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86 St (1, 2)
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96 St (1, 2, 3)
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
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$$
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
95 reviews for B Cafe West
Review Highlights
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"Moules frites were sooo good." In 8 reviews -
"the beer selection is large and varied." In 15 reviews -
"My wife loves the mussels, and has tried nearly every kind." In 31 reviews
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95 reviews in English
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Review from Amy L.
5/15/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Absolutely LOVE the European neighborhood feel in this cozy restaurant. The service is always courteous and friendly; drinks arrive at a nice clip; and the dining space is filled but not too crammed.
For the beer lovers: they have a wonderful selection of draft and bottled beers from around the world. There are also flight options for those who can't make up their mind.
For the cocktail lovers: there's a tasty cocktail list that comes with the menu...don't miss it!
For the sea food lovers: mounds of mussels cooked in a variety of flavors, delicious fries and warm bread for dipping. This is perhaps one of their most affordable and popular items on the menu
Every time I come here, whether its with a party of 6, or just table for two, we've always had a fantastic time. Next item I'm going to order: Hoegaarden Fish & Chips. I love Hoegaarden, I love Fish, and I love Chips.... it's a dream come true! -
Review from Alexia G.
New York, NY
5/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
+1 star for the extended beer selection and service. Otherwise, 2 stars for seating and food. I have had better mussels elsewhere even though B Cafe is famous for its mussels.
Food really was nothing special. I had the Roasted Amish Chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken was sitting in a pool of way-too-buttery lemon caper sauce.
This place is probably good for happy hour or just to have great Belgium beer but I would not come back to dine as it is over priced for the quality of food they serve. -
Review from Timothy T.
New York, NY
Split.
One of my friends moved on up... only to the West side. So after some Yelping, we came here to celebrate.
AMBIENCE: classy, albeit narrow - or as others may say, intimate. This place is more for a date than it is for a group of friends, but groups are certainly welcome.
SERVICE: very good, but nothing over the top.
DRINKS: excellent draft beer selection. In fact, beer afficionados may want to come here just for the drinks. Aside from the selection, they actually come in the glasses that they are supposed to come in. Example: Pauwel Kwak beer. A plus is that they are all priced affordably (proportionately cheap compared to the food).
FOOD: Good selection, but way overpriced. I got me a burger that cost nearly $20 with fries. Had it been delicious, then I would not complain (as much). Unfortunately, it was not. Sure, I ordered it well done (see: I like my meat like...), but the burger was quite lackluster in flavor. Being that I order well done everywhere, I can accurately compare burgers from different venues, and for B Cafe West, I say get something else. On the bright side, the fries and calamari were good... and we'll leave it at that.
Ambience (^_^)
Service (^_^)
Drinks (^_^)
Food (-_-)
Bang for buck (-_-)
Glad I came. Good for dates. Come for the beer, but consider eating elsewhere.Listed in: Moo Moo, Buckaroo
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Review from Abbey V.
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ran here in the pouring rain, as we never learn to make reservations for Sunday morning brunch, and each visit with friends seems more to be spare of the moment versus anything else. The food was decent, but nothing to write home about. The fries are thick-cut and crispy - which is nice.
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Review from Poupee M.
Manhattan, NY
4/27/2012
One of my favorite restaurants in NYC and I've been to quite many.
Love the atmosphere and environment - A small european place which has lots of authentic Belgian beers and delicious food to offer. Even simple sandwiches are very memorable. Service is always pleasant and prices are reasonable as well ( considering the location).
Have been multiple times and definitely will go back! -
Review from Jonathan A.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Awesome bartender that worked with me to find the beer I'd like the most! Nice staff, Great food! We ate the special steak frites, two types of mussels, the mac n' cheese, the pastrami-spiced salmon (BEST DISH), and the Waldorf salad. The mussels w/ chorizo were better the the marinarie. The only complaint is that our server didn't have a in-depth knowledge of the beers. In places that specialize, I like to rely on the servers knowledge to guide my beer choice. The bartender had the skills but the waiter did not. He was great besides that.
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Review from Chris C.
Manhattan, NY
5/10/2012
Delicious!
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Review from Jeff S.
12/1/2011
Stopped by the other day for lunch. I must have passed this place a million times and never noticed it before. Glad I stopped by though, the food was quite good.
We got a Chop Chop salad which had romaine lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, avocado, bacon, blue cheese, grilled chicken, and balsamic dressing and an omelette Jardiniere which had mushrooms, scallions, tomato, asparagus, gruyere cheese, greens, and a good side of crispy, salty frites.
Aside from the screaming 1 yr old lunatic in the back, everything was really good. The chow was tasty, the coffee was fresh, and the price was about $30 for the two of us. I'll definitely be going back soon. -
Review from Al S.
Manhattan, NY
4/2/2012
Decor and Service were mediocre. Beer prices on the website are outdated and probably $3 higher for each drink on average.
I got the Provencale mussels and husband got one that's not on the online menu with a red sauce and chorizo. Came with some cheap celery and carrots mixed in each. Ours tasted exactly the same except for the two dots of chorizo in husband's. Were decent, but nothing exceptional.
While my mussels were plump and well cooked, the first time they brought out husband's mussels they were still all closed. They hadn't even checked to see if they were cooked correctly. Had to send them back and wait 20 minutes for a fresh batch and no apology. They gave us each a free draft beer after I asked if we would be given some sort of compensation for the bad mussels.
If you are looking for good mussels, it is worth the trip to Flex Mussels across town instead.
Would not return here. -
Review from Franklin B.
Manhattan, NY
Did you ever notice that the name "Belgium" actually sounds like the noise you make after a great meal? Think about it.
I've decided that Belgians are a magnificent people. They have beers to be proud of and waffles that put my microwaved Eggo creations to shame. The Adventures of Tintin? The Belgians. The Smurfs? Yup, that was them. These people can do no wrong and B Cafe is no exception.
We started off with the Bitterballen with Dijon aioli - delicious! Essentially meat and potato croquettes, they were perfectly fried. After seeing that they're on the happy hour menu (5-7pm) for $5, I now dream of a Bitterballen-filled happy hour.
Since moules frites is the national dish of Belgium, we had to go with that - one Hoegaarden Garlic mussels and one Pamplon (chorizo). The Hoegarden was a little bland, not quite as flavorful as I expected. But the Pamplon was a home run, with a hearty broth tasted like a spicy homemade veggie soup. The mussels were infused with chorizo and made for a tasty bite in between. Definitely pleased with this one, I'd recommend it over the Hoegaarden option. The fries were excellent -- fresh made, right out of the fryer piping hot and crunchy. They came with three dipping sauces - spicy mayo, dijon, and ketchup. Service was awesome, attentive but not overbearing - wish they knew a little more about the beers though.
Happy hour here must be a truly glorious event. We had 4 beers with dinner, a quick run-through:
Leffe blond - light, slightly sweet, probably easy to drink a lot of
Chimay 500 - hoppy, strong. deep enough flavor to stand up without food
Framboise - tastes like cider/sparkling punch, sweet and fruity, a cocktail masquerading as a beer
Tripel karmeliet- thicker, nutty, a little bitter, a solid sidekick to the dishes
"BELGIUM... excuse me." -
Review from Sonia D.
Manhattan, NY
12/27/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Delicious mussels and perfect European ambience! I ordered the Provencale Moules Frites and the serving was pretty large for the price. A friend ordered the mashed potatoes and they were the divine (melt in your mouth) kind. Amaze. I totally agree with all the review on the fries as well -- super crunchy, yummy and fantastic. There is a wide selection of beers here and it's a very cozy spot on Amsterdam.
My only major criticism is that it is most definitely a tiny place and even with a reservation for three we were waiting for about 15-20 minutes. Not ideal but the food/drinks/ambience was a solid win. Oh, and they were playing Cut Copy in the background which was another big win. -
Review from Steven B.
11/3/2011
This is quite a place for an authentic Belgian meal, I should know, I've been to Belgium ;-)
The quarters are a little cramped unless you opt for a seat outside. Being that it was questionable in the weather dept, we took a small table near the kitchen. Our waiter was nice but a little on the indifferent side as hubby pointed out. We were given menus and bread which we both mulled over.
Hubby and I started with Bitterballen ($7), no it's not what you think! Bitterballen are mini beef croquettes that are typically served with a dijon aioli or some creamy dipping sauce. They were very good and lightly fried to perfection. Up next I went for the B Cafe West Famous Burger ($15 - 8 oz fresh ground beef/imported Chimay cheese /Grilled Pancetta/caper remoulade/ brioche roll / frites) and hubby the Carbonnade Flamandes ($21 - Traditional Belgium stew/tender beef/onions/cooked in dark beer/frites). Both were great in their own right! My burger was very tender and those frites, oh they were heavenly especially with the citrus aioli. Hubby loves any kind of stew and this was no exception.
Overall we enjoyed our experience here especially my brief chat with some local diners that come quite often. They were so cute because it looked as if they'd been married for a bazillion years yet still found some common ground amongst really cute arguments (yeah it was hard not to eavesdrop).Listed in: NYC-ya!
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Review from Olivier C.
Manhattan, NY
3/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I really enjoyed my brunch here. The bloody mary was spicy and tasty if a little pricey. The croque madame was delicious. I'd certainly go back.
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Review from Kurt R.
New York, NY
3/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Quite good, one of my favorites in this neighborhood. I don't drink beer, and they specialize in a full menu of Belgian beers, so I come here for the food, which is consistently very good.
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Review from Mike O.
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
My favorite place in New York when the weather gets nippy and cold. The place is intimiate, tucked into the bottom floor of a narrow building. Make reservations if you can, it helps. The beer selection is unique and the servers are happy to help you find something to suit your taste, many are European if not straight up Flemish or Wallonian. I do not like Belgian beer, as a rule, I am a adherent in matters of taste to the Reinheitsgebot, but for B Cafe West I'll make an exception.
In the past I ordered the burger, which was excellent, but the fish and chips (or frites, I should say) is even better, and can stack up against any in the city.
My wife loves the mussels, and has tried nearly every kind. If she were 100% honest, she would say that the mussels vary in quality, but when they are good at B Cafe West, they are the best she's had in the city. When they are mediocre, they become a bit disappointing given her expectations, but the ambiance and the coziness of this place makes up for it.
The frites seem to be fried twice, which I'm told makes for better fries, and the dipping sauces are excellent.
We've had a snippy waitress or two here, a few bumped elbows in the cozy setting, but we go here again and again for the overall experience. Nothing can really detract from this simply being one of our favorite, go-to places in New York. It's chilly this evening: go tonight! I hope you love as much as I do. -
Review from Jordan D.
8/10/2011
Stopped in for a early lunch and had a really nice time. Place is small, intimate and cozy. We started with the salmon tartare, which was out of this world! After, I had the B. Cafe burger, which was surprisingly delicious and my gf had the mussles, which of course is one of their specialties and always right on the money. It was my first time at the West side location, after visiting the East side one a number of times and I definitely prefer the floor layout of this location to the east side one. The beer selection is fantastic, I finally tried the Palm ale from Belgium, which is Belgium's best tasting beer (thought it was Stella!?) and it was outstanding.
No matter what location you go to, I feel like you can never go wrong with B. Cafe. Whenever I'm close to either location I always try to stop by. -
Review from Tracey M.
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is our neighborhood hang out and we eat here as often as possible. The menu is great, the Belgian beers are amazing. I love the Amish Chicken dish and the Moules Frites. It is full of UWS locals and it is always packed. Its really small but its full of fun, UWSiders and you should totally check it out if you are ever in our neighborhood.
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Review from Nicholas D.
Manhattan, NY
1/18/2012
Great croque monsieur! This place is delicious and friendly.
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Review from Brooks G.
Manhattan, NY
1/12/2012
This is our go-to neighborhood place, and the mussels are as good as it gets; try the red duvel with beer, blue cheese, and spicy sauce. They also do a marvelous hangar steak and salmon tartare. Waffles for dessert are stellar, and big enough to share.
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Review from Jonathan D.
Waccabuc, NY
8/25/2011
I am not a big drinker and didn't start drinking beer until B CAFE, best belgium beer in Manhattan,
Mussels are a let down, not enough of them, many are out of the shell
when they serve them to you,
Bottom line go for the Beer and not the food. -
Review from Rebecca A.
New York, NY
Updated - 2/5/2011
Went back here a few days ago to celebrate my first week of work and I still love it as much as I did when I first found the place.
Sat at the bar and had the troubador obscura which was delicious. And at 9 dollars for an obscure Belgian brew? Not bad at all in my book, they could gauge you far worse! For dinner, I had the portobello mushroom sandwich. OMG was it good. Perfectly toasted thick bread, perfectly cooked and seasoned portabellos so they actually tasted meaty, carmelized onions, yum.
And I love that it came with salad and fries. The salad was fantastically fresh and the fries were crispy and came with 3 sauces - ketchup, mayo, and samurai sauce (this stuff is god's nectar I kid you not(.
To top it off, loved that the bartender remembered me from the last time I came in and legit chatted with me the whole time I was there.Listed in: NYC Favorites, Best spots for a drink
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/27/2010
Ok, so I am pretty sure this is my new favorite Upper West side beer spot.
I ended up here because my… Read more »
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Review from Lucy N.
Bronx, NY
11/1/2011
This place is cute, and definitely has a nice cozy atmosphere. The Belgian beer selection is great, and our waiter was very pleasant. The food wasn't amazing however, and after a three course meal I really wasn't that satisfied.
We started with the prosciutto (basic, nothing special done with it), the salmon tartar (very fresh and yummy, would order again), the bittenballs (nothing to write home about.. just flavored fried dough kinda) and the calamari (fine, sauce was bland and not enough of it). So apps were nothing great.
I'd read reviews beforehand and decided to stay away from the mussels. Many at my table ordered them, and I did try the Duvel sauce which was super spicy. The fries were pretty yummy, not the best I've ever had (the sauces were also boring - just mayo and ketchup). I myself had the skirt steak with frites and salad. I envisioned a hot juicy steak swimming in a delicious red wine mushroom gravy. What I got was a lukewarm steak with not enough average gravy to dip my frites in =( The salad dressing was nice, but the salad itself was a little sad, just some spring mix thrown on the plate. Steak was fine, needed a lot of salt though. Also tried the Risotto, not an expert on it but it tasted nice and saffrony. The shrimp was a little overcooked.
Dessert wasn't great either. We had the chocolate cake which was your basic molten cake- pretty good. We also had the apple beignet which i wasn't a fan of for some reason and the waffle which was too crispy and not fluffy enough for me. I don't think the whipped cream was fresh either (i.e. Reddi Whip) which is a dessert deal breaker for me.
I guess my whole point with B Cafe is that it's not cheap- it's a pretty pricey dinner. So I would expect certain things to just be "right". (I.e. food to be piping hot, fresh cream, more inventive menu). Food's definitely not bad, but you're not going to be blown away. -
Review from Brandon Y.
Woodside, NY
12/27/2011
This place is always a great go to place to suppress the urge for mass bivalve consumption. The pots of mussels are always plump and cooked to order. The beer selection is good as well. I always enjoy dipping the fresh cut fries into the steaming broth as well. It's like a hidden treat at the bottom of the simmering pot. The atmosphere is a bit tight but always friendly. If you're in the UWS and enjoy a good pot of mussels this place is a must.
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Review from Gerard M.
New Haven, CT
2/1/2011
Stopped by for an early lunch. The restaurant is small but very attractive, very much the bistro type of place. I loved the fries...they came with mayo, spicy mayo and ketchup. Forget ketchup!
But to be honest, it's all about the beer!
The selection of Belgian beers spans type and variety well. There are about 10 beers on draft and twice that many (or more) in bottles.
Yes, it's tiny. The other reviewers cite close quarters and 'enforced coziness'. I van believe it. But isn't good food, great beer and a European atmosphere worth a little crowding?
Reservations for 4 or more only ( so i'm told). So go early. -
Review from Brian H.
1/2/2011
On a stretch of Amsterdam haunted by ghosts of duds (Pizzabolla) and cockroaches that refuse to die (Talia's), B Cafe is nestled next to the esteemed Mermaid Inn, and the good vibes seem to have paid off.
A fabulous selection of Belgian beers, and rich hearty fare (the steak au poivre juicy and beef ribs melt in your mouth). Service was a little curt, and the dessert waffle a tad dry, but the cozy ambiance and warm lighting made B Cafe a place worth visiting again. -
Review from Kori S.
3/1/2011
Can't resist mussels and fries when its on the menu! And the fact that they have Lambic Framboise? I am in love.
If you're a fellow moules frite-o-phile, they've got a selection of 5 or so different variations including the onion and white wine, tomato and garlic and hot sauce and beer. I had the onion and white wine but when I come back, the hot sauce and beer has my name on it.
Atmosphere is cute, quaint and friendly. I'm not going to say they were bending over backward service-wise but when we needed her, our waitress was there with a smile.
Thumbs up for me. -
Review from Bunnie B.
Manhattan, NY
1/10/2011 11 Check-ins Here
Ever since moving to the UWS from Williamsburg (it's a sad but true story), we have found it extremely difficult to find good food, at a good price, with a good atmosphere and beer selection.... until we stumbled upon B. Cafe West.
While the waitstaff can be very, um, lets say disenchanting. The quality of food to price ratio is the best you will find on the UWS.
In terms of what I call "food genre", this is a pretty straight forward Belgian spot, (i.e. the menu is deceptively boring to read, but the food is really tasty and the portions are respectable). What is more is that food is reliably the "same" every time. When you crave what you had the time before, the odds are that it will be served to you exactly as you remembered it. Needless to say I have never left there feeling anything less than satisfied.
My top recommendations are the curry mussels, the sauce is really tasty. Also try the eggs antwerp and the fries, which are pretty darn good. Finally the french toast is awesome, but not as good as the french toast served on Sundays at Mermaid Inn (right next door). In the watering department, if you are in the mood for a beer try the Tripel Karmeliet, its absolutely delicious! Otherwise they do a pretty good latte and have "fresh" squeezed OJ (which is apparently fresh until it is bottled and subsequently served to those who order it).
Down side to this place is that it is small and tables are a little cramped. Again, the waitstaff can be hit for miss, but if you go there enough they force themselves to turn up the corners of their mouths into something that sometimes resembles a smile. Plus you can always just ignore them, which is usually what they do when you ask for your check. But hey, you can't have it all especially when you are trapped on the UWS and looking for a tasty, quick, and economical meal.
All in all it's a great brunch spot, and I definitely suggest going at least once if you are in the neighborhood. -
Review from Subir G.
New York, NY
12/23/2010
This is right around the corner from us and a regular spot to have a casual dinner. The mussels are excellent (try the Malay Laksa, you may never go back to anything else). The sandwiches are great as well, I like the Croque Madame and the burgers.
The tables can be a bit tight when you've got two or three dishes on them, but you learn to manage. Staff is very pleasant and warm, and as everyone else notes, they've got decent beers. -
Review from Jia H.
Manhattan, NY
11/12/2011
Key takeaways: 1. The fries here are some of the crunchiest -- and therefore best -- I've had in recent memory 2. Always order dessert (I knew that already).
Getting lucky with the coziest seats in the very back corner of this cute little Belgian restaurant, my three girl friends and I sat down at a table right next to a nice-looking family with well-behaved kids who were munching on mussels from buckets at least twice the size of their heads. I had no idea that 5-6 year old children ate mussels. Among the four of us, we had two orders of moules frites (mariniere: white wine/onions/celery/parsley and a version that also had chorizo and some extra spice in it), roasted Amish chicken, and Hoegaarden fish and chips before finishing off (how could we not?) with a Belgian waffle topped with homemade whipped cream and Callebaut chocolate sauce. As soon as I tasted the chocolate sauce, I wished I had ordered my own waffle instead of splitting it with the rest of my table - it was incredible. But let me backtrack to the main course: my generous portion of mussels (mariniere) were quite good, especially when you got down to the ones on the bottom that had been sitting in and soaking up the broth some more. I think I preferred my friend's spicier version, though. The fish and chips plate was also large enough for at least two to share, so we all got to try a little and thoroughly enjoyed it. Service is pretty slow, though, so don't come here on a tight schedule. -
Review from Dara M.
New York, NY
11/1/2010
Great selection of Belgian beers, and the fries are awesome! The amish chicken dish was so good, and perfectly cooked. Everything we ordered was really yummy, and if I'm near the east side B Cafe, I'd definitely try them too!
By the way, the restaurant must really be good, because there was a family of 4 Belgians sitting next to us speaking in Flemish, so that's gotta say something, eh? -
Review from Adam A.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 9/29/2010
Love the beer selection. I am now officially a fan of Belgian beer.
We shared the smoked salmon app, and that proved to be pretty sizable. It might have benefited from more sauce, but no complaints.
The variety of moules frite is impressive too. The red duvel sauce is made with hot sauce and blue cheese, but somehow does not overpower the mussels. The garnier is your basic white wine and garlic sauce. Getting both on one table is nice because switching between them kept us from getting bored with just one of them. The fries are crispy and numerous. The portion of mussels is good too. If you have a craving for moules frite, this is your UWS spot.
Looking foward to trying the non-moules frite options next time.Listed in: Good UWS Spots
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/27/2010
Great place for moules frite and some amazing belgian beer. Interesting menu. Def looking forward… Read more »
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Review from Xiorayma J.
Manhattan, NY
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first time eating Belgian & wow, it was good.. I ordered the roasted amish chicken & it was amazing! Very fast service, the waiter was friendly & the bartender even offered to put the rest in a to-go box for me since i was in a rush (even though there wasnt much left of it :-)
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Review from Merrill C.
Manhattan, NY
10/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Love it here. Great upscale Belgian bar food and amazing selection of Belgian beer (bottles and on tap). Bouillabaisse was great. Fries, awesome with the spicy mayo!
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Review from Emilio S.
Upper West Side, Manhattan, NY
2/23/2012
Wife and I went on date nite..she had the scallops (delish) and I had the beef stew (so-so). Appetizers / desserts not so memorable (cheese croquetes) (fried apple thingy). Small space (plz leave the children @ home) with very good service.
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Review from Féline L.
New York, NY
1/13/2009 5 photos
If there were a 3 and a half rating that would have been fair for B. Cafe on UWS. Alas there weren't so I settle for 4 stars.
CONS: The restaurant was really really small. Our table was tiny, right on the isle, and we were always on verge of getting hit by the wait staff with lots of beer glasses on their tray. Price is a little stiff, even for UWS standard.
PROS: - The cheese croquette was light as air, and not greasy at all.
- The House Burger (8oz fresh ground beef, pancetta, chimay cheese capers, mayo fries $14) was absolutely delicious. Huge prop for making it a perfect medium rare like we ordered (see picture)
- Then the star of the night: the Moule Frites - Beer based Hot Duvel (spicy, onion, carrot, cilantro, and comes with frites $20). We thought the broth was generous and flavorful, the mussels were fresh, clean, and with the heat as a little kick at the end.
Now I understand that this is definitely NOT the best Belgian mussels in town, and certainly NOT the best restaurant in the UWS. However, location, location, location! This place offers Belgian food which is very rare in this part of town, the food was expensive but tasty, also that fully stocked Belgian beers bar is a huge plus. We'd definitely come back to try more food on the menu -
Review from Brendan F.
Washington, DC
12/14/2009
"Altogether, I've had five pints of beer and six bottles... no... six pints of beer and seven bottles, and you know what? I'm not even pissed."
I've seen In Bruges like three times so I basically consider myself a connoisseur of all things Belgium. This place had killer moules frites and you can choose from a whole heck load of broth types. At brunch we also had omelettes with goat cheese and a few beers from their great selection on tap. The service was quick and friendly, too. -
Review from JB A.
Glen Gardner, NJ
9/19/2011
Great mussels and the beat croque madam in Manhattan!
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Review from Yan G.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2009 2 Check-ins Here
If you want to experience irony on the Upper West Side, stop by B Cafe West. Belgium, what were you thinking? First, you give us Belgian waffles, which are partly to blame for the growing obesity problem in the US, and then you open B Cafe, where even Kate Moss would have a hard time walking between the tables.
Seriously, though, it's one of the most awkwardly narrow dining room layouts ever. And good luck getting to the restroom. My advice is don't use it, or risk being scalded by a hot dish: the restroom is right next to the kitchen. I am not sure how the servers manage to bring the food to the tables, but they do a very good job of it. Oh, and they're friendly and cheerful, too.
We came here for a late brunch on Sunday. I couldn't decide whether I wanted an omelet or a crepe, so my friend and I decided to get both. Problem solved! I decided to be adventurous and order a salmon omelet. They made the omelet with scallions, creme fraiche and several pieces of salmon. The salmon was flaky and fresh, but the whole omelet tasted a bit too sour for my taste. I am not sure if it was lemon or capers, or a combination thereof, but it was way too tart. The fritas (french fries) were very good. I finished all of my fries, something I never do. Either they were that good, or there just wasn't enough of them. Nah, they were good.
We also split an order of crepes with Nutella and fruit. It made us feel very European. The crepes were pretty ordinary, but it was a good way to finish off the meal. Besides, it gave us an excuse to have more coffee and catch up.
Overall, it was a pretty decent brunch. The walk back to my friend's place (4 blocks away) without umbrellas in the pouring rain was NOT.Listed in: Unique New York
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Review from Alyvia M.
1/23/2010
So, I'm sitting on the crosstown bus famished after taking an hour cardio class at the gym. My friend and I were listing all the famous brunch spots on the upper west side, when this sweet girl approached us. She apologized for eves dropping and recommended B Cafe for a delicious new treat. She said that their omelets were "to die for" and their frites were even better!
I was sold before she said the name of the restaurant. I was in serious shock at how attentive and friendly the staff was. Unfortunately it was extremely early, and I wasn't really in the mood for a beer yet, but their list was incredible. Their Jardiniere omelet was amazing, as was the Croque Madame (my favorite). Their frites were absolutely perfect- crunchy and thin. They serve an aoli, and homemade ketchup and mustard which are also delicious. Yum- I can't wait to come back for dinner! -
Review from Matt J.
Astoria, NY
7/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
If you like drinking Belgian beers then this is the place for you. The bar has about 10 beers on tap ranging from Stella to Kwak to Karmeliet Tripel. The real treat starts when you go to their bottle selection. They have so many great beers to choose from that making a choice is extremely difficult. Rocheforts, Maredsous, Delirium, St. Bernardus, Kasteel (my favorite) and the list goes on. The best part is that the bartender serves the beer in it's proper glass every time.
When you're sitting at the small, cozy bar and enjoying these great beers you must have their Frites with their dipping sauces! I've never been to Belgium but I can honestly say these are the best "frites" I've ever had and I've been to a few other Belgian Bars. The muscles are also Delicious and you get a lot of muscles for what you pay for.
This place is pretty small and can get a bit crowded on a weekend night but for the most part, there is plenty of room and you don't feel like people are breathing down your neck.
Screw Flanders!
