Taste of Belgium

Staff very friendly, clean place. Frites sucks big time!!! Don’t call them frites!!! Call them French fries instead.
Belgium frites are skinny, big mistake!!! Also please have your appetizer available for lunch and not just after 5pm. Fix those 2 issues and you will get 5 stars!

Oh my waffle! This brunch spot highlights their scrumptious waffles and European dishes with a twist. The chicken and waffle is a classic but there are also other tasty options including the breakfast sandwiches, hash, and crepes! Don’t pass up a waffle on the side though-​portions are generous

Great place to get breakfast/​brunch foods! Perfect patio that can be enjoyed on nice days.
Some of their individual waffles can be on the sweet side. But their breakfast sandwich (the one with the beef patty, egg, and bacon in between two waffles) is to die for.
Also, a great selection of beer!

Dear Taste of Belgium,
I love you.
Sincerely,
Katy
No but seriously, this place is AMAZING! It is honestly now one of my favorite spots in Cincy. I went there for breakfast on a Sunday morning and got to eat outside on their side patio. It was so quiet and intimate– It didn’t feel like I was in a restaurant located on a strip mall.
Now lets talk waffles! But first, I do need to admit that I was hesitant when I first walked in and saw the size of the waffles. I saw everyone’s small plates filled with one small waffle. But let me tell you. It is fantastic! I got the Nutella & Banana Waffle, and I am still dreaming about it (haha not really but kinda). The bananas were so fresh and ripe while the Nutella was warm and creamy. Although it was small, it did fill me up.
You need to check this place out if you are ever in the area! I highly recommend it.
Tip: If you are afraid you won’t get full from a waffle, get a side of meat, such as bacon, and it will help fill you up with some protein. They give you three large strips of bacon, which can do the job!

My first time at this location and it is the best in the city. They have an outside patio which was very pleasant until it started raining last night. Inside, they had a DJ doing trivia which created a fun, lively atmosphere perfect for a birthday celebration.
I always order the chicken and waffles as they are superb! Don’t go expecting a light fluffy waffle made the traditional way. Instead, sink your teeth into a chewy waffle which is more similar to a lightly sweet coffee cake. The chicken is s lightly breaded chicken breast that was cooked to perfect– moist/​not dry and it greasy. The condiments are the traditional Frank’s Red Hot and maple syrup. The challenge is to get all 4 in one bite. It is served with a small leafy green salad. Definitely going back.
Forgot to mention the outstanding service which is hard to find. Both the waiter and manager were very attentive– both warning us about impending rain and the need to move inside.

orignal review: This place was just ok. Portions were smaller and prices were higher than I expected. I ordered a burger medium and came out rare. My fiancée got a smores waffle and it was mostly marshmallow. Fries were ok but needed salt. Which wouldnt be a problem if there was salt on the table or if the server stopped by. Service started out awesome and went downhill quickly. This place is good idea. Wont be returning
Updated: the owner contacted me on Unilocal and asked me about my experience and said he was going to send out a gift card in order to entice me back. I thought this place might have a chance of making it with the owner a stand up guy, going above and beyond.
I was WRONG!!! Gift card never came. In addition to that I have been in contact with 2 different people that say they have had the exact same experience. The owner contacting them and saying he is going to send out a gift card to make up for a bad experience, and nothing.
SPOILER ALERT: That’s the worst thing you can do as an owner!!! Don’t ever lie to a customer. This owner want his business to go down in flames and doesn’t care what happens to anyone. If I was a worker I would quite just from seeing what he does to his customers, what is he going to do to his staff.
I can honestly say that I can’t wait till this owner is broke and bankrupt, telling the banks not to foreclose on his home. I can see it now.
«Hold on, please, I will send you a gift card before you make up your mind, this was just a one time deal. I promise it will be better next time»

I used to truly enjoy Taste of Belgium. Today that love comes to end. Goodbye my old standby. Have you ever gotten fries and there was one that had been floating in the oil that got thrown in with all your fresh ones? Well that’s how all my fries were today. And it’s not the first time. Today I didn’t complain I just decided no more. My waffle was dry and crumbling. Is this a super cool place still? Absolutely! Bring ypur friends and impress them. But the food quality has dropped. Even my mimosa was unpleasant today. I didn’t think you could mess that up. Happy brunching!

Very unhappy with my experience here. My significant other and I visited here a few months ago to have food that is so-​so at best along with poor service. My fiancé contacted management about the issue but they were only focused on getting the server in trouble. We were told we would get a gift card to give them another try, but never received it or any other follow up.
Also, I accidentally posted this review for the wrong location and got a not so nice comment from the owner. So I am moving my review to the correct location.

So never having been to Cincinnati area before i took the advice of the guy were staying with. This place was beautifully laid out with flowers and statues that wasn’t obnoxious to the guys i was with.
Service was great. Never having certain beers before hubby was allowed to sample to see what he’d rather. I wasn’t sure what i wanted so the waiter suggested a great mixed drink.
Food for me was good chicken with waffles. Hubby’s steak was over cooked. The waiter saw that and immediately brought it back. But service and food in general was really good.

I’ve been holding a trivia night with a group here for a couple months now. Like any other place, trivia gets packed and it’s difficult to get a table if you don’t show up insanely early. Unfortunately they only hold trivia in the front of the restaurant so it’s very limited seating. Fortunately I haven’t had too much trouble getting my group of 10 in to play so that’s been great!
I had never been here (or any Taste of Belgium) prior to holding trivia nights, but I was definitely impressed. The décor is lovely and the option to open up the front of the restaurant to the outside is cool. There’s a decent selection of dinner options, coffee, beer, desserts, basically anything you’d want.
I’ve only eaten once and I got the vegan frites and the vegetarian crêpe, both of which were delicious save for the balsamic vinegar on the crêpe. Luckily that was easily remedied by scraping a lot of it off (it was a bit overpowering). I personally enjoy their draft beer selection which includes my all time favorite beer, Goose Island Sofie. It’s generally difficult to find anywhere on draft so I really, really like that they have it.

We were visiting Cincinnati and did not make a reservation for lunch. We ended up waiting for about 45 minutes, which isn’t bad at all since we are from Houston and are used to this kind of wait.
Order:
— Chicken & waffles: AWESOME! Perfectly salty/​hint of spicy seasoned batter for the chicken, waffles were fresh, and there’s even a side salad with a refreshingly tangy vinaigrette! Overall recommend!
— Waffle burger: it was good, but I wouldn’t recommend or get it again — nothing too special. It was especially heavy and quite dense due to the beef/​waffle combo.
— Waffle with strawberry + whipped cream: Classic, yummy! Would recommend for dessert even if it’s simple :)
I can’t wait to go back! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. Make a reservation if you can.

The second best location is like winning $ 1000 instead of $ 1200 — regardless it’s pretty dang awesome.
I love, love, love, Taste of Belgium (all of them) and, while the OTR bistro is my personal favorite, I think the Rookwood location is a close second. (There is just something about the original I absolutely love.)
There is plenty of [free] parking, the service is great, the space is beautiful, there is ample outdoor seating, and the pastry/​dessert bar is huge. In the handful of times I’ve been, the food is about as good, but my Nati Crêpe has been seemingly undercooked compared to the OTR bistro — still delicious, but not quite as awesome. I will say, though, that the one thing that does stand out is that the ramekins of chipotle mayo served with the frites is larger than I’m used to. It’s nice to not have to ask for an extra.
Between the fantastic service, delicious food, good beer selection, large ramekins of chipotle mayo, and trivia on Wednesdays, I really do like this location.

I had never been to the taste of Belgium in the rookwood area and I was pleased to have the same feel as when I am in otr. It was also my first time trying the waffle n chicken and it was so delicious. The combination of the hot sauce on the chicken with the sweet syrup is surprisingly delicious. The restaurant feels less crowded than the otr location. We got mimosas as well to begin the graduation festivities and the blush mimosa is definitely one to try. The servers are always running around and always focused. I’m always pleased with the service I receive at any taste of Belgium location.

I know I’m likely one of the few that didn’t love Taste of Belgium. While our service was good, I just wasn’t impressed by the food. Everything was super small and on the pricey side for what you got. The food did taste good, I guess I just had really high expectations because of the rave. I’m willing to try it out again and see if the next visit is more appealing.

Taste of Belgium is my FAVORITE brunch spot and the Rookwood location hits the mark! It’s great that there is parking there that’s FREE alongside the restaurant! The interior of the restaurant is different than the other locations in a good way. It’s more trendy and modern and I like it! They also have a window/​door that they open during nice weather and have an outdoor patio.
Our waitress was great! I got the chicken and waffle which was DELICIOUS as usual! Perfectly cooked! My friend ordered thought she ordered banana nutella crêpe but there was miscommunication and they brought her the waffle instead. Have no fear, they went back and switched it. They even left the waffle for us to eat because they said they would have thrown it away. I thought it was great for business for them to make her order right, even if it was my friend that wasn’t clear in her order. Very impressed!
I love TOB and will definitely be back to this location!

This was my first time at this TOB location and I’ve decided it’s my favorite. Besides being close and convenient to my home, it lives up to the reputation of the OTR location. I prefer the décor at this location and the food didn’t disappoint. Great brunch spot! If you’re craving savory or sweet (in my case both), Taste of Belgium will strike your fancy.
The staff is super friendly. We didn’t quite have 40 minutes to wait for a table on a Sunday during breakfast/​brunch hours. We were all set to turn around and walk out defeated, but the hostess encourages us (group of 3), to try the seat yourself bar towards the back of the restaurant. Sure enough, there was enough seats! I thought it may be a little awkward for a group of 3 to sit next to each other seemingly against a wall, but it was fine! The chairs swivel and you can see the action in the kitchen from the bar.
Do yourself a favor a try the Bloody Mary! Not the biggest bloody fan, but this one was spicy and good!

The Good: Brunch Menu, Service, location
The Bad: Seating
My wife and I decided to try the new location for breakfast and we were quite impressed. Not only does this location deliver the same menu as the other locations but it is an easy location to get to right in Norwood.
The brunch menu is pretty impressive offering everything from their famous waffles, chicken and waffles, goetta hash, and sides such as eggs, bacon, and fries served with chipotle mayo. This new location has a very clean feel to it. The floor plan is very open and features a bar and outside seating during nicer weather. The staff was very friendly and our waitress provided great service.
The only downside to the open floor plan is it sometimes feels like you are sitting on top of each other. It wasn’t much of an issue since the couple next to us was pretty friendly.
This new location of the Taste of Belgium provided a great dining experience. The food was very delicious and reasonably priced for the portions and quality you receive. I look forward to coming back very soon to try some of the other menu options since everything looks so good.

I am so sad that CBus folks only have the one TOB location in North Market and no full service restaurant. But, I’m happy that Norwood is less than a two-​hour drive from my house so I can imbibe in TOB brunches!
Here’s what I had:
–the breakfast burger: split waffle with bacon, hamburger patty cooked medium, Havarti, runny egg, fries, maple syrup (on the side), and aioli (on the side). Yes, it is quite a food coma endeavor, but definitely a breakfast of champions after a hard morning of shopping. You need to replete those calories, yo!
–blood mary: quite pleasant and well-​priced for the portion
–waffogato: a dreamy combo of espresso, gelato, and a waffle!
The wait at this location was intense (close to two hours during the weekend), but with good planning, it’s tolerable because this TOB is located in a strip mall. Service was efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable. Will definitely return!

Had my first experience at the new Rookwood location a week ago & it was great! I love how spacious it is & much closer than the OTR or Clifton location. I’m from the suburbs, so this is greatly appreciated.
My friends & I were having a girl’s night out & 2 had never been there. So it was a must that they experience the goodness of Taste of Belgium. I loved that you could call in for reservations & the hostess were very accommodating even when we had 2 people arrive late. Overall, the staff was friendly & helpful.
Now on to the food. Seriously 5 stars! I’ve been to the Clifton location & I’ve had it at the Reds ballpark. Each every time the waffle & chicken taste better. Hot sauce & syrup is just genius! A food party in your mouth if you enjoy unique flavors. The waffle & chicken looks so good that we had new guests walking in… leaning into our table to ask if it was as good as people say it is. We continued to stuff our faces & nod. Needless to say the whole party ended up getting waffles & chicken, it’s that good. I’m sure all the other stuff on the menu is delicious but I just can’t seem to order anything but the waffle & chicken.
So in summary… it’s delicious! Just go to one of the many locations & you won’t be disappointed!

This is my favorite of all of the Taste of Belgium restaurants in Cincinnati. The food is the same, but the service and décor are much better here, AND it’s much closer to home!
I really like Taste of Belgium. They have a great vibe, the servers are always nice, and the beer selection is superb. This store has amazing décor… Their designer did a great job! It’s modern, but inviting and warm. I really love the artwork on the walls and that they have outdoor seating! You could definitely come here on a date, with your family, or with a party of 12 adults.
This particular ToB has several beers on tap, including some very cool Belgian beers and a few local favorites. My only issue with the beer is when we were here last, all of our beers (either 16 oz pints or 12 oz snifter, depending on the brew style) were $ 7 each, which seemed steep.
Now for the food… The food here is the same at all Taste of Belgiums, so as far as consistency, they have got it down pat. The highlights on ToB’s dinner menu are the chicken and waffles, the mussels, the frites, and dessert. They are all absolutely AMAZING! I highly recommend the mussels which are often overlooked, but they are very good here and generous with their portions (and they come with the best fries in Cincinnati!). Their appetizers are always kind of a disappointment to me (save yourself some money and get the fries as an appetizer… they’re amazing!). I’ve had the beer cheese and the croquettes and they were all kind of bland… They needed salt. But overall, the dinner food here is very good.
For the desserts, most people get the waffles, but try to branch out! They have a display case with their pastries, so go over there and order something new. I have seen multiple people come here late at night just for dessert, no dinner, so that’s also an option. They also have a full service coffee station for lattes, etc.
I also love ToB’s brunch. I normally get the chicken and waffles or the burger. This place gets crazy for brunch, so beware you might have to wait for a table.
Overall, a great Taste of Belgium. I definitely recommend it if you’re in the Rookwood area!