them like I was. Overall FABULOUS place!! read more

Belga Cafe - MAIS WAFELS--Amazing!!! - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here with a friend on Sunday morning during July 4th weekend and it was packed. We had made a reservation and they would not seat us until both of us arrived--this wasn't a big deal since it was just 2 of us, but it might be something to keep in mind for bigger parties. Our service was very slow at first; it took several minutes for us to even get water, but after we placed our orders the food came out very quickly. I got the waffles with berries & mint and it was really, really good. The savory waffles of the table adjacent also smelled really delicious. The atmosphere was nice, albeit a bit cramped. I would definitely come back to try out some other waffles on the menu. Recommended. I would suggest making a reservation. Very conveniently located, just a few minutes' walk from the Eastern Market metro station. read more

Belga Cafe - "Brusselse wafels" with berries & mint - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here several times, and most recently last night, when I finally tried the dinner offerings. I had the lemon chicken with frites, and it was delicious. The sauce was perfect for fry dipping (no ketchup needed, trust me) and the chicken was perfectly done--not dry in the least. The brussels sprouts we ordered as an appetizer were crispy and savory. My boyfriend had a sausage dish and he finished every last bit. His father had the ribs and said they were absolutely perfect, and his mother had the chicken vol-au-vent which, though she had never had anything like it before, she said was good. We also ordered the mussels (I did not partake as I'm not a fan) and used the bread they provide to sop up the juices. It was so tasty, everyone wanted to keep the pot after the mussels were gone. The other times I've visited Belga, I've gotten the brunch and it was AWESOME. Crepes, waffles, mimosas, ALL of it is fantastic. I have never been disappointed in coming here. read more

Belga Cafe - Lemon chicken and frites - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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