The wife and I were going to see a speaker at the San Clemente Community Center, so we went early to grab some food somewhere in downtown San Clemente. We decided on Brussels Bistro, as we had not been here in a while and we recalled having a good meal previous times. We did have a reservation, but since it was early, it was not a big deal getting a table. By the time we left, the tables were mostly full and it was starting to get loud. Not crazy, just people yapping and having fun. As we were looking at the menu, we ordered a couple of drinks. I had the white beer and the wife had some goofy sounding cocktail, like she likes to have. I put in an order for the cheese croquettes for us to munch on while choosing our meals. We have had their mussels in the past but this time we passed and went on to the mains. For me, it was the garlic shrimp appetizer as my main and some crusty bread for dippin'. The wife ordered the creamy chicken entree. This had a puff pastry under a creamy mushroom sauce with chicken. Her side was the mixed greens. I was satisfied with the shrimp and having the bread to dip into the garlic butter sauce was great. The wife liked her chicken dish and we split the mixed great salad. Nothing mind blowing, but very good and we will be coming back again. The service was very good, 4.5 stars. The 3 stars is based on the food only. Go. Eat Well. HAVE FUN!! read more

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Everything went well...starting with getting a table when we walked in. One of our favorite restaurants in Laguna Beach so we wanted to meet our kids half way in San Clemente for lunch.. just love the mussels & their French fries are outstanding. Wanted more & more. Sara our server was a delight! Great ambiance + delicious food= wonderful experience. We need one in San Diego!! read more

I had the pleasure of visiting Brussels Bistro the other week, and it immediately became one of my favorite spots in the area. The restaurant is extremely charming, and the tables are smartly spaced so that you can comfortably hold a conversation, even during the more crowded hours. The staff was incredibly friendly, patient, and helpful; our party was in a snacky mood, so we pretty much ordered our appetizers one at a time. Despite our challenging ordering schedule, our food was always delivered promptly and warm. Now, onto the food. Brussels Bistro offers a rich set menu plus a rotating menu of specials that is displayed on chalkboards. Most everything we tried was delicious, but the standout item for me were the mussles and fries; we ordered a pound of the green curry mussles, and they make for the perfect starter to share. I would like to mention that the portions for most entrees are quite small with the notable exception of the pasta dishes, so if you're feeling particularly hungry, get some pasta! I tried their carbonara and it was a delight. Be sure to save some room for desserts! There are plenty of traditional desserts and also drinks to choose from. While the belgian waffles seem simple at first, these have a tastefully crispy crust and a soft, almost undercooked middle. Every bite was a treat, and it made for the perfect end to an incredible meal. I cannot gush enough about Brussels Bistro, and I look forward to my next visit. read more

This was my first visit to Brussels Bistro in San Clemente ( where parking is always a challenge). My party of six was warmly greeted and promptly seated at our reservation time. I like the layout and the vibe: open yet cozy, with a soothing color scheme and fun design throughout. I love the menu and drink selection as while it's Belgian based (as it should be) there's something for everyone. I had a couple of different Belgian beers, both very refreshing. We ordered Brussels sprouts and Belgian onion soup for appys; both were quite tasty although the soup was a little sweet. Our mains included mussels with fries, Belgian Mac and Cheese with ham, pasta Bolognese ( for those less adventurous in our party) crab cakes and Shrimp. All of the dishes were well presented and well made, but bread should come with mussels to sop up the delicious leftover broth. We were too full for dessert but there are good selections for next time. Lastly, service was terrific, with a special shoutout to our server, Julian. Noise level was moderate. I look forward to my next visit as it's well worth a return. read more

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We love this restaurant! Despite being a holiday weekend, we were able to get a same day reservation online. Our waiter, Julian, was friendly and very attentive. When I asked for Sancerre wine, he suggested a different version, and brought a generous tasting. We ordered Beef Bourguignon, which was FABULOUS! So tender, tasty, filled with carrots (cooked just right), pearl onions and rich gravy. Of course we had to order bread and butter to go with it; the bread was a small loaf of warm sourdough--delicious with the beef. I definitely recommend this beautiful restaurant! read more

5 of us went last Sunday. Our reservation was at 5:45pm; we didn't know they have daily Happy Hour until 6pm. Server was very nice to inform us and got the HH drinks order in. She explained the special very well. My favorite was the Escargot! Real escargot in shells, not frozen meat in fancy plate. lol. The only complaint is the table is a bit small for party of 5. read more

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Ever have one of those days where from the time you lift you head off the pillow life keeps throwing rocks at you. Well Yesterday was one of those days for me. We were celebrating mom's birthday and the restaurant that we made reservations at did not have her favorite dish, muscles. Wel. Since it was just the three of us, mom said let's find another restaurant. Okay So we walked accross the street to Brussels. Looked on the menu and mussels were right there! We were seated and our server was just amazing. Her took one look at me, knew i was having one of those challenging days and said "Honey, I got you covered" Took our order and asked who's birthday it was. I pointed to mom and without saying anything word. He just knew I was having a challenging day. Mom really really enjoyed her mussels. ( just heads up- Tuesdays are all you can eat mussels) The fries were perfect! The mushroom soup warmed the cockles of my heart! The ambiance was dazzling with a definite Brussels accent. read more

Excellent service and excellent food. Great ambience definitely be coming back again. It's great for girls night. read more

The cheese croquettes were my favorite item and I enjoyed my happy hour trying different Belgium dishes! Staff was friendly and I will definitely be back for the brews read more

Brussels Bistro - One Flight Away - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Belgium beer and mussels and fries, who could want anything else on this beautiful Saturday in San Clemente. Had the Bavik beer on tap and the cream and garlic mussels with crisp Belgium fries. Dessert, warm apple tart with coffee ice cream. OMG so savory Love the open-air patio. Really nice waitstaff. I have also had the carbonara before and it was delicious. Remember to do random acts of kindness as it will make everyone feel wonderful Follow me for more awesome reviews read more

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Such a cute hidden gem! The good tastes like what we had in Belgium if not better! Food: - Cheese croquette: crunchy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. Very satisfying! - Mariniere mussles and fries: mussles are fresh and the sauce complements it really well. - Carbonara: creamy and flavorful Tip: - Happy hour at 4-6pm includes the mussels - Birthday dessert here is a chocolate mousse with sparklers! How fun! read more

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First time to Brussels Bistro, really appreciated the authentic Belgian menu and amazing (hard to find) Belgian beer on tap. We had mussels, meat balls and a trout dish. This is quality food from an establishment that really cares. Our server was Jennifer and she was awesome. Plus she was uber knowledge about the subtleties between all the different beers and helped us navigate the menu. Also, she might be the nicest person in the world. We'll be back and see you next time Jennifer! read more

We really enjoyed our Brussels dinner! We went early, around 5pm on a Thursday and it wasn't busy at all. We sat on the street side which was nice ambiance. Our waitress was great, knew a ton about the menu and offered us drink suggestions. Our oysters and main course were really good, everything on the menu looked really good! They do have happy hour so be sure to stop by during happy hour. Will be back! read more

Beer. Mussels. Frites. Amazing!!!! Go for those! Everything is else is meh or okay unless it's maybe a lucky single dish or day. I am sure there are some winners on the menu. Beef bourguinon was okay but too salty, meat needed to be more tender and vegetables softer. Not bad, but seemed not well managed. Branzino special was cooked well but flavors were just okay when it easily could of been more balanced. Mousse was nice but a bit too sweet. read more

Brussels Bistro is our go-to for just about everything--dates, girls' nights, out-of-town guests, or a treat-yourself lunch. The vibe is effortlessly chic without being stuffy, and the menu? Let's just say every single thing we've ordered has been an absolute party in our mouths. Seriously, the flavors here are next-level. From rich, comforting classics to inventive seasonal dishes, there's a sense of joyful creativity in every bite. It's the kind of place where you start planning your next visit halfway through your first course--because you must try more. Service? First-line all the way. Friendly, knowledgeable, and somehow always there right when you need them. **Cocktails are bright, balanced, and diverse--**whether you're into herbal refreshers, bold sips, or something a little flirty, there's a glass with your name on it. And the beer list? Blows Yard House out of the water. Thoughtfully curated, beautifully Belgian, and a dream for anyone who loves a good pour. Bonus tip: you can BYOB for a super reasonable corkage fee--perfect if you've got a special bottle or just want to keep the night rolling your way. Bottom line: Brussels Bistro has never let us down--whether it's lunch on a sunny patio, a cozy dinner date, or a clink-filled girls night. It's one of those rare places that makes every occasion feel like something to celebrate. read more

Walked around the street looking for a brunch spot and this place caught our eye. It wasn't very busy, not as busy as some other places, so we were seated right away. You could order from the all day menu or the brunch menu. Half of us got a mimosa and the other half got the breakfast margarita, which was pear flavored. The margarita was awesome and I highly recommend it! I got a chicken sandwich which I swear is one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had. It came with amazing fries and a side salad! My party got the avocado toast, which they wished was more toasted as they felt the bread got soggy. We also had sides of bacon and hashbrowns, the bacon had an off putting taste to it but the hashbrowns were good (this place knows it's potato's!) Overall not a bad stop to recommend! read more

We came here while staying overnight in San Clemente. We were able to make a reservation the same day. I really loved it! Our server I believe was Abby and she made great recommendations for us for both food and drinks. She was really knowledgeable on both menus. The portions were quite large and we probably could have shared but we got to try more of their menu. The food was super tasty! Definitely recommend the cheese croquettes. It's not a very fancy place but the music is nice, the restaurant feels very European. Definitely recommend! read more

Brussels Bistro - Beer flight - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Been here many times and never had a bad service nor bad food. Mussels are always yummy!!! Tried all of the sauces !

Always my favorite go to spot in San Clemente!! We always go here for date night, happy hour and most recently we came on a Tuesday for the all you can eat mussels! The servers were really nice to tell us that if you order two times then it's already worth your money. I also liked the fact that you could choose between French fries or baguette. The only downside was that the server offered us different kinds of dips for the French fries and they were so delicious... but I thought it was free haha no biggie it was just $1 each... I just wish I knew. Will definitely be back! My favorite mussels flavors were spicy tomato, chorizo, green curry and mariniere yum! read more

Brussels Bistro - Dips for French fries - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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It was my first time here it was really good. I enjoyed every bit of it. The waiters were very nice. They did check up on me to make sure that I was happy with my meal. I love the area. It's really put together kinda like a hipster vibe, but it was very casual in there. I will definitely come back again. read more

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Well I have to say this is one of the best places I have ever eaten at.The staff is kind.The chicken tenders and butter pasta taste brilliant and the vibe in general is really nice I would totally recommend this place. read more

The good: great location, comfortable, friendly service The not so great: pricy for the portion size. Brunch entrees are $20-30, which on the expensive side for breakfast. The quiche is small but was flaky and light and is served with a tiny mixed salad. The waffles topped poached eggs and smoked salmon was really tasty but again, a small portion. The basket of pastries ($12) was delicious and warm but each piece (6 total) was the size of a finger. I left still hungry. read more

Great cuisine, though portion sizes do vary. Tiny meal last time, and a huge one this time. Both were very expertly crafted dishes. The ambience is clean, with straight lines, and yet it's also relaxed. Delightful Belgian-themed passports. That said, the service experience was a deal breaker. The waitress was difficult to work with and asked us to box wet food ourselves at a small table. She spent most of the time chatting with staff. We were the only ones in the restaurant at the time, and I can now see why. I broke my 25% tipping rule that day. It's a ten on food, but getting to the food was a whole other story. read more

It's screaming French, but they say its Belgium. We were strolling downtown on Friday night and popped in here because of the bread and happy hour. Unfortunately, happy hour is only offered Sunday - Thursday. bummmer We opted to sit at the bar, because the tables looked packed. We ordered a split of the croquettes, raw oysters, french bread, and of course beers on tap. The croquettes were delicious. The cheese is better than the beef IMO. Both perfectly flaking and golden on the outside but creamy on the inside. The oysters were horrible. They are way too close to the ocean to be serving dinky, dark colored oysters. The French Baguette, is bought from a local bakery and served. It is not complimentary, but a whopping $5. Not worth it TBH. service was okay, when it was only us. Once it got busier she was too preoccupied with talking to the bar back and other servers. I would come here again for the croquettes when in the area. read more

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Beautiful Saturday afternoon commuting from LA to San Diego. Decided to wait out the traffic jam by stopping at Brussels Bistro. Boy are we glad we did! Started off with a cone of Belgian fries with a side of truffle mayo and a flight of beers. The fries came out piping hot. It was about 4pm so in between lunch and dinner so no wait. Decided to have another flight of beers and to try the meatballs Liegeoise with a side of ratatouille. We had a great afternoon waiting out traffic while enjoying excellent dishes with attentive staff. Parking might be a bit of challenge on the weekends but parking a little further way did the trick for us. read more

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Amazing food! Super delicious, my girlfriend ordered the oysters for starter and mussels for entree and she loved it! I ordered the lasagna and to be honest probably the best lasagna I have had in a long time. Also, our server Cody was nice and attentive. read more

Brussels Bistro - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

The staff, food and drinks are fantastic. This was our second time here and we love it.

Had the absolute best time kicking off our honeymoon at Brussels. Not only was the service fantastic, but the food was as well. We made it in time for happy hour and tried a couple different beers (both great), cheese croquettes, bacon wrapped Brie, and meatballs. 12/10. They also brought us a complimentary dessert and took the sweetest Polaroid of us. I absolutely recommend Brussels. read more

Brussels Bistro - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I enjoyed brunch with girlfriends today at Brussels (San Clemente). Each of us had a waffle/benedict combination. The waffles were perfect, so good that next time I go back, that's what I will order. We were also celebrating a birthday and the restaurant had a special surprise for the birthday girl. I won't spoil it and tell you what it was, but it was fantastic! The service was excellent. Also, if you like mussels, go on Tuesday as it is all you can eat! read more

Brussels Bistro - Eggs benedict with bacon, Hollandaise on the side. - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I come for the draft Belgian beer. While it's San Clemente street side and not the below street level beer houses in Brussels the draft beer is spot on. Family dining balances the whole experience out. We always have the garlic muscles for lunch along with whatever else catches our eye. Get the French bread to enjoy the sauce from the muscles! read more

Brussels Bistro - Small Fries 8 St Bernardus Tripel Green Curry mussels and mushroom soup - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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This restaurant is an epitome of a dining experience. The food, coffee, drinks and service always surprise you with delightful recommendations, personable touch that will surely make fond memories and set a great mood whether you come here by yourself, friends, family or a date! Definitely ask for a Benedict for breakfast, beef stew for lunch or a crepes or almond tart for dessert! Katie and Fransua are awesome hosts and you will regret that you haven't discovered this place earlier! read more

Brussels Bistro - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Always delicious food 3rd time here server Emily very basic interaction also her and other servers food runner rushing to buss tables please management that is very annoying we come here to enjoy w diff fam members let's not be too greedy w turning tables. Emily server takes a long time w her other table she seems very not present. The unlimited muscles is overprice for a simple muscles cheapest thing you can get anywhere desserts crepe very basic read more

What a beautiful little restaurant! Big open windows that let in the beach air and a cute view of the downtown. My friend and I went there after visiting her aunt. We're pretty different in our food tastes. She's a foodie and appreciates a good wine, beer or cocktail and I'm a teetotaling vegan. (Cue Odd Couple theme song) but we both found a great meal here. My friend got some giant pot of mussels and fries. I got the falafel and green curry lentils. We shared some potato croquettes. We had the kindest and most patient waitress who helped me navigate the menu and arranged for my food to be fried in canola oil instead of the normal beef tallow. This odd couple both recommends! read more

Food was delicious and staff were very friendly. Our family was able to revisit some of our favorite items from our travels in Belgium! We strongly recommend the croquettes, Meatballs Liegeoise, onion soup, lamb shank and the waffle for dessert. read more

My lovely trip to San Clemente was made even better with our trip to Brussels Bistro! They serve French flare bistro items and the food we got was out of this world! We got a few drinks and apps to share and our server helped us pick the best items. She recommended their famous Brussel sprouts which I would have never ordered on my own but- oh my lord these were amazing! They had a whipped Dijon mayonnaise, crispy prosciutto, caramelized balsamic onion and the most delicious Brussel spouts I've ever had! The escargot we got was so garlicky and delicious and dipping their baguette in that sauce took it to the next level. It's a perfect lunch or dinner spot in downtown San Clemente and perfect date night spot with a great price! Definitely recommend to anyone new to the San Clemente area. read more

Brussels Bistro - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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We came here for dinner on Sat night and loved that the restaurant was open to the outdoors. We started with 2 lbs of the Cream and Garlic Mussels with a side baguette. The sauce was really good and the mussels tasted fresh. They were out of one ingredient for the Botanic Panic cocktail so I got the Lumiere which I really liked. The trout almandine was a little fishy. Ben loved the flavor of his beef stew. The chocolate mousse was really rich and Ben enjoyed it. I really did not like the brussel sprouts or the Gratin Dauphinois potatoes. read more

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What was once, for many years, our favorite San Clemente restaurant, has lost its way. The lamb shank, the pomme frites and onion soup remain solid. The bitterballen are horrible, the mussels are poorly seasoned, the once superb creamy chicken is now almost inedible, the steak frites are an overpriced poorly seasoned disaster.. no flavor, bad peppercorn sauce, the hamburger on the ciabatta roll not bad, but not worth the price. Service was pleasant and reasonably prompt, but got kind of lost with simple requests. I think the very nice and competent owner/chef at the mother ship in Laguna needs to get more involved before this site goes under. We will probably not be back again anytime soon. read more

Brussels Bistro is a cool spot. The wife and I were in San Clemente for our birthday celebrations this past weekend and stopped in because we saw they had a replica statue of Manneken Pis. We saw the original when were were in Brussels for our honeymoon, they had a great food/drink menu, so we stopped in. After getting our obligatory pictures by the statue, we sat at the bar and recreated most of our visit to Brussels. Big pot 'o mussels, check. Large cone of french fries, check. Mushroom soup, check. The only thing missing was the croque monsieur we had at the bistro across the street from the actual statue. I think we can let that slide. They had a mussles menu. Pretty epic. You had 8 or 10 different sauces/preparations to choose from. We went with the delicious blue cheese sauce. The fries, however, had no seasoning on them. A bit disappointing. The beer menu had a good selection of local and Belgian beers on tap and a wide selection of bottles, including a few sour beers. I'd stop by here again when in San Clemente for a beer and bucket of mussels. read more

Brussels Bistro - The Manneken Pis replica status brought us right back to Brussels and provided a great conversation piece while sitting at the bar. - Belgian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Very good restaurant I recommended food and service was outstanding Ambience is also very nice read more

My friends and I came here after watching a pickleball tournament in town. We had a lovely time relaxing here. The food was tasty and we ogled the food on others tables. Will come back for sure after the next tournie. read more