Cafe Bruxelles

I enjoyed dining at Cafe de Bruxelles. It had a relaxed European atmosphere and the food was wonderful. It's true that the service is a little slow, but I think it's actually nice to dine out in New York City and not feel like you're being pressured to clear the table for the next reservation. I think if you tell your waiter that you're trying to be out of there by a certain time, they'll accommodate you.

I had the Ris de Veau aux Salsifis, and it was delicious. My only complaint is that the lighting there was very low. I like to see what I am eating - the color and texture - and this wasn't possible in such low lighting. That's really my only complaint and I would be delighted to dine there again and will recommend it to friends.

Pros: Delicious food and low-key, romantic atmosphere.

Cons: No major cons.

Posted 01/31/08

I have visited this restaurant on several prior occasions in the evenings with relative success. It exudes old Village charm and is located in one of the most interesting parts of the neighborhood (definitely NOT a moderne, concept -y kind of place). The owner is always cordial and offers a relaxing atmosphere. However, my one and only Sunday Brunch visit was very disappointing. The restaurant was barely full. Our food arrived after too long a period and my friend's waffels were stone cold as was the surup. My herb omelete had the speckled look of something that had lingered under the hot lamp too long and was bone dry. No sincere apologies from our Gaul-ish waiter who merely said that "it's too bad that I wasn't in the kitchen to cook it". They did remove my friend's charge off the bill but the waiter's general attitude was that we were trying to pull a "fast" one and there were no sincere apologies as we left. Try Bar 6 on 13th and Sixth Avenue for better value, service and quality. 'Bruxelles' must either own the building, have a long lease or be on the waitlist for a Gordan Ramsay quick-fix.

Pros: Old Village charm, local galore

Cons: Tired wait staff

Posted 01/05/08

I took a real liking to this place after one visit. This is a very fine, authentic Franco-Belgian restaurant that specializes in mussels and Belgian ales. The atmosphere is tasteful, with nice views onto Greenwich Avenue. I only tried the mussels, but I can report that they are as good and plentiful as any I have had (altho I enjoyed the ones at Le Monde and other French restaurants too). They are served with fresh bread and french fries. The menu does have other dishes, in case shellfish is not your favorite. There is a nice selection of intriguing Belgian brews as well. The service was competent and pleasant, and the prices were reasonable for the level of quality offered here. My girlfriend and I had a very pleasant meal, and we plan to return.

Pros: mussels, ambiance

Posted 12/16/07

The muscles are out of this world - and complemented very well with the beer selections. They also have a duck salad that's divine. Service was a bit slow, but the atmosphere was very relaxed.

Pros: Muscles, beer

Cons: slow service, tight tables

Posted 12/27/06

This is the best place for moules frites (mussels and Belgian fries). They offer so many different types of sauces for the mussles -- all of them good! When I prefer a lighter taste, I go for the white wine and garlic. Otherwise, they have a beautful, rich sauce with bacon...mmmmm!

As soon as you finish your fries, they refill your supply! And Belgian beer ROCKS!

The host is very friendly. The view onto Greenwich Avenue is terrific on a cold, winter night.

The ONLY THING I did not like was the lighting.

Pros: mussels, fries, Belgian beer, host, location, ambience, warmth

Cons: UGLY FLOURESCENT LIGHTING (hope they change it...), small and crowded space

Posted 11/16/06

This restaurant has been --around for years----I remember that you couldn't just walk in----now it seems you can. Why-------because it seems the odor of the bathrooms permeates throughout the restaurant above---------A lot of bleach in the basement bathrooms would go a long way to freshening up this place. BUT THE FOOD IS STILL GREAT

Pros: Really great food

Cons: Needs a through cleaning to rid the odor

Posted 06/25/06

I wish every place was like Bruxelles. You can't beat the location and atmosphere.

Posted 06/20/05

I have been going to Cafe de Bruxelles since 1994 by stumbling upon it. I find the food and atmospher to be wonderful. The prices have not gone up terribly in 10 years and even though it is a la carte the portions are of a good size. I will agree that the service is not always up to par. When it's busy you can occassionally sit for awhile to get more water. This has improved over the years. I have taken people from NY, TX and MO to this restaurant and they loved it. If you like Mussels a definite must visit!!. They have a fantastic Creme Brulee Tart not something that you can find elsewhere!

Pros: Food, Value, Atmosphere

Posted 10/12/04

the mussels were excellent. the frites? okay. the waitress? ugh ugh UGH. she was just plain MEAN. she literally walked up to our table, stood there with an index card in her hand, looked at us blankly, and said NOTHING. my friend finally said "um...hello?" then the waitress sigh heavily, and mumbled "would you like to hear the specials or what?" we said yes, and then she read off the specials in monotone. um, ok. we'd done nothing to deserve this--we simply sat down and wanted to order. that being said, the bus boys were fine, the mussels were great, the beer, as others have noted, was too expensive.

i won't be going back, and i'll tell all my friends not to go--you guys could have the best mussels in the whole world, but that waitress must be keeping a lot of customers away.

Posted 11/08/03

Years ago, Bruxelles used to be my favorite neighborhood restaurant and had the all time best hamburger. Not anymore. This place is stale and the food only so-so. It needs to be improved/updated/enhanced and the beer list, which is largely Belgian, is way over-priced.

Cons: food, atmosphere

Posted 05/11/03

What a cute little place! My boyfriend and I tend to just walk past it whenever we're in the Village, but last week, we just walked on in!

I have to comment, the waiters were simply delightful (and good looking! Sorry boyfriend...!) We ordered sweetbreads to share which I was assured, we're delish...and they were. The after dinner coffee was also the perfect compliment to the meal (I am not sure what they put in it, but it tasted incredibly smooth) and the check was totally reasonable. A great find and highly recommended. Thanks Bruxelles.

Pros: Great food, Great atmosphere

Cons: None I can think of

Posted 12/28/02

My wife and I LOVE this place. We go as often as we can and the food is ALWAYS incredible. The sweetbreads are always perfectly cooked, the venison is tender, and the pommes deicious and cripsy! Definately one of our favorite restaurants.

Pros: Excellent food, Food is always fresh, Easy to get to

Posted 12/12/02

Delicious "moules à la escargot" (mussels in garlic butter), charbonnade, and pommes frites. My friend had venison which he said was delicious, and came with a sort of crème de marrons--unusual but addicting. It's not particularly cheap, but you get what you pay for--charbonnade was $17 and it was an enormous plateful I couldn't finish (though I would have served some potatoes or noodles to soak up the sauce). Good selection of Belgian beers, but they don't come cheap--lambics were $9.75 (Stella was $5 which isn't out of the ordinary).

The staff were very friendly and welcoming, but service started out great and slipped as it got later and the restaurant became jam-packed. I recommend coming early if you want a relaxed meal.

Posted 11/30/02

By far the best pommes frites in town, with a wonderful tangy mayo. But the service was horrible. I'll give it another try and hope that I don't get the same stoned waitress.

Posted 09/07/02