Belgian Café — Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

The Belgian Cafe is like a tale of two different cities. On one hand you have the indoor version and then on the other hand you have the outdoor cafe setting. I will front load this review by saying I am very happy to see that the outdoor venue is now open. However, this review has to do with the indoor restaurant. I have been to this beer establishment now on three ocassions and each time there is just something off about the place.

On this visit, the moment we walked in all you could smell was cigarette smoke. We also stood at the entrance waiting for someone to check our temperature and direct us to a seat. We finally had to venture into the restaurant and flag someone down. Once seated in the no smoking area, we ordered some beers and waited for our friends to arrive. The no smoking area is located right next to the smoking area which makes the no smoking area the smoking area... right? When are friends arrived we again had to flag a server down in order to get them some beers.

Now, if the place was busy I might understand but the servers were waiting on people in other sections of the bar rather than one covering one area and another covering another. This is not the servers issue, it is a management problem. The servers were all pleasant, but stretched too thin to properly take care of customers. At one point after we had ordered some mussels for the table, I actually had to get up and walk to the other side of the restauraant in order to ask our waiter for some bread.

Everyone once in a while a manager stood by our table and waited until we acknowlwdged him and then asked us the same question three time "is everything okay here?" All told, we have three different servers during our two hour time here. We ended up asking three times for our check in order to settle up. Come on folks....

Now, the two things this place did well were the food and the beers. The mussels in the garlic cream sauce were wonderful. The mussels were large and tender. The beer were an ample size and cold. However, our next time we will be taking our place at the outside venue in hopes that the service will be better, less smoky, and certainly the view much more dynamic. Overall, this visit rates three stars, mainly because of the beer and food and...

Belgian Cafe Abu Dhabi - International Menu is posted below

This is honestly one of the best brunches I've been to in Abu Dhabi The food is great quality; I left so full! The staff are very curtious and are very quick to assist you. The beer is delicious, its hard to find a brunch in Abu Dhabi with draft beer (during covid times) but the beers on offer were diversified and very tasty. They didn't hold back on the last orders either! Sat outside with a great view enjoying the sunshine

10/10 for sure!

GRAZING PLATES Fisherman’s Catch Of Oysters, Gulf Shrimps, Lobster Tail & Fresh Crab with Remoulade, Cocktail Sauce & Gribiche

Pork Antipasti Platter Parma Ham, Coppa Ham, Salami, Spicy Chorizo & Mortadella with Cheese , Rocket, Olives, Sweet Mustard & Cornichons

SALAD & HORSDOUVRE The Grand BBC Caesar Arugula, Roasted Pumpkin, Ricotta, Cherry Tomato, Pecan, Fig, Aged Balsamic Crème, Beef Tartare, Dijon Mustard Ice Cream, Crisp Baguette Feuillite

HOPPITIZERS Beer Batter Fish Goujons, Lemon Aioli, Bitter Ballen, Buffalo Chicken Wings, Blue Cheese Dip Loaded Fries with Jalapeno, Guacamole, Sour Cream & Cheddar

CHEF’S SIGNATURE – PASS AROUND Croque Monsieur, Turky Ham, Gruyere Cheese & Mornay Sauce, Angus Beef Sliders with Portobello Mushroom, White Truffle Mayo, Pommery Mustard, Gherkin, Lettuce & Tomato

CLASSICS ( CHOOSE ANY ONE ) Belgium Mussels, Garlic Crème or Thai Style Roast Angus Cube Roll, Veggies, Roast Baby Potatoes & Herb Jus Citrus Chicken Brochettes, Polenta Mash, Honey - Mustard Crème

DESSERT Speculoos Crumble Tart, Dame Blanche, Mud Cake with Peanut Crème & Salted Caramel,...

Mussels (their best seller variety apparently) was just ok, nothing more. 2/5.

Schnitzel was 1/5, to be honest. The breading was not done properly and the meat color did not look like it was veal at all (lived in Vienna and know what a veal schnitzel should look like). I am guessing it was beef. The joke at the table was it is likely goat... Not even my 2 + 4 year old kids ate it, and they absolutely love proper wiener schnitzel.

Belgian fries were not cooked in the right temp or they do not double-fry, likely both (as need 2 different temps for double frying Belgian fries). Before ordering, I asked if they are double fried which the staff confirmed, but still not the right crunch or color so something is not right. No color on the skin, not soggy but no skin crunch at all. It's like they had cooked the thicker cut fries using McDonalds style of quick frying, leaving the potato essentially not fried. Also, the samurai sauce which I ordered in addition did not taste like proper samurai sauce, just mayo with some red color which I could not even identify with my palate, no sambal oelek at the least (please, just google a Samurai sauce recipe, it is simple to make a proper one).

Daughter liked the fried chicken burger (Belgian food?), but she eats anything...

The tartar was pretty ok actually. 3/5. Nothing to remember, but not laughably bad as some other dishes.

I ate here about 15 years ago last. I do not recall it as a memorable meal then either, but this time it actually became memorable for the extremely bad price to...