BXL Cafe East

No Longer In Business

I find both the BXL bars to be super touristy with all the same cliche belgian beer offerings over priced. Might stop by here more often if there was more lambic available.

Good Belgian spot. Service is adequate for the most part. Some are better than others. Staff members really run the gamut; from a thoughtful recommendation to a blank doe-eyed stare. Bottle selection is above average, but tap rotation is just mediocre. I treat myself to moules-frites every time I visit. Enjoyable bar that I’d definitely recommend to any beer enthusiast. I will continue to come back.

Visited May 26, 2014.

Cool bar in a cool neighborhood, though I suspect to a lot of people these days the adjective “Belgian” really means Cantillon so some of the beer bros may not share my sentiments on this place. I’ll start with the cons. It’s a bit touristy, it’s expensive, and while they have a sizeable bottle list they could at least mix in a saison and a lambic somewhere (yeah yeah, I know what I just said). They of course have the good stuff like some of the trappists and Rodenbach but no Dupont (especially when the new iteration of the Cuvee Dry Hopping just came out...) is an oversight. Prices are touristy of course. Also, the Chimay “500th” anniversary beer that I ordered was mislabeled. I was surprised to see a new Chimay beer on tap, which tastes suspiciously like the White but a little lower in ABV. Turns out it’s the 15th anniversary beer that is already on the site and at all the better stores. The pros I think outweigh most of the cons. They are at least somewhat dedicated to bringing in some obscure Belgian beers so even a jaded ticker can find something to try here. The service was quite friendly even though I had a hard time understanding the bartender because of his accent. Also, the apple pie with the scoop of vanilla ice cream was enjoyable. The proximity to several other beer bars is also a pro. I’m neutral on the atmosphere. It’s dark and wasn’t very busy but the display of glassware behind the bar was pretty cool.

Visited mid-afternoon on a Thursday. Setup is mostly a bar up front, a few side bar tables, and tale seating in the back. Music was playing pretty loud, and a few folks were watching the Europa League match. Service was attentive, and quick to answer the questions I had. Belgian focus to draft and bottle list, naturally, and there are plenty of good beers to be had. Nice spot to stop and have a beer.

70 = ★★½ (Locals should check it out, visitors with extended time)

I only use the total score, not the component parts.

I come here once a month. Service is not exceptional but decent, especially when not too crowded. Food is ok except for the mussels, which is not exciting. Beer selection seem ok if they have everything on the beer menu. Overall, a decent place.

I’m biased, but this is my local Belgian bar. Know the owner and managers and they go out of their way to get me something new and different whenever I go in. Good selection of Belgian beers (both bottles and a rotating draft list), good service and good food (frites are amazing).

I walk past here most days butbtypically head to Stagshead instead. I was in Lambic mood so stopped in for a brew. The website said they had a cantillon rose de gambrinus in bottles which I doubted but wanted to see. They didn’t. They also didn’t have 3 fonteinen gueze that was on printed bar menu. Anyways got my third choice and bartender shorted me 5 bucks but apologized. Placevwas crowded and nothing special. Standard Belgium list but plenty good stuff, if actually there

A nice, cozy small cafe near Rockefeller Center. I came here for brunch with my family, and although it is not geared towards families, it was plenty appropriate. It is a small place with a small bar and a number of tables, but easily able to get a table on an early Sunday afternoon right before Christmas. I just got the BXL house beer, which was quite tasty. They had a number of other Belgian taps as well. My omelet was super tasty, as was my sisters French toast. Overall, quite a nice place. Prices are on par with the typical NYC prices. I would come here just to try the Ommegang BXL, it is a tasty saison. And the food is good too. Worth a stop.

Quite liked this bar in midtown manhattan. Tried their house BXL cuvee but didn’t stay too long. The music is very loud, prices high and the afterwork crowd not my types. But great to have a craft beer shop across from my hotel!

Stopped in here after chatting with the bartender at the BXL on 43rd, who apparently manages this one in the evenings. Nice light open feel, similar to the other BXL, but as this one seems a little newer, has a little more elegance to it. The tap list wasn’t much different that the first (meaning about 10-12 beers, most of which I’ve had before, but there was one new one for me), but the bottle list was much more impressive. Still nothing crazy, but you can at least get some solid Gueuzes here and a few other interesting things. They had a gazpacho on special, and as I’m a sucker for a good gazpacho, I ordered that as well. It was pretty decent, but I do have to say however that the gazpacho I had twice in the last week and a half at The Blind Tiger, blew it away hands down (and was about $2 less expensive as well I think). My only problem here came when it was time to cash out as my server had gone off to wade through a mountain of paperwork at a table across the room, and the two or three other servers couldn’t seem less interested in me, my empty bowl, and empty glass, anxious look, and visible credit card. Service up until then was fine however, as my initial server was quite courteous and friendly. Worth a stop if you’re nearby, probably not if you have to go out of your way for it, and based on the prices, I wouldn’t make this the place to spend the bulk of an evening.