Belga Cafe

Went for an early dinner before Friday night Marine Evening Parade.
As always — excellent. Baked mussels were yummy. The lamb chops were exceptional.
Loved the dinner.
The Parade too was excellent. Great night.

Too bad! 18mos ago this place was great. Awesome food, adequate portions good setting for the price. No longer! Too little food, at too low quality for too much money. Quiche was mostly onion, and the portion control draconian. What a shame! That used to be my goto upscale waffle spot. Not anymore! What a dang shame!]

We came here after being disappointed at Café Chesapeake across the start. Sat at the bar and enjoyed a wonderful Croque Monsieur a nd a Green Eggs and Bacon (Pesto). The Croque was great, bread was seedy and flavorful. The eggs were girls too. Service at the bar was fast and competent.

Had a great experience tonight with our server, Jeff. He was amazing and recommended the perfect items for dinner! We enjoyed the mussels and the salmon. Amazing. Will be back, for sure! You should check it out!

This place is absolutely incredible. Do not hesitate to go. You will not be disappointed.
Anyone who says this place isn’t the best they’ve ever had is a bama

If you’re in the Row, I’d recommend going to this restaurant with friends, colleagues, senators, or anyone you would want to impress. The beer selection is what I would expect in Brussels and their soupe a l’oignon is amazing. I’ve had to switch my ‘go to’ dinner from their delicious rabbit dish to an incredible venison filet.

Had brunch today at Belga Café. Never been here before, so no expectations. It was really good! The food was excellent all around.
Luckily, we were able to reserve a table for 7 on OpenTables. It was ready for us when we arrived. Parking was, as usual, a problem. But the hostess was accommodating.
The food was delivered promptly and presented very nicely. I would definitely recommend Belga for brunch.

Walked in Saturday around noon. Got seated immediately. Host was very polite & sweet. Whole place smells delicious. Pretty well priced. My server Brian was very patient with me. When I see to many things I like I can’t make up my mind. He suggested the braised short ribs with eggs & polenta. Damn good baby! Oh and they have a unsweetened passion ice tea. Yum! Add a little sugar & your set. The meal was the perfect size. Not to much not to little just right. I’ll be back !

This place does an AMAZING brunch, and a great ambiance as well. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars from me is because of my server… we had a younger Russian girl (only putting this in so if management sees it, they can identify who it was) who was incredibly rude. I honestly felt awkward being there, and was scared to ask her for more water. All of the tables around us had her as well, and we overheard 2 other tables with everyone at the table complaining about her as well. I am NOT picky when it comes to servers, and I was truly disappointed.
Belga is a GREAT place — but I hope that they realize if they have rude servers, there are so many other options for people in DC.

I’m deleting what was, in retrospect, a really nasty review. I had brunch at Belga Café yesterday on a date. Food was pretty good, the patio very pretty, service was terrible. The waiter was exceptionally rude, and the whole experience left a really bad taste in my mouth. I’m easy to please at a restaurant, and a server has to be affirmatively rude to me to make me angry. This guy was affirmatively rude for the entire experience. It made me wonder if I’d done something evil to him in the past — he didn’t even bother to mask his disdain for the two of us. Anyway, I don’t give one-​star reviews for single malfunctions. Everything else about the brunch was fine, but unfortunately the jerk waiter ruined it.
After unloading with the now-​deleted review (it was super nasty), I told my date to check it out. She texted me back «He was worse than that.»

Fantastic. Never had a bad item here, good service, nice location. Prices high but not for what you get.
I like good food, and my standard for a special go-​to restaurant is that I have dishes and go «wow! that’s different and better than what I expect.» Belga’s food has a wow factor consistently.
If you want crabcakes and a NY strip, with some Cobb salad some night, and then some tiramisu or peanut butter pie (which are all great) then go to a regular place, but for a special experience, book a table here.
The small tables out front are awesome on a pleasant night. Same great food, plus fresh air and peoplewatching.
Also — the first time I went was during Restaurant Week in DC (lunch). The food was excellent then too, which I appreciate since many great restaurants serve mediocre food during Restaurant Week.

I had a great time here and the food was amazing I must say, even though I’m not big on fries because of the calorie count lol I had to dig in. The atmosphere was warming as there was a Marine event down the street the roads were full of Marines and they captured the attention of most patrons.
Well I must confess I was extremely hungry and had to eat some of the warm breads and no pictures, they were basic wheat bread but warm butter had no salt so it just made the bread slightly creamy if you out enough in it. Maybe warm soft cheese would have been a better choice.
The appetizer was a first for me «Crab meat Belgium Waffles» the texture was on point soft and crunchy and it came with four muscles and a mustard color sauce I thought was the crab gravy but it wasn’t but then again no one really explained what we were eating like most places I’ve visited but eh it tasted great but not a fan it tasted like a Haitian dish but a beef patty style with fish.
I had the «5 pepper hanger steak with spring vegetables» great flavor made perfectly, warm temperature and juices just flowing with every bite, the vegetables nicely prepared and the sauce amazing matched with everything. Also with a normal American appetite I wanted more. I was still hungry after my plate so it’s not for a person who has much room to eat and it is over priced for this portion. Cutting it up into smaller pieces and decoration does not make up for the portion of the meal.
My friend had the «Grilled anger steak with spring vegetables» which was very tender with the bernaise Sauce a perfect match for me to enjoy this was different taste and hit my other taste buds that I did enjoy as well. The sauce had a hint of spicy that was well balance and I had a chance to taste.
I would return here but try something else and see what can really fancy me here. I had one Belgium beer but forgot the name as it was very light and tasteful.
Pictures of everything are available

Good brunch food, but pretty standard and does not merit the ridiculous prices for small portions ($ 5 to add fries to your sandwich??).

Belga Café is one of my favorite breakfast/​brunch spots. I frequently take out of town guests here and then walk over to Eastern Market. This place is always packed on the weekend so definitely make a reservation or you’ll be waiting.
My favorite dishes are the ribbetjies en gabakken eieren (short rib and eggs) and the Steak en eieres (steak and eggs). The Decadent Crepes live up to its name… bananas & Nutella… you can’t go wrong!
The only reason this place doesn’t get 5 stars is because their hostesses are never very friendly & when people are waiting in a 5×5 area it stands out.
Keep in mind this is a cozy restaurant so be prepared to sit close to the table beside you. I personally don’t mind this because it’s a popular place and I’m too busy enjoying my food!
Overall, great experience and the servers were all very attentive.

Belga Café is a Belgian inspired restaurant located on Barracks Row near Eastern Market. We had a reservation for three and two of us were present but the guy at the hostess stand told us we had to wait for our full party to show up. Shortly after they let one person sit down for a party of 8 which made me feel like they were discriminating.
For drinks, I didn’t get anything other than the iced water but heard the Lick a Lychee Mimosa was delicious.
My friends got burgers while I ordered the Brusselse Wafels, which consisted of a rectangular shaped Belgian waffle topped with confectionary sugar, served with whipped cream and a medley of berries (e.g., blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry), and garnished with a fresh mint sprig. I liked how the waffle was lighter than most that I have had. For me, it was the perfect portion size too.

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?

We have been enjoying Belga for a while now. The food and drinks are always on point, as is the service. The mussel pots with frites delicious. Brunch is one of the best in the DC area. We have yet to try something we didn’t enjoy.
Consider reservations, as the restaurant is not large and can get busy (especially for brunch). They are also dog friendly on the patio so if you plan to bring your pooch, specify that with your reservation.

I’m giving this place four stars because the food was amazing, the waiter was INCREDIBLE, the drinks were strong, and the place was clean — and surprisingly spacious and not too busy. However, the hostess gave us the worst service we’ve ever seen — and that’s including at an IHOP at 0300 on New Years Eve on our way home from Georgia.
We called to let her know we were running late due to the metro, and she said our reservation didn’t exist. When we got here, she was dressed in pajamas (sweatshirt and leggings with a spotted print) and Ugg boots. She didn’t say a word of welcome and scrolled past our reservation twice. A manager had to come over, and even then it took us pointing out the reservation on her screen for her to seat us. At that point, we were taken to a back corner table for two people next to the bar back/​busboy station. I have a large service dog and require a bit more space than that. There wasn’t even room for her to lay down. The hostess dropped the menus on the table and walked away without a word. Upon realize how little space we had, my girlfriend approached the hostess again and asked for us to be moved to a table for two with more space around it. She didn’t say a word, took the menus off our table and dropped them on a new table then walked away.
Our waiter Edwardo, on the other hand, was beyond amazing. He came up and admitted to being scared of dogs but instead of asking to switch with another waiter, he wanted to meet my service dog and let her smell his hand. He has been attentive beyond belief — not one moment has come where I’ve thought to myself that I wished he would come by, because he’s been proactive and attentive. And friendly! I would come back here again just because of him, especially knowing that he’s afraid of dogs and yet was so professional and pleasant.
Our food came out extremely quickly and was stunning in both presentation and taste. The drinks are strong yet well-​balanced, and overall I have been thoroughly impressed. However, the hostess (who is currently attempting to text surreptitiously at the stand) was nearly enough to make us go somewhere else.

Came here for New Year’s Day brunch with a party of 7. Since we made reservations, we didn’t have to wait and the tables were already set up for us. Didn’t seem like there was much of a wait as more parties started to come in.
The staff was very attentive and dos well to answer our questions and give us enough time to go over the menu and select our meals.
To start we got the «cigar» spring roll type appetizers. It was okay, I think the meat could’ve been made better but the sauces that it came with made it taste good. We also got the pastry basket that comes with assorted breakfast pastries – croissant, croissant with chocolate inside, puff pastry, waffle, poppy seed muffin and butter and jam. I definitely liked the pastry basket, it had one of each type of pastry and it was delicate, moist, and soft.
For brunch, I got the lobster with egg and came with hash browns. It was good, with a good amount of lobster and the eggs were cooked with the lobster having a soft boil texture to it. I thought it was a bit greasy, but the lobster wasn’t too tough and the egg was done really well.
Overall, I think it was okay. I don’t think I’d wait in line to eat at this place or anything.

Was my 1^st time here despite eating at many other spots on 8^th Street. From the time we added our name to the wait list the hostess was attentive, smiled and was very pleasant. Got seated after a 25 min wait. The server, nice guy, promptly provided bev’s, took our orders right way. So on SERVICE – 5Stars. Food — ordered a breakfast pastry basket and it was exceptional. Fresh and warm just the way I like it. Then ordered the Belgian Waffle with Caramelized apples… arrived warm, soft and nicely cooked. I happen to be an OJuice fanatic and had 5 glasses (like 6oz) and when filled with ice… basically I guzzle them down. So when the bill showed up and I got charged $ 25 for 5 glasses I was like WTH? Despite this my experience and the food were excellent and I will come back. (Look out for the brother with a grocery store bag with a gallon of OJ sitting beside the table)!!

Brought my parents to Belga café when they came to visit for the weekend. It was close enough to Eastern Market where we could walk to the restaurant after exploring down there.
We were seated immediately and the waitress service was a little stuffy but prompt. She took our drink orders and then shuffled away to put them in. The atmosphere was nice. It was about 1030 so it wasn’t too busy yet.
The waitress came back about 10 minutes earlier with a couple coffees and a couple mimosas. She took our food orders and then brought them out when they were ready.
I have to say probably the best thing was the smoked salmon eggs Benedict. The parfait was meh and the short rib dish was just overpowered with pepper.
All in all I’d preferably wanna give this place 3.5 stars but it floats more towards the 3 star range. I think this place could be better so I’d be open to giving it another shot.

I went to this place with higher expectations. We made a reservation the same day for brunch but upon our arrival, we looked at the rooftop which looked really nice, and decided to try that out. Then the server took us to the rooftop through the side street and once we got there, turned out that it was not where we were seeing from the street. Actually, the rooftop faced to the street belongs to a different restaurant. Anyways, once u go go all the way, u dont wanna say I don’t like this place and wanna go back.
Ambience: I give 3 star because they just opened the rooftop and it still needs some work. It’s kind of rustic/​casual, looks cute, but it was very hot and muggy. They have covered all the roof and blocked the walls, so there is no way a breeze can get in. So it feels like a greenhouse. They have installed fans but it really doesn’t help. So avoid the rooftop!
Food: I give it a 4 star for food. we ordered steak and eggs, and duck confit with a side of waffles. i asked my waffles to be able plain instead of savory and they accommodate. I liked the steak and eggs more, very tasty, but the egg was hard. The duck confit was just fine, not the best duck dish I have had. The waffle was great. Food presentation was nicely done, maybe the best part of our experience.
Service: maybe a 3 or less. There was only one server for the entire rooftop, and it was hard to find him. He never asked if we want more coffee or water. Our glasses were filled upon request. He was nice and friendly though.
Overall, given the price ($ 30 per person for one entrée and coffee) the whole experience was 3 star. I might give this place another chance, to redeem my free desert with dinner, but will only dine inside the restaurant.

Any time I’m back in DC I always try to dine at my favorite old neighbhorhood restaurant. Amazingly, they still have the sea bass with spinach and mushrooms on the menu after all these years. Even more impressive is that the dish somehow is more refined and the perfect fish dish. I try to replicate it at home and it just doesn’t taste the same.
Of course we had to do the mussels again, but this time they had a new one on the menu… MUSSELS «DIABOLIQUE» with clams, calamari, tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro,
scallions, red onions, garlic, mushrooms, lobster broth… sounds like too much going on but it really works. Next time I would try the «truffels en prei» with sausage, truffles, cream and beer.
My only slight complaint is their wine list… I know they specialize in beers and on return I’ll stick to their extensive beer list… which are more reasonably priced.