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Second visit at Brussels Bistro and both times were solid. Perfect spot if you're looking for a good list of Belgian beers, both bottled and on tap. Food is also great. It's tough to find good mussels with a very of sauce options but they've got that covered for you here. First visit, I had the White Beer sauce and that was fantastic. It was just the right amount of beer to not be overpowering. Second visit, I had the Garlic and Crème and wow - if you like garlic, this is an excellent choice. Creamy, garlicky, but again not overpowering. My toddler had the chicken breast plate and luckily it was a hit for her (of course the fries more than anything else). The chicken breast was moist and tender, so that made this an easy choice. Brussels Bistro is now becoming a must visit when in San Clemente - can't wait to go back!
I have been coming here but never really got the chance to do a review! So this time I will! We came here on a Sunday lunch with my family! As expected everything was delicious!!! We ordered the boeuf bourguignon, the pâté, the famous mushroom soup, burger (not pictured) and the belge onion soup! I do love their mussels as well which I have ordered in the past! Cody was great very attentive and friendly! Only thing I would complain about is that it is too good to not come and try it! The ambiance is great it's always nice to seat next by the open window! Highly recommend if you want a Europeen food!
Came on a weekend afternoon. Was able to find street parking a block away pretty quickly. Street parking was not metered and free on Avenida Del Mar. Place was not busy when we arrived. They had a few tables. They originally wanted to seat us inside, but we requested the open window seat. Our waiter tried to sell us wine when we sat down. We ordered the Creamy Chicken with Ratatouille for $29 and Steak Frites with red wine sauce for $34. The Creamy Chicken was really good and fun to eat with the puff pastry. The Ratatouille was alright, we were not a fan. We got the Steak Frites medium and felt like it should've tasted better. We did appreciate that we did taste the red wine. The Belgians fries were hot and crispy. They were quite generous with the salt. The decor was nice. The food was descent. The kept refilling our water without us asking which was nice. We did not like that the waiters kept rushing us to leave at the end when there were plenty of open tables. The place was packed by dinner time when we returned to the area.
I am obsessed with the Mushroom Soup with Puff Pastry. The soup is creamy but doesn't feel heavy. The puff pastry makes it perfect! For my entree I always get the Hanger Steak. You can select from a variety of sauces but my favorite is the green peppercorn sauce. The steak is served with a side salad and your choice of another side. The balsamic dressing on the salad is delicious. I order the fries because they are amazing. I've always left Brussels Bistro satisfied and happy.
Went on a Sun night late dinner. Casual restaurant overlooking the Main Street. Easy seating and great tables if you're near the front. Nice to watch people walk by. Started off with the cheese croquette. Love that it had different kinds of cheeses. The mushroom soup was the best I've ever had and the puff pastry was a nice touch instead of croutons or bread. Mussels with wine and garlic was good but could have used a little more wine in the broth. Overall, food was excellent. I'd definitely come back for the soup!!
This is our first time at this location it has been a go to in Laguna for years. Mussels and frites are the must have and no one does better. Good service parking is on the street or in the small lot behind. Good beer list they do have some specials son week days . We order two pounds for two people ( this time we did have a lot of empty shells Overall great place to stop. To us this is a comfort food and you can site in the front to enjoy the open wall to the street . This is a small restaurant so you may want to call ahead
We are so glad to have found this place when looking for brunch option this morning. We ordered little mixture of lunch and breakfast and who doesn't love oysters on a half-shell first thing in the morning! They were nice and fresh-served with a little butter mixture, and of course, lemon and Tabasco on the side for preference. The oysters were a little small, but they were a good try anyway. We also started with a basket of sourdough slices which came out toasted and hot. Next was the Boeuf Bourguignon was just delicious! They definitely slow cooked the beef as advertised. And also a Mediterraneenne omelette w/some added Gruyère-the egg alone was probably the best fluffy omelette I've ever had! Everything was cooked with delicacy and care in the quality of the ingredients. You definitely get the quality of food that the prices call for. We will definitely be back because it's good quality food, and pleasant vibe with good service!
Ambience 4.5/5 - it's quiet and casual, I prefer a place with some booths and more amber lighting but not bad! Boeuf Bourguignon- 5/5, a little salty but so very good. Piping hot and very filling Ratatouille-2/5, got it as my side for the boef bourguignon, it was mushy and pretty flavorless. Fries- 5/5, piping hot, crispy and large. Came with ketchup and aioli, the aioli just was mayo I think so that was pretty sub par but the fries themselves were good. Carbonara- my husband got this so I can't really rate it but it was good! Not your traditional carbonara, but good. Kids meatball- 5/5, very soft and flavorful! Came with fries. All in all, possibly a bit overpriced for the quality of some of the dishes but the menu is very good and I will be back!
I wish I was here to watch the USA versus Belgium game. It's a lovely bistro with indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. We arrived at 1pm on a Sunday and they are still serving brunch until 2pm. We decided to snack on bitterballen and mussels and french fries. The bitterballen has a mousse like texture inside and the mustard was so good. The mussels were very clean, every bite I had did not taste gritty or sandy. We tried the mariniere, white wine sauce with celery and onions. The sauce could use a little bit more salt, and it was a light and thin consistency. The fries were delicious and thick cut. It was served with a thick aioli and ketchup. The one pound of mussels were more than enough to share with my boyfriend! By mistake, we received yellow curry mussel too. It was a watered down curry sauce that lacked depth and umami flavor. Don't expect it to taste exactly like Thai yellow curry. I also tried the lumiere cocktail, I was expecting botanical and refreshing. But it tasted more like a gimlet with the lime juice overpowering everything. We noticed it was a bit short staffed around 1:30pm to the end of brunch service. If you dine at this time, then you might have better service at the bar.
We stopped in here for a light meal. I had the kale and goat cheese salad. My friend had the French onion soup. Everything on the menu is old school kind of frech cuisine. The bartender was great. The place inside is very British soccer vibe. A little pricey but we'll worth it! Best looking menu i have seen in years. The owner comes in regularly!! Love this single owner place!
Came here for birthday dinner with a few friends. It was my first time trying escargot, and I was surprised by how much I liked it. The texture reminded me of oysters, which I enjoy. I ordered the falafels, which were a little dry, but the curry they came with was delicious. Our server was friendly, but they brought us an appetizer we didn't order and insisted we had. After a few minutes of us telling them we didn't order it, they finally realized it was meant for another table. We were seated in the corner, which made our table feel nice and private. Overall, there were some highlights, but between the dry entrée and the service mix-up, the experience fell a bit short of what I was hoping for.
We came for dinner on a Sunday and it was not busy at all. My family loved the food. It's full of comfort. You choose your entre and a side.
Cute little spot. The food was great. Casual place to get drinks and grab a bite to eat. We actually came because of a craving for Belgian waffles. While that was a slight disappointment (it's not the Liege waffle we expected), everything else we ordered for dinner was on point. The cone of fries, a must. Mussels, well of course. The beef bourguignon was exceptional. Brussel sprout appetizer was a surprising delight. For dessert, the mousse is shareable. Service was friendly. Thet came by often to check in on us. Kid friendly as well.
7 days ago
MAKE SURE TO TRY THE LAVA CAKE!!! Will go back for that cake and coffee ice cream on top!! The Branzino was also amazing. Also the bread. We loved the ambiance. Very nice decor and cute overall vibe. Felt authentic. Great restaurant and great people. Both servers were very kind and made the experience great. We did not catch their names but the male (curly blonde hair) was very nice and made sure we got the beer and food we wanted. The female (brunette) made sure we got the dessert we wanted. The hostess was very nice and was able to accommodate to get our requested table right away. Everyone was lovely and made us very happy to be there. Thank you all! read more
came on a Saturday afternoon. the street of Avenida Del Mar was pretty packed with customers and street parking was pretty much all occupied. they were located on a popular area for sure. we came a bit early for dinner. the restaurant was not biz yet. the place looked clean and bathroom was as well. We sat on a booth. the server had an accent, almost felt as if I was in Belgium. he took care of our orders but we never saw him again afterwards so his service wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. we ordered few things: 1) beef carpaccio- looked like any other beef carpaccio dish but this one wasn't as good. the meat wasn't cut as thinly as others. it was adequate dish but nothing great. 2) small mussels and fries- pretty good. wish there was more pieces for $29 3) pork shank- the presentation was avg. But this dish was fantastic. the meat fell off the bone, literally. meat was very tender. great dish. 4) beef bourguignon- very good dish too. not salty like most places. meat was flavorful and tender. 5) brazino- not bad but I've had better. felt like the skin needed to be crispier. 6) Profiteroles au chocolat- I've never had this before. amazing dessert. perfect. the ice cream inside the dough, choux pastry, was superb. read more
22 days ago
Second visit at Brussels Bistro and both times were solid. Perfect spot if you're looking for a good list of Belgian beers, both bottled and on tap. Food is also great. It's tough to find good mussels with a very of sauce options but they've got that covered for you here. First visit, I had the White Beer sauce and that was fantastic. It was just the right amount of beer to not be overpowering. Second visit, I had the Garlic and Crème and wow - if you like garlic, this is an excellent choice. Creamy, garlicky, but again not overpowering. My toddler had the chicken breast plate and luckily it was a hit for her (of course the fries more than anything else). The chicken breast was moist and tender, so that made this an easy choice. Brussels Bistro is now becoming a must visit when in San Clemente - can't wait to go back! read more
I have been coming here but never really got the chance to do a review! So this time I will! We came here on a Sunday lunch with my family! As expected everything was delicious!!! We ordered the boeuf bourguignon, the pâté, the famous mushroom soup, burger (not pictured) and the belge onion soup! I do love their mussels as well which I have ordered in the past! Cody was great very attentive and friendly! Only thing I would complain about is that it is too good to not come and try it! The ambiance is great it's always nice to seat next by the open window! Highly recommend if you want a Europeen food! read more
Came on a weekend afternoon. Was able to find street parking a block away pretty quickly. Street parking was not metered and free on Avenida Del Mar. Place was not busy when we arrived. They had a few tables. They originally wanted to seat us inside, but we requested the open window seat. Our waiter tried to sell us wine when we sat down. We ordered the Creamy Chicken with Ratatouille for $29 and Steak Frites with red wine sauce for $34. The Creamy Chicken was really good and fun to eat with the puff pastry. The Ratatouille was alright, we were not a fan. We got the Steak Frites medium and felt like it should've tasted better. We did appreciate that we did taste the red wine. The Belgians fries were hot and crispy. They were quite generous with the salt. The decor was nice. The food was descent. The kept refilling our water without us asking which was nice. We did not like that the waiters kept rushing us to leave at the end when there were plenty of open tables. The place was packed by dinner time when we returned to the area. read more
4 months ago
I am obsessed with the Mushroom Soup with Puff Pastry. The soup is creamy but doesn't feel heavy. The puff pastry makes it perfect! For my entree I always get the Hanger Steak. You can select from a variety of sauces but my favorite is the green peppercorn sauce. The steak is served with a side salad and your choice of another side. The balsamic dressing on the salad is delicious. I order the fries because they are amazing. I've always left Brussels Bistro satisfied and happy. read more
9 days ago
29 days ago
Went on a Sun night late dinner. Casual restaurant overlooking the Main Street. Easy seating and great tables if you're near the front. Nice to watch people walk by. Started off with the cheese croquette. Love that it had different kinds of cheeses. The mushroom soup was the best I've ever had and the puff pastry was a nice touch instead of croutons or bread. Mussels with wine and garlic was good but could have used a little more wine in the broth. Overall, food was excellent. I'd definitely come back for the soup!! read more
This is our first time at this location it has been a go to in Laguna for years. Mussels and frites are the must have and no one does better. Good service parking is on the street or in the small lot behind. Good beer list they do have some specials son week days . We order two pounds for two people ( this time we did have a lot of empty shells Overall great place to stop. To us this is a comfort food and you can site in the front to enjoy the open wall to the street . This is a small restaurant so you may want to call ahead read more
9 days ago
20 days ago
We are so glad to have found this place when looking for brunch option this morning. We ordered little mixture of lunch and breakfast and who doesn't love oysters on a half-shell first thing in the morning! They were nice and fresh-served with a little butter mixture, and of course, lemon and Tabasco on the side for preference. The oysters were a little small, but they were a good try anyway. We also started with a basket of sourdough slices which came out toasted and hot. Next was the Boeuf Bourguignon was just delicious! They definitely slow cooked the beef as advertised. And also a Mediterraneenne omelette w/some added Gruyère-the egg alone was probably the best fluffy omelette I've ever had! Everything was cooked with delicacy and care in the quality of the ingredients. You definitely get the quality of food that the prices call for. We will definitely be back because it's good quality food, and pleasant vibe with good service! read more
11 months ago
Ambience 4.5/5 - it's quiet and casual, I prefer a place with some booths and more amber lighting but not bad! Boeuf Bourguignon- 5/5, a little salty but so very good. Piping hot and very filling Ratatouille-2/5, got it as my side for the boef bourguignon, it was mushy and pretty flavorless. Fries- 5/5, piping hot, crispy and large. Came with ketchup and aioli, the aioli just was mayo I think so that was pretty sub par but the fries themselves were good. Carbonara- my husband got this so I can't really rate it but it was good! Not your traditional carbonara, but good. Kids meatball- 5/5, very soft and flavorful! Came with fries. All in all, possibly a bit overpriced for the quality of some of the dishes but the menu is very good and I will be back! read more
I wish I was here to watch the USA versus Belgium game. It's a lovely bistro with indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. We arrived at 1pm on a Sunday and they are still serving brunch until 2pm. We decided to snack on bitterballen and mussels and french fries. The bitterballen has a mousse like texture inside and the mustard was so good. The mussels were very clean, every bite I had did not taste gritty or sandy. We tried the mariniere, white wine sauce with celery and onions. The sauce could use a little bit more salt, and it was a light and thin consistency. The fries were delicious and thick cut. It was served with a thick aioli and ketchup. The one pound of mussels were more than enough to share with my boyfriend! By mistake, we received yellow curry mussel too. It was a watered down curry sauce that lacked depth and umami flavor. Don't expect it to taste exactly like Thai yellow curry. I also tried the lumiere cocktail, I was expecting botanical and refreshing. But it tasted more like a gimlet with the lime juice overpowering everything. We noticed it was a bit short staffed around 1:30pm to the end of brunch service. If you dine at this time, then you might have better service at the bar. read more
We stopped in here for a light meal. I had the kale and goat cheese salad. My friend had the French onion soup. Everything on the menu is old school kind of frech cuisine. The bartender was great. The place inside is very British soccer vibe. A little pricey but we'll worth it! Best looking menu i have seen in years. The owner comes in regularly!! Love this single owner place! read more
2 months ago
Came here for birthday dinner with a few friends. It was my first time trying escargot, and I was surprised by how much I liked it. The texture reminded me of oysters, which I enjoy. I ordered the falafels, which were a little dry, but the curry they came with was delicious. Our server was friendly, but they brought us an appetizer we didn't order and insisted we had. After a few minutes of us telling them we didn't order it, they finally realized it was meant for another table. We were seated in the corner, which made our table feel nice and private. Overall, there were some highlights, but between the dry entrée and the service mix-up, the experience fell a bit short of what I was hoping for. read more
6 months ago
We came for dinner on a Sunday and it was not busy at all. My family loved the food. It's full of comfort. You choose your entre and a side. read more
8 days ago
1 month ago
Cute little spot. The food was great. Casual place to get drinks and grab a bite to eat. We actually came because of a craving for Belgian waffles. While that was a slight disappointment (it's not the Liege waffle we expected), everything else we ordered for dinner was on point. The cone of fries, a must. Mussels, well of course. The beef bourguignon was exceptional. Brussel sprout appetizer was a surprising delight. For dessert, the mousse is shareable. Service was friendly. Thet came by often to check in on us. Kid friendly as well. read more
1 year ago
The atmosphere of this place is relaxing and allows fresh ocean air in through their large windows. On the weekends, they offer a brunch, plus their regular menu. I enjoyed the mushroom soup and a side house salad. The side salad had tomato wedges which can be a turnoff for some, but for me, I liked the juicy tomate. The mushroom soup came with a puff pastry which was nice to dip into the earthy soup. I'd get the soup again. My boyfriend ordered a Caesar salad, and it was a nice size. He wanted something refreshing so he was satisfied. Our waiter was good. She was patient since we took awhile to figure out what we wanted to order and she was great at answering our questions about the menu. read more
Had a nice brunch here on sunday. Service was pretty good though I had to ask for a water refill twice Ordered the mussels and the waffles with whip cream strawberries and syrup. Everything was quite tasty. Hubby loved the mussels. Prices area tad high but overall a nice meal here's read more
From start to finish, our experience at Brussels Bistro was absolutely delightful. Our server Julian (very cute, not gonna lie), listened to our preferences before making his suggestions. Our son ordered the steak, while I ordered the fish and my husband ordered the restaurant's specialty - mussels! While waiting, we people-watched and noticed how so many of the patrons seemed familiar with the staff. We realized they were regulars. It was reassuring to see because it meant we picked a great place to celebrate my husband's birthday. The restaurant wasn't that huge but they truly optimized the space and made sure there was enough space between tables for private conservations as well as navigable footpaths. The vibe was chill, beachy and classy. We loved it! Our food was spectacular. Everything was cooked to perfection. The portions are huge! Be ready to take food home, regardless of your appetite. You get so much bang for your buck. Thanks to this restaurant and to Julian for making my husband feel so special on his birthday. They sent us a special chocolate mousse with a sparkler to mark the occasion. We were so grateful for that - it came at a time when he needed it. This restaurant has made us lifelong fans and we fully intend to visit them even if we live a good hour and change away. THAT'S how good the food and service are. read more
4 months ago
3 months ago
Ordered the Smoked Salmon and Shrimp Fettuccine and Delirium Red with the fellas, gotta say I was not disappointed, tasted sooo good, would definitely recommend this spot to my family and friends compliments to the chef! read more
7 months ago
Another great meal at Brussels Bistro. The unseasonably warm weather brought out lots of people strolling Del Mar this evening. So nice to sit next to the open windows and people watch while sipping a Belgian beer. Started off with the great French fries with ketchup and mayo on the side. Nice and crispy and cooked in beef tallow. Wife had the beef bourguignon and I had the meatballs in a sweet sauce. Both were great and served very hot in metal crocks. We both had leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. Thanks to excellent attentive service from server Brandon, who also recommended a nice Belgian non alcoholic beer I had not tried before. Cheers! read more
8 months ago
Great experience all around: the food and service is 5 star. They even sang for our 1 year olds birthday. He was mesmerized. Mushroom soup so good! Beef Bourgeon 5 stars! Beet salad yummy! French fries holy moly! Chocolate mousse yum! Corey was our server he was wonderful. read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
5 months ago
We sat at the bar and were helped immediately. Servers were helpful and quick, food was delicious l, everything we ordered was so good. The cheese croquettes esp were a favorite of the table. read more
We had a great evening at Brussels sitting outside on their indoor/outdoor patio. The decor is fun and chic, service is exactly what you want and food/drinks are perfect. The table shared the fries and Brussels as appetizers, then I shared food with my friend; the mushroom soup served in a crock with a puff pastry shell and the trout almondine. It was all wonderful and we will be back soon! read more
Always wanted to try this place so I was excited to come here. Unfortunately, no one at our table really ordered any of the Belgium styled food today so I will definitely need to come back. Everyone wanted to eat somewhat light since we knew we were going to enjoy ice cream later and also because of the warmer temps we didn't want to eat anything too heavy. Our table ordered the Mediterranean salad with chicken, mushroom soup with puff pastry, Caesar salad and the bacon quiche with a side salad. Food and service was good but somewhat pricey based on the amount of food you are given. The base price for a salad was around $17 but by the time you add a protein it's an additional $10-$15 which is an expensive salad especially because the salad was not very big for $30. It seemed many of the menu items was ala carte. Even the omelettes didn't include a protein so by the time you add a protein for $5-$12 it is an expensive omelette. I would like to come back on a Tuesday for their mussels or try their happy hour menu. My overall rating is a 3.5 based on service and ambience but the food and value, based on what we ordered today was a 3. Based on other reviews maybe we just didn't order the right things so I would give it another try. read more
3 months ago
The portions were substantial and the service was excellent (Thank you, Juan). We ordered the Roasted Salmon, Boeuf Bourguignon and three sides: Cassolette Veggies (a large portion of perfectly roasted vegetables), Asparagus (large stalks, perfectly cooked) and bread (crusty & crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside). The salmon was served on top of a coconut-based sauce and was flavorful, though the sauce was a little too "rich" (fatty) for my taste. The slow-cooked Boeuf was served in a pot containing well-over a typical serving and with many vegetables. Once again, it was flavorful, though a little too rich for my taste. A flight of Belgian beers complimented my meal. read more
Brussels Bistro brings a slice of Belgium to the beach. Great food, ambience, service and tap list. I love me some Belgian beers and they have an impressive menu. I could come here just for the bar but luckily, I was hungry too. We ordered the bacon-wrapped Brie and 2 lbs of cream and garlic mussels with fries. De-freaking-licious. We left stuffed, satisfied and slightly wobbly on account of the aforementioned beers. I'd definitely go back. read more
1 month ago
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More info about Brussels Bistro
218 Avenida Del Mar
San Clemente, CA 92672
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(949) 218-8489
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https://www.brusselsbistro.com
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Is that parking for patrons?
Street parking is closest. We parked at the library parking lot a block away, which is wide open on weekends.
How do i make reservation?
You can order on line for delivery or pickup. Try calling for reservations?
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