Bonte
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center130 S 17th St
Philadelphia, PA 19102 (215) 557-8510
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Breakfast, Lunch
- Alcohol: None
27 Reviews for Bonte
Pretty darn tasty waffles, very heavy batter makes for a crispy on the outside but soft on the inside waffle. Service was utter crap, they didn't have enough plates to go around and were walking up to customers asking them if they were done so that they could take their plate, hand wash it (ick) and immediate re-use on another customer who had been waiting for 15 minutes for a freaking waffle! No toppings available when we went, we got ours with vanilla ice cream and it was tasty. But the service brought down the star count.
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Oh. my. goodness. I can't wait to take someone to breakfast/brunch here. my coworker and I walked down there for a cup of coffee mid-day.. the brewed coffee isn't anything to write home about but they also have all the latte options, espresso, etc. The pre-made sandwiches in the display looked divine.. wheat breads, fresh with lots of veggies and deli meat. The fresh waffle smell of the whole store was enough to make you want to sit there all day. There was a handful of people scattered about using computers and just reading, so there's a chance they have wifi? but I'm not 100% sure. All in all a great little cozy atmosphere, and I can't wait to actually eat here and not just get coffee.. then I'll update the review to include food!
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I must say I'm surprised by these bursts of Bonte hate. To me, it's the ideal combination of fake old-world charm and delicious, artery-bursting goodness.
I don't go to Bonte to "chill." I don't go to give the frequently-inattentive servers more than a cursory glance or even to pay attention to anything at all. I go to stuff my face when I'm unhappy.
Bonte's sugar waffles are delicious--to me, they taste like warm doughnuts, but more substantial (I can't be the only one who thinks that doughnuts are flawed as a snack food because of their unbearable lightness of being). You can also get a delicious caprese sandwich at Bonte with a tart vinaigrette you spread on yourself. The coffee was better when they had La Colombe, but it's deec now.
To be frank, the nice-but-kinda-bare interior suggests a forray into quick, satisfying decadence--in short, come here when your boyfriend breaks up with you, binge on pseudo-European treats, then leave without thinking about the fact that you just ate a waffle with more calories than you should consume in a day or a sandwich made on half a frigging baguette. Once I was in here and I saw a (quite slim, actually) girl eating a chocolate waffle and drinking an iced mocha with a bag of gourmet gummy bears lying beside them. She had the right idea.
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This place is ridiculous. The waffles and espresso are good, but I have no idea how the place functions. Apparently there is no management, or whoever is in charge doesn't do anything because I don't think they have ever been fully stocked on anything lately. Don't ever get any espresso drinks when the arab-looking guy is there because it will be horrible.
It is no surprise in the last review that there is not even enough plates to around. If you've ever looked, I think the waffle cooker can only make 4 waffles at a time, so if Joe Fatty and his family come in and order 6 waffles it's gonna take a while to get yours. The people that work there are actually pretty funny and nice, just probably frustrated from having nothing to work with. I'd say try it, but bring your own fruits because they probably won't have any.
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What a find! Waffles that melt in your mouth coupled with friendly service and coffee that awakens you. Don't get me wrong - the line in the morning is sometimes long and they seem to run out of half and half by 11:00a.m.. But you still get what you need and can be on your way. The annoying thing is when tourists come in and can't make up their minds as to what they want and they tie up the line even further. The presentation of their sandwiches and wraps rival LeBus and Metropolitan Bakery. It's a great neighborhood coffee house!
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The morning after...
If you had been a fly on the wall (or a fellow patron shoved into this tiny establishment) you would have seen the following:
Me, looking like crap from a late night. And yes, I was that douchebag who kept her sunglasses on, even inside. I was that frightening to look at, so I was actually doing you a favor. So, you're welcome.
My friend, who was also suffering from the same side effects from said late night. She was also on west coast time, so she was particularly tired and grumpy. I think she might have even had a greenish hue to her skin. Like I said, it was a late night. A rough, Philadelphia-style late night.
Loud girl behind the counter who was shrieking and laughing hysterically. Maybe she put a little something extra in her waffles that AM?
Mellow dude behind the counter who was super friendly and attentive. Maybe he put a little something extra in his waffles that morning as well?
Assorted ragtag Rittenhouse customers who were in and out pretty quickly, with the exception of the other laptoppers who were trying, to no avail, to get some work done.
I came here because they have free wi-fi and were next to my friend's hotel. I also thought it might be yummy to feast on some sugary goodness. However, the smell made me want to hurl and I couldn't take the cackling lady that worked there.
I left with my standard post-hangover Diet Coke. I also got a mozzarella sandwich that was too big to cram into my mouth. It was a sad day for me, indeed. Tears, people. Tears.
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I love the smell of napalm in the morning.
This was the phrase that kept going through my head this morning as I sat slumped in my chair with my co-worker trying to remember what it was like having the ability to think straight. After the first ever (and totally kick ass) Philly Elite Event last night, our brains, well, we concluded that we dropped those off at day care today because they certainly weren't with us at any point til just a few minutes ago.
Now, where does napalm come in? Well, you try smelling coffee and sweet waffles when you feel THAT hungover and then come tell me about how tantalizing the smells are. As for what I consumed, I tried the roast beef sandwich and an iced tea (which note to hungover lushes, is not so good the second time around). They were fine, but honestly, my senses were all kinds of messed up.
The atmosphere was a little too loud for me this morning as well and the sounds of coffee being made and chicks talking loudly, errr, no thanks. Not sure if I will ever come back here and not sure if I will ever look at iced tea and roast beef the same way again :)
I swear, 33 years old and still retarded. When oh when will I ever learn.
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I discovered this small chain while staying at the Sofitel located half a block away. I was looking for quick, casual breakfast and Bonte fit the niche. I've never been to Belgium, so I have no way to assess the authenticity of Bonte's product, but I liked what I ate, a waffle with bananas and walnuts mixed in, on it own terms. If I ever return in a more decadent mood, a waffle with dark chocolate is a must.
Beverage selections were good with both fresh squeezed orange juice and a nice selection of teas available. As much as I'd like to see something like this where I live (Phoenix), I always have doubts about quality control if a chain expands to nationwide proportions. I hope to see Bonte grow steadily but not too fast in its home region while others spread the Belgian-ish waffle love to the rest of the country.
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first off, lemme apologize for the photo. i forgot to take a pic of the "before" belgian waffle that i had ordered. so the pic i took shows the "after" belgian waffle, which shows an empty plate.
this morning, i wanted eggs and bacon and all that is greasy. walked to mugshots to find it too crowded, then sabrina's, line was around the building, then walking around, i could smell the sugar of these waffles wafting in this dirty city's air.
i got the belgian waffle with strawberries and dark chocolate. it was very very sweet. apparently, this jawn makes true belgian waffles. they put the fruit into the batter and then into a special metal belgian waffle gadget. and voila! it is like a pricey pop tart. it tastes ok and i did finish it, look at my photo. but, i was really hungry.
the coffee was good. but, it is hard to mess up coffee. the staff was nice, but i did notice one of them giving attitude to another customer. in all fairness, the customer was not pleasant.
i ate my belgian waffle and drank my coffee. i felt like i was eating dessert and i hadn't had the luxury of a nice greasy meal. this place is cozy and could be cute, but it comes off as a bit cold here. also, i felt a bit smushed due to the low ceilings.
next time i have the urge to seek bacon, i will listen. you can't go wrong with bacon. you can go wrong at bonte.
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I went to the location close to Rittenhouse Square thinking I'd get a quick bite during lunch. The place was hardly busy and the 2 Queens working the counter could hardly be bothered with my order. I got the waffle with a sprinkling of strawberries, along with a healthy bit of attitude. If you're a fan of the so sweet it makes your teeth hurt, this is the place. I had my feelings confirmed about the place as I walked down the block and saw other coffee shops quite busy.
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I can't say, like some others here, that I've ever had a "true" Belgian waffle, but these do the trick for me. I do happen to have a vicious sweet tooth (so perhaps that helps), or maybe I've just been lucky, but I've enjoyed nothing but slightly crispy waffles with soft sweet fillings. Delicious! I prefer a dark chocolate and strawberry filling, but I have a hard time believing any of the choices would be bad. Service definitely seems to run the gamut, so I wouldn't plan on visiting if you're on a strict schedule. Also, wish their hours were better - most shops stop making waffles a half hour before closing, and few are open late.
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I LOOOOOOOOOOVE sugar, but I sure did most thoroughly dislike these so-called "Belgian waffles". It was so disappointing as I was really, really looking forward to indulging in some Belgium waffle-y goodness.
This sucker was so crusty & hard, Boyfriend & I both broke our plastic utensils trying to cut through it! Not a good thing!
As at least one other Yelper has posted - these are most definitely NOT Belgian waffles. I've had real Belgian waffles & will never forget the amazingness of each & every bite. So please, if you're looking for an authentic Belgian do yourself a favor & don't go to Bonte. Or, if you've already visited & been disappointed by Bonte's waffles don't make the mistake of thinking that's what Belgian waffles are really like.
The wraps/salads/sandwiches looked pretty tasty, however.
While I will never ever make the mistake of going to Bonte for one of their Belgian waffles again, I'm not adverse to going back & trying one of their other lunch items.
If it matters, I had my experience at the Bonte at Walnut & 13th St.
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while the Rittenhouse Square one is my least favorite, Bonte is a great place overall. The waffles are an addiction and I recommend the strawberry filled. The chocolate ones are great too, but only get them if you have an absolute sugar craving. Bonte also makes really good Coffee, Hot Chocolate, and Sandwiches. Their muffins are also the perfect thing to enjoy with a morning coffee.
As I said before though Rittenhouse Square's Bonte is not the best. it is the smallest of the three Philly locations and closes the earliest. go to the two on Walnut for bigger Bontes that are open later.
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I'm not a huge fan of sweets by any means, but tempted by a buy one get one free coupon I was drawn into Bonte. As someone who isn't crazy for just any old sweet thing, I wasn't very impressed with this place. I've had real Belgian waffles before - these are not them.
As a person who does not ordinarily crave sweet things, I know it's good when even I want to go back for me. This was not one of those places.
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Supposedly this place is good. Instead of a crispy waffle, I got a lump of mush that was kind of crispy at the bottom.
As for service? Meh.
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Sweet sassy molassy. This place rocks. I knew as soon as I saw "Belgian Sugar Waffles" on the sign outside that I was going to love it. The waffles are seriously amazing -- hot and crispy on the outside, doughy on the inside. The sugar crystals are HUGE and so, so tasty. We got ours filled with dark chocolate, which was amazing, but I imagine that even a plain waffle would be fabulous -- they have a sort of cinnamon-y taste, and are just plain all-around incredible.
Free wi-fi and good beverages round out the experience. They actually have a drink called "milk and honey," which tastes exactly as comforting as it sounds.
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Bonte is a great shop that sticks true to classic street waffles of Belgium. That being said, they are very sticky sweet suckers. I don't enjoy sitting in the cafe, as I feel it is not very inviting. Furthermore, I found that the coffee was less than desirable. But on a cold day there is something charming about a warm cup of coffee and a comforting Belgian waffle.
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No wireless on the day we went. Service was sloooow- they waited until there was a critical mass of waffle orders before we got ours. If you love crunchy, sugary waffles (I didn't do the mix ins since I heard that Bonte's waffles are so sweet), go for it. Bring your patience.
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Cute little coffee shop nestled in Rittenhouse Square. Quite cozy! Aside from coffee, they offer Belgain waffles of many flavors...dark/white chocolate, strawberry, blueberry, banana to name a few. It's not the fluffy kind of waffles I am use to...it's rather crunchy. Made fresh while you wait. It's quite the treat. They offer free wireless too. I wish there's one here in the Bay Area!
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There are several locations, all pretty clean and not overly-large. They're perfect locations to meet for a cup of coffee to discuss a school project, organize a fundraiser, or even have a cheap date. Not noisy when I was at their Walnut St. location (near 13th).
It's a waffleria, so if you don't like waffles, I can't recommend anything there to eat... if you have a waffle fetish, check them out since they have many varieties of waffles. (The waffle I ordered was a plain Belgian waffle - nothing outrageous and it hit the spot since I hadn't yet had dinner.)
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Cute idea, but I've never tasted so much sugar in my life.
I was hoping for more doughy waffles, but what you should expect is a sugar-coated (think those large sugar crystals that rest atop your Dunkin Donuts muffins) thin waffle full of chocolate or what have you.
This is definitely a sweet-tooth treat. I would stick with their awesome drinks on a cold winter's day and just relax at a table with your laptop.
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umm, the waffles are gross. way too sweet with big bits of "rock" sugar (for lack of a better term) and i don't know if the thing is to not clean the griddle, but they should because there was big burned chunks of shit.
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Food is excellent-especially the Belgian Waffles. It's not like a regular Belgian Waffles. Cappuccino and Mocha is delicious. Service is not that great but hey, it's a cafe, you don't expect a full service. I always stop by this place whenever I am shopping at Walnut.
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Actually, I ate at the 922 Walnut location. It was BUSY, and we had a bit of a wait for our waffles. But they were delicious. We got one with blueberries and one plain. We ate them on the go, but I'll be back to try some more.
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Throughout my life, when confronted with griddle decisions, I've always gone in this order: French toast, then pancakes, then waffles.
Save for a pecan number at The Waffle House, which is in the running for my "last meal on Earth", I don't do it. Bonte, like the WH, gets it right. They're $2.49 banana waffle is stupendous. It's doughy, banana-y, and covered with little sugar-like sprinkles that give you a rush like my fav prog-rockers (aside from ELO).
The coffee is watery and mediocre, but with WiFi and a good cheap waffle, Bonte holds rank as one of my favorite breakfast-lunch spots in Philadelphia.
Bonte has seriously great waffles. They're not typical Americanized waffles, so don't expect anything close to what you might find at an IHOP. No, my friend, these waffles are crispy and chewy and so flavorful you don't need syrup. They're almost more like pastries. Better yet, they're handmade while you wait and you can get them with your choice of fillings.
Let's boil it all down. What I'm telling you is that while other schmucks are waiting in line for a high-falutin' brunch, I'm eating a chocolate and banana-filled crispy and chewy pastry that's fresh from the waffle iron. Why wouldn't you go?
The location is a half-story below street-level. Very quaint and European.
This is a great coffee & Belgian waffle place! The waffles are amazing, and the hot chocolate is made with ghirardelli chocolate (I'm not a coffee person). They offer free wireless which is a huge plus if you want to just study/surf/etc. There are apparently two locations for this coffee shop, I've never been to the other but its hours are longer and more convenient.
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