Belga Cafe – French
This vibrant bistro captures the soulful essence of a European cafe, where the golden crunch of seafood-filled croquettes and the earthy aroma of wild mushroom waffles fill the air. The kitchen masterfully balances rustic comfort with refined artistry, offering everything from velvety smoked trout rillettes to the bold, savory harmony of braised pork belly and charred baby octopus. It is a space where traditional Belgian influences meet contemporary flair, inviting guests to linger over vibrant seasonal salads and inventive small plates in an atmosphere of effortless sophistication.
514, 8th Street Southeast, Washington, DC, 20003 +12025440100 https://belgacafe.com/0Cuisine: French
Price range: $$
Dietary options: high-protein, vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-sodium, paleo, pescatarian, plant-based, whole30, anti-inflammatory, dash-sodium-reduced, gerd, high-fiber, south-beach, aip, renal, tlc, volumetrics, lectin-free, macrobiotic
Currently closed
Hours
- Monday - Sunday
- 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Menu
Appetizers
- Chicken & Crab Cigars - $15.5: Spicy cigars of chicken and crab meat, dipping sauces Dietary tags: Whole30, Paleo, AIP, Lectin-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Four Cheese Croquettes - $15: Croquettes of four cheeses, cheese waffle, cheese cream, puffed tomatoes, Parmesan snow Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Smoked Trout Rillette - $18: Smoked Carolina trout rillette, lemon confit, petite salade, French dressing, grilled toast, salmon caviar Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Wild Mushroom Waffle - $18: Porcini, shiitake, beech mushrooms, Pecorino cream, mushroom jus shooter Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, High-Fiber, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, TLC Available at: brunch, dinner, lunch
- Yellowfin Tuna with Avocado - $22: Yellowfin tuna, avocado cream, cilantro, seaweed salad, Persian lime, dashi broth, chili, ponzu-soy sauce Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shrimp and Lobster Croquette - $21: Belgian shrimp and lobster croquette, fried parsley, lemon, tomato salad, roasted tomato mayonnaise Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Baby Octopus & Braised Pork Belly - $20.5: Slow-cooked pork belly, baby octopus, Brussels sprouts, popped wild rice, sour cream, za`atar, red wine, radishes Available at: dinner, lunch
Salads and Soups
- Belgian Endive Salad - $16.5: Belgian endives, blue cheese crumble, agrumes, dates, kumquat, candied pecans, Belga’s vinaigrette Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Warm Delicata Squash Salad - $20: Burrata, black mission figs, grains, toasted pumpkin seeds, vincotto, za’atar, honey Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Strawberry Spinach Salad - $18: Nuts, red onions, Ricotta cheese, Balsamic dressing Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Belgian Onion Soup - $19: Croutons, Gruyère cheese Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kabocha Pumpkin-Turmeric Soup - $17: Pomegranate, crème fraîche Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
Main Courses
- Belgian Beef Stew - $34: Chimay beer, Belgian frites, mayonnaise, Belgian endive, grain mustard Available at: dinner, lunch
- Steak Tartare - $36: Belgian steak tartare, fried onions, cornichons, capers, garden salad, quail egg, Belgian frites Dietary tags: Lectin-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Mussels Mariniere - $29: PEI mussels, white wine, shallots, celery, butter, garlic, parsley, Belgian frites, mayonnaise Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Red Devil’s Mussels - $31: PEI mussels, mezcal, spicy sauce, chorizo sausage, jalapeño, shallots, butter, Belgian frites, mayonnaise Available at: dinner, lunch
- Roasted Salmon - $36: Crispy skin, black garlic cream, roasted potato dashi, black salsify, parsnip crisps Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
- Golden Seared Scallops - $43: Belgian endive, hazelnut, Bourgogne truffle, brown butter celery cream Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Petit Filet and Oxtail - $64: 6 oz petit filet mignon, braised oxtail, wild mushrooms, cauliflower mousse, potato chips, vin rouge sauce Available at: dinner, lunch
- Rabbit with Prunes - $40: Rabbit leg, Rodenbach beer, bacon, prunes, grain mustard, small potato, carrots Dietary tags: High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Bart’s Better Bistro Burger - $26: Grilled burger, bacon, American cheese, tomato, pickles, crazy sauce, brioche bun, Belgian frites Available at: dinner, lunch
Brunch Specialties
- Egg-Prosciutto Toast - $17.5: Soft scrambled eggs, Prosciutto ham, black pepper, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crisps, on toast Dietary tags: High-Fiber Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Fancy Truffle Hashbrowns - $27: Duck fat hashbrowns, duck confit leg, black truffle, poached egg, duck sauce Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, High-Fiber, Renal Available at: breakfast, brunch
- The Belgian Omelet - $26.5: Stuffed omelet, lobster, shrimp, crab, calamari, tomato-bisque sauce, petite salad Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, Anti-Inflammatory Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Belga’s Famous Green Eggs - $18: Herb pesto, creamed spinach, red onions, Gruyère cheese, English muffin, applewood smoked bacon Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffles - $21: Buttermilk deep fried chicken, crispy Belgian waffle, popcorn, jalapeño honey syrup, spicy peppers, whipped sweet butter Available at: breakfast, brunch, lunch
Sides
- Belgian Frites - $9.5: The world’s original fries! A trio of homemade mayonnaise Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Brussels Sprouts - $15: Sweet and sour fried pork belly, fried kale, curry, chili Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- French Baguette - $7.5: Sun-dried tomato butter, lard and bacon bits butter Available at: dinner, lunch
Desserts
- Pumpkin Cheesecake - $17: Speculoos graham cracker crumble, pumpkin cream, marshmallow, sweet carrot gelee, marshmallow ice cream Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Apple Tarte Tatin - $18: Crimson crisp apples, puffed pastry, vanilla, cinnamon, caramel ice cream Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Belgian Chocolate Lava Cake - $19: Soft center warm chocolate cake, chocolate sauce, choco pearls, cacao crumble, cream fleurette Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
Beverages
- Belga Cafe’s Beet Manhattan - $18: Jefferson’s rye whiskey, aquavit, dry marsala fine, pasubio, candied red beet, ice cube Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Chef Bart's Negroni - $17: Nolet’s gin, Martini & Rossi riserva speciale rubino, Campari, big clear ice, blood orange peel Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Lectin-Free
- Stella Artois - $9: Pilsner, 5.2% ABV
- Straffe Hendrik Tripel - $16: Belgian Tripel, 9% ABV Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Lectin-Free
- Perfect Espresso Martini - $17: Ketel one vodka, Julius Meinl espresso, Kahlua, trio of beans Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based
Restaurants near Belga Cafe
- Pineapple and Pearls — French
- Wine and Butter — French
- Steak Frites — French
- Le Bon Cafe — French
- Bistro Cacao — French
- Central-Michel Richard — French
- Le Pain Quotidien — French
- maman Penn Quarter — French
- La Grande Boucherie — French
- Crepe Lena & Waffle — French
- Opaline — French
- Bistro du Jour — French
