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Solvang is such a cute little town with great breakfast options.
We decided to try the Belgian Café because I love waffles & they have outside seating!
(When traveling with my puppy Lilly, I can only eat at places with outside seating!)
The banana & whipped cream waffle & Cappuccino were delicious! I was so happy to ordered that plate because they have homemade whipped cream which is bad for the hips but delicious on the lips!
If you are planning on going to the Belgian Café & want to sit outside, make sure you are ready to wait or arrive there before the crowds because they only have 1 outside table!
Overall, if you love waffles, this is a great place to eat & is easy on your wallet!
(Lunch - Sun., Aug. 9, 2009)
We started our Santa Barbara daycation with a trip up to Solvang, which I've never been to but was sold when people told me there were windmills...I'm easy to entertain...really...
Ambiance:
Very bright interior with minimal decor aside from these random large blue outdoor umbrellas hanging from the ceiling...not sure what they were going for here, but this ain't HGTV. In essence, it felt like an old school diner/ice cream parlor.
Food:
I had the creamy chicken and mushrooms savory crepe (http://tinyurl.com/q4woep). The crepe was filled with a decent portion of...well...chicken and mushrooms, although the mushrooms weren't at all fresh, which is a crying shame really. The cream sauce was surprisingly light and well seasoned. Overall, a solid but unspectacular crepe.
As with most other fellow Yelpers, we ordered the Banana Supreme waffle (http://tinyurl.com/nbkn88), which was topped with a generous portion of vanilla ice cream and topped with fresh strawberries, peaches, banana, and some berry in syrup. The waffles were surprisingly light, crispy yet airy. I can see many a diets ending right here.
My daycation companions ordered other breakfast items, and judging by their reaction, it wasn't bad, but wasn't too great either.
Note: Coffee's rather weak here, but then again I've become somewhat of a javaholic over the years. So if you're like me, dope up at a "real" coffee house prior to coming here if you intend to feed your addiction.
Final Thoughts:
It's a solid place to go if you're not up to waiting in that hellacious line in front of Paula's Pancake House (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). In terms of value, I'd skip the savory crepes as the potions aren't very filling. Waffles are the way to go here, and perhaps some of their non-brunch menu items.
People thought this was:
My partner in crime and I began our Solvang adventure at the Belgian Cafe. This place has been near and dear to our hearts since May so it made perfect sense to re-visit for lunch.
This place is a cozy diner with bright blue decorations on the walls (and bright blue outdoor umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. Not sure what those are for or what purpose they serve, but ok) and the waitresses are outfitted with cute Danish skirts but we quickly noticed this was a Solvang theme at every restaurant we went to during our little trip.
This time around we had the Solvang Burger with a Vanilla Milkshake and the Veggie Sandwich with Coffee. The milkshake was made with real ice cream and was highly recommended by my partner in crime. Sadly, I didn't sneak in a sip but I trust his judgment. I wish I could say the same about my coffee but it was average and rather weak. It also tasted as though it had been sitting on the burner for a while.
My sandwich was ok but not very filling. It was also slathered with a little too much mayo. It arrived with mayo oozing from the sides and the contents inside were a slippery sliding mess. The tomatoes sadly were not ripe but it's hard to find a ripe tomato in California these days. Two thumbs up to any restaurant that can actually succeed in that mission.
The burger was given a two thumbs up even though the burger meat was average. The grilled onions and cheese plus the bread that was reminiscent of a German sandwich made up for the burger meat. Our shoestring fries were so-so.
Overall, it's not a bad place. I think the breakfast is better than the lunch. We met here earlier in May for breakfast and had the Travelers Special and the Eggs Benedict which is why we came back and when we do revisit, we'll have breakfast instead of lunch because it's served all day. Any place that serves breakfast all day has a special place in my heart. Also loved the old waffle iron near the door and the comfy red bench. :)
The interior of the restaurant was very cute and made me feel like I was in Europe. I, of course, had the Belgium waffles with homemade whipped cream (which was so fresh and yummy) with bananas. I was in heaven. This waffle was amazing! Next time I head up north, I would stop in Solvang just for these waffles. Hubby got the Belgium waffles with fruit and a Danish sausage. Everything was delicious and we were not dissapointed. Wonderful breakfast spot.
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I had a waffle (of course). It was pretty different from the overnight ones that I make at home - this one was airier and crispier, with more of a tang. A delicious breakfast, and I filled up on my dining companions' omelettes.
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Crepes and Waffles are obviously must have breakfast items.
For lunch I had sausage and Havarti cheese with mustard on a french roll and it was out of this world good. I almost ordered a second but I was in the midst of trying to think of new years resolutions and eating 2 of every good meal I had didn't make the list
This is now a mandatory breakfast stop whenever we're in Solvang. After coming here year after year, I haven't been able to find a lighter, fluffier, more delicious waffle.
What We Ordered:
- Banana Supreme (Banana, whipped cream, ice cream, fresh strawberries, peaches, blueberries, topped with chopped pecans, $8.95): Worth every penny!!! This is the best waffle EVERR!! I'll post the picture and you'll dream about it... or slobber on your keyboard.
- Rib-eye & Eggs (also pictured, ~$10): Nothing like some good tasty rib-eye in the morning. The hash browns were crispy and buttery, but soft and fluffy in the middle.
- Corned Beef Hash & Eggs (pictured, ~$9): Lightly pan fried on the outside, went great with the eggs.
I have a feeling we'll be back here in the next few months. ^_~
People thought this was:
Oddly, there are umbrellas inside the restaurant. Decor is lacking a little and there isn't too much of a homely feel. All the servers look like teen girls who hate their jobs. We came here because the wait at Paula's Pancake House was 45 minutes and we were four hungry and impatient girls.
Eggs Benedict Crepe - I couldn't taste the lemon juice or pepper in the hollandaise sauce. It was thick and fluffy but lacking in flavor. The crepe was generously filled with ham and eggs so I enjoyed that.
Stars & Stripes waffle - How patriotic. There are strawberries, whip cream and blueberries on this. The fruit tastes fresh and the whip cream is definitely homemade. The waffle itself could've had crisper edges.
California Style Omelette - Got this with a side of hash browns which were on the softer side and unsalted. Omelette was topped with cheese and avocado. Everything on this dish was satisfactory; that's all I can say. I wasn't blown away.
All the entrees are not overly big but will still fill you up.
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Just had lunch there over the weekend. Great service. Good food. They had the BEST chicken noodle soup ever. I had 1 cup and then ordered another bowl afterwards! Yuuuuum.
I loved looking at the orange juice machine behind the counter! At least you know the juice is fresh!
Eggs Benedict Crepe - filled with lots of scrambled eggs and ham. but i couldn't really taste the hollandaise sauce. so it wasn't a special crepe but still good.
Stars & Stripes Waffle - divided into three sections: one for strawberries, one for blueberries, and one for whipped cream. everything wasn't overly sweet which was nice! however the syrup was thin but it did it's job of sweetening each bite.
California Omelette - basic omlete served with a side of toast, salsa, sour cream and your choice of hash browns or fresh fruit. you can't go wrong with this dish.
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Has there ever been a food craze that you just couldn't understand? For example, most people I know adore sushi, but then there are those weird freakshow exceptions who just can't stand it?
This is how I relate to the crepe. I don't get it. To me, a crepe is like a confused pancake that thinks it's a tortilla. I've tried savory crepes, and I've tried dessert crepes. I'm not impressed.
Even though I was starving when I ventured into The Belgian Cafe, my growling appetite was not enough to sway my opinion of the crepe. I think it's a fine spot for a tourist to get a quick bite while touring Solvang. I kind of felt like I had settled though. I ordered a savory crepe filled with chicken mushrooms and cream sauce....it reminded me of something I'd pick up at a school cafeteria. It had a very commercial, store-bought taste to it.
It was served with a piece of bread & butter. Perhaps the crepe needed back-up reinforcements because it wasn't high enough in carbs on it's own? There was also a dainty fruit cup, nice touch.
Crepes. I don't get it.
People thought this was:
Strawberry crepes: +1 star
Danish Sausage sandwich with Havarti: -1 star (I guess I'm just an American Sausage kinda girl)
Potato Salad: +1 star
Waitress not refilling coffee: -1 star
Short skirts, ribbons & low cut tops on the waitresses: +3 stars (I started to take a picture of one of them bent over cleaning off a table but realized that was kinda perverted & invasive and stopped myself)
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I actually would have enjoyed this restaurant more if the food was served right when it was done cooking.
We ordered a stars and stripes waffle, so I knew that the red, white, and blue thing sitting at the window for 6 minutes was ours and I cringed when I saw the waitress bring the plate over to our table. Even though it was not freshly served, the fruit was not overly sweet which worked well with the syrup. The waffle was served cold.
Special eggs benedict crepe was enjoyable. I have never had hollandaise sause before, but I really liked this dish. If only it was served hot off the stove.
Overall, I enjoyed this meal even thought it's nothing to oOoOo and aAH over.
People thought this was:
Best Belgian waffles I have had in years!! They were so light and crispy! The fresh blueberries topping and light syrup complemented the waffles perfectly. I did not expect this excellent quality for the waffles when I walked in the place but was pleasantly surprised after a single bite. My friend even said this first bite had re-defined the standard of Belgian waffles for him!! Other dishes were not bad but not as exceptional.
Delicious! I had the Solvang Special which consisted of a waffle topped with the fruit of my choice (I chose strawberries), ice cream, and whipped cream. The reason, I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because the waffle was a lot smaller then I had anticipated. Hehe. The food was good, and I would definitely eat there again the next time I am in Solvang. The crepes looked delicious, I shall have to try them. It's a quaint little restaurant, nothing fancy. Just real and simple food. Love it.
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Definitely recommend this one! I had the red, white, and blue waffle which has strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. This waffle ROCKS!!! The whipped cream is AWESOME, very fresh! My wife stole almost all my whipped cream once she'd tasted it! LOL. We only did the waffles here but the Belgian waffles were great. Crisp on the outside and light on the inside. Cooked to perfection. The eggs and sausage matched perfectly. The waitress was friendly and didn't mind my bringing in my own tea bag as I'm a bit of a tea snob. Great service.
Parking? Well, it's street parking in Solvang or one of the public lots and walk around and do some sightseeing. If you aren't too full, skip across the street and grab some hot aebelskivers (sp?).
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The waffles were definitely the best I've ever had. I ordered the Traveler's special and it came with a waffle and a Danish sausage which were both mouth watering. The waffle edges were crisp and complemented the fluffiness of the waffle remarkably well. By far the best waffle I have tasted in a long time.
My friends ordered the crepes and the Eggs Benedict. The crepes were nothing spectacular and the Eggs Benedict was also nothing to brag about.
When here, order only the waffles. You won't be disappointed.
People thought this was:
Ate breakfast on the morning of the Tour of California Solvang Time Trial. Excellent food. I had std eggs with the Danish sausage. Orange juice was ok, but I prefer the pulpier style. Wait service was excellent. Overall a great start to a day of watching Bicycle Racing ! Cheers, Joe Mac
In our attempt to expand our Solvang breakfast horizons beyond the Little Mermaid, we decided to give this place a try. Sure, it has no aebleskiver, but it does have Belgian waffles and crepes. Erik got a Danish omelette with Danish sausages and Havarti cheese that was absolutely delicious. Laina got a jambon crepe, which I thought was OK. I was tempted by the idea of the crepes benedict, but I figured someone should get a waffle, so I got a "gourmet" waffle with my choice of fresh fruit (I chose peaches since they were in season) and sour cream. You may think of sour cream as savory, but in Scandinavian cooking it is frequently used with desserts; the tart flavor goes really nicely with sweet flavors such as the fruit. Despite the Belgian in the name, this is still essentially a Danish place. Service was very good, and it wasn't too crowded. I'm glad we gave it a try.
People thought this was:
We just wandered into this place for breakfast one day while on a wine tasting trip. We got seated quickly, the service was good and fast, and the food was *outstanding*. I opted for the traditional Belgian waffles and they were so good! However, the sausage they served with the waffles turned out to be the real treat. The dish came with the option of one of three types of sausage, and I went with the local stuff. It was fantastic! I am from Texas and miss getting real bratwurst and this just about made my day. All 4 of us loved this place! It was also very clean and bright.
Sadly we live too far to drive here for breakfast anymore. One day though, the call for perfect waffles will motivate us to get up, drive over 150 miles for these wonderfully perfect waffles. They are light and crispy, and like nothing else I have ever had. They also serve fresh sqeezed oj and great coffee. The service is friendly and on warm days we bring our little dog with us to have breakfast at the only outside table they have.
I once watched my brother-in-law eat three orders... if only my stomache capacity was larger...
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The best waffles that my wife and I have ever eaten - and she loves waffles, pancakes and pastries.
My wife had the red, white and blue waffle with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. I stuck with strawberries. With a glass of fresh orange juice and coffee, this was a perfect breakfast to start off a day of shopping, wine tasting and exploration in the Santa Ynez Valley.
OH MY, What an awesome breakfast spot! Coffe- delicious, blueberry crepe delicious, eggs, omlets, juice, bacon, sausage, allllll delicious. I must say- them danes know how do do breakfast. Not a dissapointment and a wonderful start to a day in the Santa Ynez Valley!
Great breakfast spot in Solvang! We had breakfast here on our 2nd morning this past weekend (after, of course, having pancakes at Paula's Pancakes the first day). The waffles were perfect - crispy on the outside and all fluffy goodness on the inside. I had the "European favorite", which basically translates to "Europeans don't need whipped cream to enjoy their waffles." I had strawberries with mine. The "American tradition" includes whipped cream, but no fruit. Stella had the "World's Fair", which had both strawberries and whipped cream - a winning combination. (We correctly reasoned that if she got whipped cream there would be enough for both of us.)
I've been here once and yes these are the best waffles I have ever had. I can't even think of a close second. If you are near Santa Barbara and love waffles you have to try this place.
to be fair, we did not order their breakfast specials such as waffles during an afternoon because we didn't want to be all sugar-ed out. so we chose a couple of hot sandwiches: tri-tip and grilled cheese. nothing special, just average. maybe their waffles are smashingly stupendous, but my experience is based on the lunch menu. nice, pleasant, attentive service.
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