Wow, how have I not reviewed one of my favorite go-to spots in NYC yet!!?? I have been going to BXL Cafe since the mid-2000's and make a point of hitting it every single visit to the city. The first time, we stumbled into it during a snowstorm, seeking shelter after visiting Time Square with a group of friends, one of whom was in the city with us for his very last trip on this earth. He was very sadly dying of cancer and dreamed of being able to go to NYC one last time. May he be resting in peace. On my last night in the city, I suggested to clients of mine that we hit BXL Cafe and they were all willing and ready. Like every other visit, the service, drinks and food were all fantastic so I'm surprised by some of the 3-star reviews because this place is fantastic. This was a Thursday night and the place was absolutely mobbed. It was a bit of a squeeze getting to the table I reserved in the back where I joined my clients/friends of many years. Our server was awesome, very attentive, friendly, and put up with us trying to hook up our one single buddy at the table that night. She suggested we start with the croquettes and even though I had been raving about the mussels, some in our party ordered other things. No clue why! The mussels are always amazing. My clients/friends did enjoy what they ordered. The croquettes were very tasty; I believe my favorite was the ham croquettes. I didn't quite care for the shrimp croquettes, I mean, if I had to pick in the future. My go-to has always been the Thailandaise Mussels with coconut milk, lemon grass and curry. This has always been so awesome, I never stray from it. Sooooo good and a massive portion in a big 'ol black pot served with crusty bread and a big portion of fries. I guess my only complaint would be that while the fries are good and crispy, they aren't the traditional double fried in duck fat fries of true Belgian Moules Frites eateries. My favorite in this true Belgian way is the fries served at Wurstkuche in L.A. (of all places). These fries are absolutely heavenly and I'd suggest BXL (and The Back Abbey in Claremont, CA) set up a conference call with Wurstkuche so they can perfect theirs. Still, BXL Cafe is an absolutely wonderful stop and well, the beer on tap and by the bottle is always fantastic and fresh. Long live BXL Cafe! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! read more

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Great place for mussels and quiet time near, but not as busy as times square. I ordered the Mussels Marinere, which was just white wine and shallots. The pot I got didn't have much flavor as it normally has (or as I remembered), but still good. I would probably try a different one next time. The frites were great, the staff attentive. Overall, a great place to unwind and grab a bite before a matinee! read more

BXL Cafe - Mussels Marinere, with Frites - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

Wonderful service and great food! Very hospitable and I loved the variety on the menu. What a gem! Coming from LA, we just happened to stroll in and we got a taste of New Yorkers very cool vibe. THANK YOU! PS - how is this place not rated FIVE STARS? Guests - be better. read more

Visited BXL yesterday before a show across the street. Place was packed. Menu is a bit limited but they have some nice options. Ordered the shrimp croquettes as an appetizer, 2 golden brown delicious creamy croquettes that come with a delicious salad, its all about the dressing for me. I ordered a seltzer with lime, seltzer a bit flat. The burger i got was good, simple i appreciate that. the frites nicely fried, but once again the star on my plate was the salad, simple dressing just tastes so good. nice having a salad to balance everything out. For dessert we had the profiteroles, tasty. Place is lively, staff is nice. The bathroom...disgusting. Just skip it if you can. Good place for a quick bite before show. read more

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Love the Christmas decorations. The steak is tender and juicy. Love it! We were visiting this place at a Sunday evening, great experience! read more

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It's super hard to find Trappist beer (from what I heard that day we ate here, idfk tbh) and they have a wide selection of it so they honestly earn 4 stars for that alone as you should come here for drinks and not food. Food I had was 2/5 and I would not recommend eating here. First, I get it's Times Square and prices have to be high to pay rent. But, everything could have been upped just a bit and it'd be a great meal. We came here for Belgian beers, anyway, but decided on getting a snack before the next bar. Don't get me wrong, all the gentlemen who helped us were awesome! Service was on point. Very unobtrusive and quick. Cavernous space, great for a bigger group. Incredible Belgian beer cave vibe. I had the caesar salad + french onion gratinee (personal-pot style soup) -- caesar needed a stronger punch from the dressing. very flavorless romaine and kind of watery. shaved cheese was cheap and unnecessary. croutons = too small, flavorless. Certainly not a nice or even passable Gruyere in the soup. No depth of flavor in it. I'm a *huge* FOS fan even with beef stock being used so I'm picky but this could be good with a few tweaks. Boyfriends poutine was pitiful. Melted American cheese on top of decent fries.. that was it. I was confused. Poutine is a simple dish of fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy. He'd never had it before and was excited but I was shooook at what came out and wish I took a picture. It also came with a side of mayo like the frites did. Maybe the waiter put the order in wrong? He was on top of it so I feel like the blame is with the kitchen here. Won't be back anytime soon as there are great beer spots with great food to match but this isn't a bad restaurant to only stop for beers at if you're in the area! read more

This old and overrated place has run-down facilities and served mediocre food. It's not worth the hype.

Great food! The mussels are exactly like what I had in Belgium! This IS a gem of a place!! Fabulous service!! Christmas decorations were cute! Cool shoot gun restaurant. read more

A block east of the Times Square hustle, BXL Cafe is a great choice for a tasty reasonably priced meal and/or lingering over a libation of your choice. Vibe is a hybrid of intimate Belgian cafe in the back crossed with energetic sports bar in the front area. Something for everyone. I'm not much of a beer drinker, although BXL has many to choose from (plus a full bar). I settled on the Lindemanns Framboise on tap; its fruity taste and low alcohol content did nicely for a nondrowsy pre- theatre repast. Our friendly server said the steak frites is the best value on the menu, and judging from my substantial juicy piece of steak nestled alongside a heap of crispy fries and the de rigeur dressed salad he spoke the truth. I saw several tables sharing big pots of moules frites which looked wonderful as well. Loved their "Madame Blanche" ice cream sundae served with a small pitcher of warm chocolate sauce. Next time I'll get my own though, as it's too good (and a tad petite) to share. Reservations aren't necessary but recommended if you want to eat at a table rather than the bar. BXL is a small space so it can get noisy during peak times. They offer an AYCE moules frites, plus one serving of fries and a Stella Artois for $36pp on Sundays and Mondays. I plan to stop by again to score that great deal. read more

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Attentive service. Good food. Loud after work crowd of non-local locals. Neighborhood vibe. Like frites?

Stopped by BXL Cafe before going to see &Juliet across the street. Great bar and restaurant with great beverages n wonderful warm mussels. Service was good and kept us on time to make the show. Good size bowl of mussels. Served fresh and very good size portions. read more

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We came here before a Broadway show to have some delicious steamed mussels. The size of one order of mussels is enough for two people - I recommend this with a few sides to share. Although we had a reservation, it seemed as though the place wasn't full yet (this was around 6pm on a Friday night). Our order was taken quickly and the food came out promptly. The fries were cooked to perfection as well, the perfect compliment to the mussels. As the night went on, it started to get a little bit busier, and it became difficult to ask for the check once we needed to depart. If you're on a tight schedule, I recommend asking for the check when the food comes out to avoid this. read more

A great Belgian restaurant not too far from the heart of Time Square. Great Belgian brew on draft. Chimay on draft! Arrival: We arrived about 1.25 hours prior to this place closing. This place was hoping. It took a bit to get through the crowd of business people drinking after I guess long day of work. There are tables in the back pass the bar. Beer: FANTASTIC draft beers from Belgium. Cuvee BXL delicious and refreshing and a nice start. Chimay Cinq Cents also excellent, but the St. Bernadus 12 was out of this word! The smell and the caramel after taste that lingers. It is a must! Food: I got the sausage plate. It was a very generous plate of sausage served on mashed potato mixed with spinach. The mustard sauce was out of this world. Server: Great service! Cleanliness: good Bathrooms: they need some help, but remember this is a bar/pub read more

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A cool Belgian bar and restaurant. Food: Tried both the Carbonade Flamande (beef stew) and the Stoemp & Chipolata (sausage plate). Both were very good. Would have been nice to have some greens on the plates. Beer: Fantastic draft Belgian beer! The Cuvée BXL is a nice amber ale. The Chimay Cinq Cents is excellent. And The St. Bernadus Abt 12 on draft is liquid perfection. Too bad no Chimay blue label on draft... Service: Decent service, nice folks Ambiance: small European pub Overall cleanliness: average Bathroom cleanliness: below average read more

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This restaurant deserves endless praise! Every bite provided amazing flavor. The employees consistently demonstrated remarkable effort. I discovered a hidden jewel here. Without doubt, I'll be back. read more

The menu costs more because they don't cut corners. The meals taste like they're made with fresh ingredients. When nearby, this place will be my go-to. I am all about customer service and this place is beyond a 5 star restaurant! The restaurant offers dishes that create cravings. read more

This place gets superrr busy. It's an interesting mix of tourists, people trying to catch shows and midtown worker bros at the bar. I came at 5pm and got a table right away. They have a decent beer list. Prices are on the higher end. I paid $14 for hoegaarden and about $35 for steak frites. Food was tasty. The fries were crisp, pepper sauce had a nice kick and steak was medium rare. Overall a decent spot for dinner or drinks if you're in the area! read more

BXL Cafe - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

So great to finally try out this spot! As a beer aficionada I was so impressed by the selection of Belgian beers both on draught and in bottles. Great crowd and while busy, people made space and were respectful. It sometimes took a while to order however that's the nature of the area and post-work time of day and I'll just keep that in mind next time. Will try their food next time too! read more

BXL Cafe - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

They've collected feedback from many sources. The service elevates this restaurant experience. Their food tastes like someone just made it. The person overseeing operations is reliable and pleasant. The place impressed me entirely. read more

I haven't been here in ages but still a solid restaurant/bar in Times Square. Came here after work with a colleague on Valentine's Day. We got here early so it was quiet but picked up as we were leaving. Muscles were plump, tender and delicious and come with crispy fries. I was too busy eating and forgot to take photos. It was her first time trying muscles and she liked them. *yay* she ordered truffle croquettes but they just tasted like potatoes unfortunately. Solid beer selection. We had a waffle for dessert which was crispy and chewy... and delicious. read more

BXL Cafe - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

Love a Belgium bar and friendly staff make it even more fun to hang out on a rainy afternoon after a matinee. Excellent food selection and beers. Highly recommend if you are going to see David spade or if Juliet, singes it's steps away from both spots. read more

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Super quick service, the food was great too! We got cappuccinos, since we went for breakfast. A great place for a quiet time read more

BXL Cafe - Chicken & Waffles - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

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BXL Cafe made ordinary ingredients taste extraordinary. The people working here are exceptionally kind and remember details about me. Their culinary execution needs improvement. Next time I'm near, I'm eating here again. I can't wait to sample everything they offer. read more

This place is a hidden gem. I'm not even a fan of beer but I had some really great beer here, I would definitely recommend. It's kind of tight and a little crowded but that's NYC for you. A great spot for a Belgian native to get a taste of home. I enjoyed every single bite of my chicken Cordon Bleu, which was on special, it was cooked to perfection, and was very hot which I like. If you're in the mood for some Belgian food in the middle of New York, this is the perfect spot. read more

BXL Cafe - Chicken cordon bleu - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

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If you ignore the English being spoken, you feel like you're in a brown cafe in Brugge. A crowd of regulars, some of the best bitterballen you'll find in the US, authentic moules frites (marinière is the traditional), and Hoegaarden on tap - the complete experience. read more

Stepping into BXL is like stepping into a bar in Belgium or Holland. Truly authentic and a respite from Times Square. In addition, the food is awesome, with the best fries I've had in NYC up to this point and a portion of mussels that looks like one pound but mjght be two pounds. Really impressive and evidenced by how crowded it was by the time I left, most people have figured out that this is one of the prime lunch spots in the area. read more

BXL Cafe - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

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Had a late lunch here and was greeted by a darling waitress (musical theatre major). There was hardly anyone in the place at the time because it was afternoon. We ordered an eggs Benedict and a croque Monsieur. Both were great! Especially the Benedict! Service was wonderful and the place felt cozy and warm. read more

BXL Cafe - Eggs Benedict! Wonderful! - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

Went here before theatre specifically because my daugther is vegan and they have beyond burgers and meatballs on the menu. She ordered the vegan meatballs, very clear about the vegan part, and they served her the regular meatballs, which she didn't realize until she bit into it. Mistakes happen, that's fine, but when we told the waiter he said "Oh, you wanted vegan?" and took a half hour to bring the new dish, didn't so much as apologize much less offer us a drink or something to help make it right. Couldn't flag down the waiter most of the time we were there even though it wasn't that busy. On the up side they have great fries and a great beer selection! read more

This place can get loud and boisterous. The service can be slow. BUT I eat here all the time when I'm in NYC because the food is so good! They have an all you can eat muscles night and one of the best burgers in town. They are Belgian so their fries are off the hook good. Always fresh, always tasty, and always friendly. read more

My new go to for a pre show drink/bit to eat. Food is fantastic. Have been a bunch of times, the latest time our party was 8, including kids. Reservations are easy to make. Menu is a crowd pleaser, everything we've ordered so far has been a hit! (Thai Mussles, Croque Hawaii, Pesto Gnocchi, Belgian Waffle, Fried Chicken Sandwich) it's all been absolutely delicious. Staff is great. Great bar too if just popping in but can get crowded. read more

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I stop in every time I'm in town for a Belgian beer. They have a fantastic inventory of beers on tap and bottles. Santé!

Solid lunch spot / bar to watch games in midtown. They have a bunch of TVs and it seems like a popular soccer bar. It's close to my office so we came for lunch one day. It was pretty empty and we were served immediately. I got a steak Caesar salad ($20) and asked for the steak to be cooked medium. It was a bit over cooked but i didn't expect too much coming from this place. read more

BXL Cafe - Caesar Salad w/ Steak - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

The bartender not only ran the front door but had our drink and food orders perfectly. She is an Asset ! The food was a bonus. Made the start to our Broadway experience wonderful! read more

BXL Cafe - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

We were hungry for muscles and BXL delivered. The muscles were well prepared and plentiful. The fries were perfect and the French onion soup hit the spot. We had a 5 pm reservation and were seated immediately. The waiter was polite and attentive. We had a wonderful evening and left by 6:15 for the show across the street. read more

Before we even get to the food ; I've got to tell you about Solene. She is incredible - friendly and knowledgeable and funny as heck . Love her . This is an incredible trifecta of fabulous food ; great service and superb ambience . I'm so glad we found this place . A hidden gem. Try the onion soup - some of the best in the world . I threw in some of the croquettes and it's an elevated dish ; I tell you. The steak frites was great . We're from Texas - we are steak snobs - this was good. Check out this place - we love it. read more

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Good place to stop for a drink in the way to the theater. Little hole in the wall. Beer selection good. Ordered frites for a quick bite, would not order again. Did not taste fresh. read more

My daughter and I ate dinner here before a show across the street at the Stephen Sondheim Theater. It was the perfect dinner - good options for both of us - she got steak, I got salmon - and we sat at a cute little table in the front window. Food was ready quickly, was great and the staff was amazing. And of course, my Houblon Chouffe was delicious! Would 100% go back! read more

BXL Cafe - Salmon Roti - Pubs Near Me - New York, New York

After a show at Townhall this past Saturday night, I found myself two doors down at the bar inside BXL. Really cool bartenders. Great 80s soft rock music playing. My Moscow Mule, gave my spirit the tipsy shimmy's and "sing-a-longs" which didn't annoy the wonderful bartenders. In fact, they turned the music up louder for me and my friends to enjoy. Minus a star because there was a very standard, classic cocktail that they just couldn't get right. The rest of my time at BXL was great. read more

We needed a quick after meeting dinner and stumbled upon BXL Cafe. We normally avoid the area as everything is super overpriced and busy, but at BXL, we were pleasantly surprised. We got a table right away even though they were mostly busy. It was a slightly loud but cute ambiance. We were in a hurry so we ordered quickly. The calamari was delicious and perfectly cooked. The raw oyster special (6 oysters and a glass of wine) was a good deal for the area. They oysters were fresh and briny and I needed them that day. The Caesar salad was good. Overall, we had a nice dinner at BXL. Prices were a bit high but that's par for the area. Service was very slow and it was hard to get our server's attention. That was the minus for us. Other than that, a good dinner experience. read more

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Authentic Belgian bar with amazing selection of beers and great snacks and food at incredible prices considering you are in the epicenter of midtown Manhattan/Times Square! Chill vibe and excellent service! Pro tip: order your favorite Belgian tripel or Trappist and they WILL serve in the proper glass! read more

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