Racist, won't be back. Pluses: fine food, warm bar staff (American) and (immigrant) maitre d. However, we're an interracial couple. The waiter slow-walked our entire order and barely deigned to talk to us, give us the desert menu, etc. He dripped with attitude. We finally appealed to the bar staff to get our food, which had been waiting in the kitchen to be served. King Leopold's Ghost is alive and well in this Belgian outpost. Don't go. read more

Loved the food and service at this restaurant! Food came out delicious and the service by Yulia was amazing! She was so attentive and kind during closing time for us! Really enjoyed the whole experience read more

Belga Cafe - Our Avocado Toast & The Belgian Omelet - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is one of my oldies, but goodies!! I've been coming here for a decade now, and despite all the new restaurants DC has seen, this continues to be a solid option. My favorite meal here is brunch, but mussels anytime is always a good idea! Came here on a Saturday late afternoon for a "snack" of mussels and bread lol They used to have a larger variety of mussel sauces to choose from which I miss dearly, but their standard white wine sauce and this chorizo sauce are both enjoyable nonetheless. The baguette was fresh, warm, and soft--no crusty shell like traditional baguettes, however. The nori seaweed butter was exquisite and dipping it in the mussels sauce was even better Get a seat outside when weather permits for prime people watching on Barracks Row! read more

Belga Cafe - Red devil's mussels and baguette with nori butter and some other butter I couldn't figure out - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice Belgian choices in a little "house" outside facilitated brunch outdoors in a chilly pouring rain. My Maine lobster waffle with a small side salad was delicious, the mimosa was refreshing and my family enjoyed their dishes as well. Service was friendly, but forgot one side dish ordered to come early. It is definitely popular! read more

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

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We had yet another wonderful meal last night at Belga Café. We've been going to BC for as long as it has been open, celebrating major events like when our boys graduated from HS, or just because we haven't been there in a few months and want to go back. The restaurant basically never disappoints. Last night was one of those "no special reason" trips. We had a great table, and the food was wonderful. My wife basically feasted on the specials (cauliflower soup and cod) while I did the beet salad special and the Halibut. All dishes were super, but I thought the halibut was especially first rate last night. We ended with a peanut butter waffle that we split. Yum, but not your diet plate. What often makes our trips to Belga Café so special, and did again last night, was the service. Yulia, our primary server was so friendly and fun. And between her and the kitchen, the timing of the food was just about perfect. That is such a big deal to us, as we don't like to be rushed, but also don't like a big wait to be recognized when seated. Yulia nailed it for sure. Overall, a superb evening (ergo why I took the time to write a review). And as an added treat, Chef Bart was working the front of the house last night and, along with him taking our drink order, we got to converse a bit with the owner and chef of this wonderful restaurant. read more

My friend and I came here for restaurant week brunch. We were initially surprised because the menu at the restaurant looked different than it did online. There were no alcohol-free drinks on the menu! I ended up asking the waitress if I could get the coffee without alcohol, and she seemed a bit hesitant but ended up saying that it was ok. I really liked the coffee, it was probably my favorite part of the meal. I thought the eggs were very salty. The bacon was cooked well. The dessert was also pretty good, I'm not a huge fan of creme brulee but I liked this one. It was extremely crowded the whole time. We made a reservation in advance and definitely needed one. I think I would come back to try the brunch, but I wish I had known about the change in the menu before I went there. read more

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I was a little bit disappointed because I love Belgian food! I thought the service was good, but that was really it. I didn't love the interior. It wasn't really decorated that much and I wanted them to turn on the AC. It was a little warm. I also didn't love my food. Maybe it's my fault for ordering something not Belgian at a Belgian restaurant. But my waffle was not crispy, my eggs weren't runny, and my lettuce was kind of sad. read more

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

20% gratuity is automatically added to the bill. We dined here before and weren't impressed with the food. We wanted to give the place another try during restaurant week. The food was much better this time. The atmosphere was nice at lunch time. It was busy. Service was acceptable. We were time pressed and the waiter tried to accommodate us, but didn't succeed when more diners showed up. The waiter's manner was a bit loud and brusque. The food was good and presentation was wonderful. I would come again to try their regular menu. 3*BELGA'S RIS DE VEAU BOLLETJES: Croquettes of sweetbreads, cream of prain mustard, short ribs crispy ends, pickles: nice but not overwhelming, very creamy fillings. 4*BBQ PORK BELLY STEAMED BUNS-Braised crispy pork belly, breakfast radish, cilantro, crispy quinoa, BBQ bourbon sauce, buns: traditional Chinese dish, pretty good for a French restaurant. 4*BIET SALADE MET BBQ PALING-Creation of different beets with warm Japanese BBQ eel, sour cream, and fresh herbs: fresh and healthy. It was creative to add eel to beet salad, a very nice touch. 4*GRILLED BRANZINO FILET Cream of zucchini, fennel pollen, tomato, Chinese eggplant, lemon-lime dressing: portion was generous and it was tender and nice. 4*LAMSFILET MET BOONTJES- Herb butter crusted lamb loin, crème coco blanc, string beans, savoy, lemon thyme jus: it was pretty good with gravy but I would like it to be medium rare and tender. White beans & green string beans were cooked just right, had a nice texture. 4*EENDENBORST MET KERSEN BIER-Roasted duck breast, red cherry cream, husk cherry, Bloomsdale spinach, purple sweet potato, beer cherry duck sauce: nice duck pieces, nice presentation and mixed flavor. 4*VIRGINIA PEACH COBBLER Braised Virginia peaches and nectarines, multigrain crumble, basil, balsamic, homemade vanilla cream: I was in a rush and didn't have time to really enjoy it. 3*CHEF'S BLUEBERRY CHEESE PIE-Ricotta cheese, yoghurt cream, blueberry compote, graham cracker crust, thyme oil, hibiscus: small and light. read more

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My girlfriend planned this extravagant day for her and I and it included Brunch at Belga Cafe (which is from 11am-3pm on the weekend). The restaurant fits a descent amount of people. Their drinks are awesome, I recommend the Bellini and B'Mimosa. Their service was great. I had the Lamb and Chorizo Burger and my girlfriend had the Fried Chicken and Waffles. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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

I have been to Belga cafe before as part of the prior year restaurant week. This time it slightly disappointed me as the quality did not live upto what it was previously. The wait for getting helped was long. The waiter was helpful while taking the order. From the restaurant week menu, I took the cold gin and tonic oysters, beef steak and peach creation. The beef steak I have had before at the same restaurant was much more better than how it was made this time. It had some layer which was not so edible and very chewy and hard. I was hoping that they had some vegetarian options for my wife as main course but unfortunately they did not. The mushroom waffles turned out to be a decent pick. The original fries was very tasty and we loved it. Overall the experience was not as great as the last time. There were less people in the restaurant overall for a restaurant week day. The food presentation is always great at this place. Will recommend visiting here during restaurant week. read more

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Came here with some friends, and everything was absolutely delicious. They had a massive brunch menu and it all looked so good, that we couldn't decide what was best to order. Two of us ended up getting the fancy hashbrowns, and another got the crispy egg on mushroom toast. We also got the Napolean Mimosa. Service was attentive and refilled our waters consistently. First bite of the fancy hashbrowns (duck, melted foie gras, poached duck egg) was heavenly. Duck was tender, hashbrown were crispy and soft (aka the right consistency); everything was incredibly rich and flavorful in one bite. I don't think I've ever had poached duck egg before, and it was wonderful. No review for the crispy egg on mushroom toast as I didn't want to steal my friends food, but it looked great. As though this wasn't enough, we decided to order some small dessert-ish bites to share. I was less of a fan of these but was glad I gave it a try. The Original Doffle was so rich and very sweet; we split it into eighths and I only managed an eighth of it! The server noticed we were trying to cut it with a fork and offered us a knife - which was great as we didn't even have to flag them down for it. L'original waffle bommekes was also surprisingly dense; the final waffle at the bottom of the basket was a quite burned but I don't think any of us could have eaten it even if it wasn't (we were so stuffed). Seems like they have a bunch of other events and themed nights going on - would definitely recommend this place and I'd be interested in coming back for dinner sometime! read more

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

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Well it's official, I'm having a mini International restaurant week at some of the best places in the city! It's not official but it's been culminating as I go and eat such interesting and delicious cuisine. Last night I went to Belga Cafe, and was blown away by the selection, and tastes that came from the kitchen! I sat upstairs at the back side rooftop which is quaint and so cutely put together for more intimate dates or small groups. Belga is also on 8th street which is so eclectic with food and hookah lounges. For the appetizer I had escargot- yup snails! Lol i am obsessed with snails in a great garlic, while wine sauce and Belga Cafe took it up a notch. The escargot was cooked perfectly and came paired with delicious mashed potatoes! It was delicious, and so well flavored you wouldn't have known it was snails! I then had lamb chops (on an amazing yogurt and spicy red sauce with fresh pickled veggies - A MUST) and seafood risotto (with the freshest scallops EVERY, and seafood so so fresh). I enjoyed every dish, every moment, and every forkful- definitely somewhere you need to experience for yourself! read more

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We had the most delicious dinner at Belga's. We ordered 4 smaller plates and one entree to share and everything was fabulous. We will definitely be going back. It was a great place for a date. Not too loud. read more

Deceivingly crowded with a lively atmosphere, we had high expectations. However we were disappointed with our food - it was over salted and over seasoned. Service was average - but would not return due to the food, especially considering the price. read more

Kay make the best espresso martini in the town, when y'all stop by just ask for her and she got y'all

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. I didn't think I would be into Belgian food, but the brunch menu had plenty of things I would normally eat with a little Belgian flair. I got the Belgian Omelette, and the flavors were great! I liked the variety of the seafood inside. We also split the bottle of champagne with juices, loved that you could choose several mixers. We also commented on how cute all of the little bottles were! My friends got chicken and waffles, the waffle with berries, and another got the egg sandwich on brioche with the cinnamon roll waffle. They commented that they thought the waffle would be softer vs crispier, but that the taste was excellent. My friend really enjoyed the cinnamon roll waffle. I would definitely go back! read more

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Updated review. I was contacted by the Belga Staff to try to amend the previous mixed review with a gift card to try their restaurant again. Thankfully I took them up on their offer and I'm very happy I did. I went in without a reservation with my partner this Friday at around 6:30pm. We were able to be seated but I did notice that it was getting crowded as time went by. Once again the food here is very very good and delicious. I had the braised rabbit leg that I took a picture of. It really was quite delicious. Before that I had the kip & Krab siggars for an appetizer. Once again all of this was very very delicious. Idk how they do it but the sauces of everything is just insanely good. Previously my main issue was with the service, thankfully my concern is no longer an issue. The front desk was very nice and quick to seat us down. Our waitress was polite and answered any questions I had about any dishes. There were no last minute food changes and no beer spilled on me. Our waitress was nothing but fantastic. I am happy i gave this place another chance and while I still believe it is quite expensive, it's very much worth it. Highly recommended! read more

Belga Cafe - Konijnenbout Met Rivier Kreeftjes - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

An absolute neighborhood staple. Some of the highest quality food on 8th street. I'm surprised by the low reviews, but maybe some people don't realize this is a higher end restaurant than some of the other mid range restaurants on the street. Very well prepared food, thoughtful menu, copious amounts of butter - what's not to love? It does get overcrowded at peak brunch, I enjoy it more for dinner. read more

Met a girlfriend for a boozy lunch here. We got mussels and the ahi tuna crudo to share. All the seating was spaced out nicely. We felt like we had the place to ourselves. They brought us the wrong mussels, apologized and brought us the correct ones while letting us keep the first order. I loved the spicy one with chorizo and my friend loved the white wine one. Oh, and the fries were amazing. With the sauce. Yum! read more

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

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I love brunch at Belga's! They have quickly become my favorite brunch spot in 8th street since most of the others have since sadly consolidated their menus due to COVID. Each time I try something different and they never fails. Two of my brunch go to's are the Farm Cornbread Waffle and the Cowboy Hash Brown Skillet which has hash browns, beer-braised short ribs, Brussels sprouts, chipotle ketchup, pickled onions, scrambled eggs a very tasty combo that dances in your mouth. I also can't forget about the mussels. Some of the best I have ever tasted. They do not have unlimited mimosas but have reasonably priced champagne they offer with a tiny craft of juice which is just the way I like it. They have plenty of outdoor seating including those cool igloo house/tents thingies that seat 2's and 4's. Be sure to have a reservation because without one be prepared to have a plan b in mind. read more

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

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One of my favorite streets. Great service. Loved sitting on their sidewalk space. Stopped by for dessert. It was a simple cookie, chocolate sauce, and ice cream selection. Simple but wonderful. The hot Belgian chocolate dipping sauce was very nice. The vanilla ice cream was sitting on a cookie crumble which was a great touch. Great service! Overall simple but nice visit. read more

Belga Cafe - Dessert and street views - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Although we were seated outdoors, we were pleasantly surprised with how comfortable and cozy the outdoor greenhouse dining space was even with the cold wind blowing. They had a portable heater in each greenhouse and the doors shut so the wind wouldn't blow inside. We ordered the Liege Waffle & Red Wine Poached Pears to share, and had our own plates: Buttermilk Fried Chicken Thighs, Broodje Ei Met Truffle and I ordered the Belgian French Toast. Everything tasted AMAZING. We also ordered the Belgian Hot Chocolate with Irish Cream for the cold weather. Definitely worth it. Service was amazing. We brought along my doggo, Treasure, and they even brought a water bowl for him. They made sure to check in to see how we're loving the food. And yes, we loved it. Highly recommend! read more

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I went to Bresca this past Sunday for brunch. It was pretty solid! It was a nice day and we were seated outside. We had one server, but were still tended to by other staff members which I appreciated since we always had someone making sure we were enjoying our experience. I had the Belgian French Toast which was quite delicious. The waffle had the perfect texture and was amazing! The roasted pineapple was a nice touch. I also had the Jamaican Jerk Turkey Bacon which was spicy and flavorful in the best way. Definitely a unique twist on turkey bacon. I could see myself coming back here, especially for the waffles. read more

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

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Had brunch here last weekend. Service was exceptional thanks to Mark! We loved every cocktail (Bart Simpson is a must) and the food was delicious. Such a cozy fun weekend brunch. Couldn't give a stronger rec! read more

Belga Cafe - Two Belga's Bellini and Bart Simpson at Your Service - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My siblings and I took my mother here for Mother's Day. I must say I was very unimpressed. When you enter the establishment the doorway is very tight. So there is nowhere to wait while trying to be seated. The waiters and waitress's didn't say excuse not once and everyone seemed to have an attitude. When we finally got seated for our 3:30 reservation it took almost 10 minutes for a waiter to acknowledge us. When it was finally time to order our food, the waiter came back to the table 3 times to let us know they were out of what we wanted. Once the food came out we had to send the waffle back due to it being cold and hard as a brick. I also never got the bacon I ordered. As for the taste of everything else it was very mediocre. Then to have to pay 20% tip on below average service, it makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it. Then what appeared to be the manager was drunk at the front door. Not only was he drunk he was running his finger around the rim of the pitcher they refill our water from. read more

Belga is amazing. The food is incredible and the service is impeccable. Chef, Kaylie, Rinata and the whole crew create an unforgettable experience. read more

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

Such a cute cafe. My friend and I were seated in a greenhouse, which asks for a minimum pand would say that it's one of the best decorated places in dc! I deducted a few stars because the quality of food wasn't the best. For instance, the apples on my waffle were kind of too hard to eat and I found the overall dish to be one-note in sweetness. The fries were decent and came paired with 3 kinds of dip - none of which we found an appetizing pairing. It could be that we overall ordered wrong, so I'd definitely come back to check this place out again as the decorations and service were above average. read more

Belga Cafe - Liege waffle and apple, Eitjes & Gerookte Zalm, fries and a Cinnamon Roll Waffle. - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came to this restaurant for the incredible waffle but honestly the server Camilla changed my life. Let me tell you the truth. I came to this restaurant bc my friend was on a date and I wanted to assess the man she was going out with from a far. Creepy? Perhaps but also hilarious and entertaining. I sent her a drink so that the man knows she's a valuable queen. Camilla was so helpful in very politely and respectfully sending the drink at the exact right time (she recommended the time based on the stage in the meal) Camilla is amazing and I love her and she's so nice. Also very patient w me when I had like 9 options to choose from and helped me narrow mt choices lol. read more

We LOvED our visit to Belga Cafe! Located in the Capitol Hill area it was very convenient for where we were staying. To food was spectacular! The ambiance was cozy and had a real nice vibe. Decent wine list. Most of the staff couldn't have been nicer and friendly! Our waiter was a little aloof and seemed disinterested, but everyone else was excellent! We enjoyed the croquets and chicken cigars to start. Most had the menu staple of Beef Stew which was superb. One guest had the muscles which he raved about. We shared the almond cake that looked a lot like a waffle, but it tasted great! The Belgian ice cream while tasty did have a bit of freezer burn. But it didn't stop me from eating it! All in all an excellent dining experience! read more

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By far the best in DC. Chef/Owner makes a strong presence in the room. Foods always intriguing and scrumptious service staff are always on top of the moment. read more

SMH!!! This was by far the WORST!!! service I have ever received and it's all due to Yulia,T nasty disposition. She was very aggressive, and we did NOT! feel safe in her presence at all. We were nothing but gracious and even left a tip but guess what? Yulia ran us down after we had already exited the restaurant to tell us what she thought of us and how she deserved more...MORE!! she was practically pan handling at that point. I had never seen anything as uncouth in my entire life! If I could leave the tip again, I'd leave her nothing, come back order more food and leave her nothing again. The shift manager was very apologetic, we appreciated the other patrons who took a stand and decided to leave, my husband was happy to suggest better dinning when they asked. I'm so disappointed Belga, I was excited to visit a place I used to think was charming and perfect to have a small birthday brunch, yes it was my birthday too. Thank goodness I didn't allow her ruin it. I won't be back. read more

The food was absolutely exquisite. So many brunch places and my bestie and i needed something new. We were debating around the area and took a chance on 8th street eastern market area. The chance paid off because the meal was devine and fresh. (I dont eat cherry tomatoes but the salad was so fresh had to eat them cherry tomatoes! ) . Totally recommend this joint. read more

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

Great dining experience with brother and sister-in-law! The salmon with lentils was top-notch, and the service was perfect. The $8 happy hour pinot noir is also a winner! read more

What happened to Belga Cafe? I HAD been there for at least 15 times in five years. Great beer is all there it is. The ambiance and Service are great as usual. Food is an issue. NY strip steak tastes horrible. Too hard to chew. $57 is not even worth it. Frites is way too salty! Mayo with truffles should be on the side dish, not toppling on it. Sprouts with pork belly is o k a y but why would i want extra yogurt or white cream for. Beer-stout is awesome. I will never go there again! read more

So! Had an event here recently and I couldn't recommend them enough! Rinata and her team were super welcoming and accommodating and made the event planning a dream from day one. The food was so good, the regular menu is yummy on the daily but their event package options are not only diverse but so tasty. And the drinks!!! Chef's kiss! They created a lovely cozy welcoming environment for the crowd and honestly made me look good :). And I hear they have multiple event spaces depending on the size of the crowd soooooo you already know who I'm calling for the next shindig! Also get the fries! Omg get the friesssssss! Or I should say Belgian frites . Seriously get the fries! read more

Had a great time at brunch! It was a lovely and delicious. We got the chicken and waffles and the country hash with the bubbly special (bottle of bubbly and orange juice) service was good the Christmas decorations were adorable nice festive touch! read more

Belga Cafe - Waffle Buttermilk Fried Chicken Thighs and Waffles and Bucket of Applewood Smoked Bacon - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Made reservations the night before on OpenTable to get in for brunch. We sat outside in the greenhouse-type igloo tents. Grateful for the space heater in the tent, because it was so chilly out. I started with a bloody mary with celery foam. My friend ordered the napoleon mimosa. The drinks gave us a smooth buzz. I ordered the coddled egg in the bokkal. I've never had a coddled egg before. It looks like baby food in a fish bowl, but it's poached eggs in whipped, buttery mashed potatoes with carrots in a pool of hollandaise. It tasted rich. Also comes with a baguette to spoon the coddled egg on top of it or to dip in the egg. I also ordered the Belgian frites with the trio of mayo. The fries reminded me of the fries you get at Five Guys. read more

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

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Excellent Brunch spot! Waffles are amazing (being that the owner is from Belgium). We had Waffles, Eggs Benedict and Steak and Eggs. Everything was delicious! It's a cute little place with great service. read more

Belga Cafe - Eggs Benedict with salmon - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yum! If you like waffles and classic brunch food, this is the place for you! They have so many types of waffles and eggs you can choose from, and you are bound to walk out with a pretty photo of your food. It's a basic girl's dream. I ordered a classic waffle with berries and it was delicious. It was filling and warm and I left a happy camper. The service was a bit slow, but they were friendly. read more

Belga Cafe - Fresh & Simple - A Belgian Waffle - Belgian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I tried Belga Cafe with a friend on a Friday night for DC Summer Restaurant week. This location was selected for its good deal on a 3 course meal. The ambiance was okay, the layout seemed to reflect classic euro cafe dining arrangement. This isn't my preferred style for layout so I won't hold that against them. To address the service, I thought all our interactions were very friendly- but I thought exchanges to be a bit... awkward? I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think the prime example would be the waiter reaching over me to rotate my plate while I was trying to start eating. Okay, onto the food. For our first course, we got the lobster waffle and tartare. Both were good and flavorful and interesting. This satisfaction in our first course left me anticipating good things from the subsequent courses. For the second course, we got the NY strip and the roast chicken. The roast chicken was plated nicely, and was decent. Nothing thrilling- but I find this accurate to French/Belgian food in general. The NY Strip (regularly priced at $52) was unfortunately not good. The cut of meat was poor, chewy, and not well prepared. It's plating was equally as depressing. The fries were the best part but it wouldn't seem appropriate to pay $52 for fries. Okay. Onto the dessert. It is important to note, that for the restaurant week menu- individuals are not given the choice for what dessert they receive. The peach creation was our only option. So we were both served this peach monstrosity. I've never experienced such a bad dessert. Pound cake, fruit sorbet, peach halves doesn't sound so bad, but then you toss in tomatoes, basil, and basil crème.... And this had me raising my eyebrow. As you can imagine, it tasted pretty ghastly. This flavor combo seemed to lack direction and a cohesive flavor profile. The basil crème ball had me gagging. Overall, I think unfortunately Belga Cafe lacks necessary flavor and care to elevate its restaurant status. It was certainly a fun adventure. I can't say I'd recommend this place, even if you're in the area. read more