Brux’l Cafe

This place is my JAM! Such a great staff, really nice people that make you feel at home. The owner/​head chef is hilariously jovial, and so great at customer service. I’ve been here 5 times, and every single time I’ve had the pleasure of him coming through the dining area and greeting/​socializing with customers.
Now, the food. Great mussels. The truffle burger is such a great flavored burger, I have no doubt why it has won awards. I have never tried the sandwiches, so I can’t comment on them.
The specials they serve, while expensive, very expensive, I have found can serve more than one person. Opt for the rack of lamb if it is on the menu. You will not be disappointed.

Bummer! And I do mean bummer!!!
We just lost one of our best restaurants in Richmond. But, tonight, I have to review the last evening of Brux’l… (Sidebar) I still will have the T-​shirt I bought about a yr or so ago. I only own two restaurant T’s…the other is Kuba-​Kiba. Tonight, a great burger w/​blue cheese and the mussels were fabulous. We had the Gouda Mussels. OMG! Tonight the food was excellent but business is ultimately about people. Since you won’t be able to dine on my any of my recommendations, let me repeat the following.
You never get 5 stars w/​o excellent service with me. Again it’s the chefs and the servers that make the restaurant. Well, you may say… of course it is… but sometimes we forget it’s people that make a business. Let me thank the workers for all the enjoyable food and tremendous service we’ve had. Today we had Carson (and again) we had Jordan. Carson’s going to take a break and Jordan, well… I’ll be writing her up again, soon!!! …for her great service… at a wonderful restaurant. I’ll let you know where, later.
Now, to find fabulous mussels! I’ve an idea where I’ll find them, but these were the best in town. I’ll miss Stephanie, as always, the best front manager of a restaurant I’ve ever met or watched. And, may I add, I watch what goes on in any retail environment. It’s my nature. Chef Xavier will be catering… my very best to him. Maybe he can cook me a ton of mussels. Great bartenders and the sous chef and other cooks are fab! Gonna miss this place more than any other we’ve had in 40 yrs. what else can I say… RIP!!!

So sad they’re closing– one of the Fans best! Had a last meal and it reminded me why I will miss it so. Just really great food and service!

Went in on Sat afternoon and no one was there; however, the food and service was excellent. The owner (I believe) took extra time to explain Belgium beer and introduced my boyfriend to a sour beer choice.

Very delicious! I loved the atmosphere and the waiter was super nice. The food was delicious and the mimosas are strong! I definitely recommend heading here for brunch :)

This place is surprisingly awesome! I say surprisingly due to the nondescript entrance and casual demeanor of the place. However, my husband and I fell in love with it immediately. I got a delicious chocolate mousse martini and we split the sampler dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious. The owner’s wife was so genuine and sweet; she came over and talked with us since she and my husband both lived in Brussels. We found out that she made the ice cream balls in the back. They were incredible. Good list of Belgian beers too. The waitress was laid-​back and casual. Very fun and charming place! We’ll definitely go back. We actually came in accidentally after a disappointing meal at the Heritage. Highly recommend. We’re going to go back to try to mussels and fries next time!

We snuck in on Valentine’s Day before all the reservations showed up and had a pretty amazing brunch. First, service, our waitress was dope, cheerful and helpful.
We got the crab omelette, the ham and cheese omelette, Belgian waffle, fries and bacon. Now before you call us fat, realize that we are tall people that appreciate good food. The omelettes were fluffy and tasted great, really full of ingredients too. No skimping. The waffles had a side of whip cream which was an unexpected surprise. No sane person turns down whip cream. The fries may not have been what you find on the streets of Brussels, but it’s definitely the next best thing, and the homemade mayo made up for it. Bacon is bacon, crispy dope and delicious.
If you’re ever in the area, you gotta swing by. Side note, I saw the burger walk by to another table, it almost got stolen, it looked that good. But I gotta watch my figure, you understand right

Terrible offerings. Sandwiches, $ 18 mussels, or one of three entrees. Had the chicken special for $ 23 which equated to about 2 ounces of chicken and a biscoff cookie. If I knew it was going to be that small I would’ve gotten the burger for $ 12 instead. But then again, I’m going out for dinner, I’d like something other than a burger. Need to expand the menu.

Had a great meal here with my wife and mother in law. We were made to feel very welcome and appreciated as guests by the owner and staff. Our waiter was helpful, informative and attentive. We chose to share mussels, steak tartar, and escargot accompanied by the excellent local Billie bread. All items were of excellent quality and very tasty. We plan to return to further sample the menu! Highly recommended!

Truffle burger is good. Best burger in RVA? I don’t know. But it’s a good burger.
The fries aren’t so good, was expecting better
The croquettes are ok
Everything is decent, but prices are a little steep for what you get. Burger is good but not calling me back anytime soon

Maybe it was an off night, given the reviews here, but the food was just okay. Lamb «lollipops» and desserts were fantastic, but the escargot was not great (and poorly portioned), and the Moules Provencales were actually pretty terrible, with overdone, not-​fresh-​tasting mussels in a broth that both smelled and tasted off. They were also served with a tiny portion of fries in a paper boat dish (what???).
I’d be willing to give it another try and go for the vaunted truffle burger, but it’s advertised as filet mignon which doesn’t seem fatty enough to make a good burger, and 14 bucks for truffles sounds too cheap — probably truffle oil rather than real truffles, which made me skeptical of the whole thing.
The waitress wasn’t very good and couldn’t recommend certain menu items (particularly the foie gras) because she hadn’t tried them. Okay…

Finally came around to writing a review for this place. Everything on the menu is great, their ribeyes, fish, truffle burgers and Benedict. I always leave with a very satisfied palette. I was introduced to brux’l by a friend and in turn have introduced it to other friends who have also enjoyed the environment and food offered by Brux’l. Their staff and owner are very hospital and have a great selection of beer. If you are ever in the city, stop by Brux’l as it will be an experience that you will never forget.

I’ll keep this review short because I just came here with the wife for a quick Sunday brunch, but we loved it. The place is really cozy feeling. The Belgian waffles did not disappoint, the presentation of the food is beautiful, and the service was great. Next time I will order the burger. The guy next to me got it, and it looked breathtaking.
I will return for dinner or brunch sometime. Great place.

Amazing! Excellent! Fantastic! All are words to describe Brux’l. I went here last week to try their famous truffle burger and it did not disappoint. It was gigantic and filled with so many great flavors, it almost tasted like a beef wellington. I ordered mine medium rare and it came out well done (same with my bf’s), but somehow it was still so juicy and not at all dry. Normally I would have sent it back, but I still found it tasty. The fries were a standout as well. We also tried the escargot, which is always a hard to find favorite of mine. It was super garlicky and buttery, as it should be. The service at Brux’l is as top notch as the food, they are really friendly, but they have the professionalism one thinks of with French/​Belgian food. I want to go back ASAP!

Great atmosphere! Very nice staff. Excellent Truffle Burger! I’d give them a 5 star review except that the red wine I order was really warm. I’ve encountered this problem before, at other restaurants. Its almost as if some bartenders do not realize that when red wine is left out near and/​or under bar lights just how much that impacts the temperature of the wine. I guess I should have ordered a beer instead.
TIP: Add blue cheese & bacon to your burger! YUM!

One of the most exotic places I’ve eaten
The atmosphere has an incredibly friendly environment that I’ve never encountered before. I immediately felt welcome and and part of the crowd. I ordered some escargot as an appetizer and was blown away by the presentation. I then ordered some lamb cooked rare an was immediately impressed with it. It was incredible and now possibly one of my favorite dishes. Later i met the owner/​chef only to find out he himself is from france only adding to the uniqueness and vast exoticness of this establishment
In conclusion I personally believe this is one few places that should be held in high regard and is mostly a hidden treasure inside the busy streets of the city

I’ve been walking past this place for a year, telling myself i’d try it. So incredibly happy I bit the bullet tonight! Delicious food, good atmosphere, fine service.
It’s no wonder the truffle burger won best in RVA. Try it — you’ll be satisfied you did. The mussels are a can’t miss as well. I mean come on, it’s a Belgian restaurant — should we expect anything different? And speaking of Belgian — oh mama, the beers!
I’ll be back for sure.

Had a chance to check out Brux’l for date night. To begin, the wait staff was extremely nice and helpful. From getting us a seat to describing the menu options the service was great from top to bottom.
We started the meal with a couple drinks. My wife had wine and I ordered an old fashioned. Unfortunately with Heritage right next door the bar is set really high and the drinks felt pretty weak. My old fashioned felt more like something you’d get during happy hour at a club in DC than the expertly crafted cocktails we’ve come to expect in RVA.
As for the food, looking back it was a strange and confusing review. Generally the food options were pretty casual but presented in a more elegant way. Fried cheese, hamburgers, French fries, etc. The burger in fact was recently voted best in Richmond. With that said we had both highlights and low lights. The burgers were generally a highlight. Extremely juicy and flavorful. The ground filet patty is thick without being overwhelming. I went with the truffle burger and my wife chose the classic. You can’t go wrong with either. The best in Richmond? I don’t know about that, but it’s certainly more than just a solid option and in my opinion easily top five. The desserts were a highlight as well. We chose the dessert sampler which I’d highly recommend giving you small servings of each.
The lows of the evening had to do with the accompaniments. The fries were bland. The drink was weak. And my wife had the coffee after dinner which was, well, Luzianne brand. Why can’t they go with a great local coffee like Blanchard?
Anyway, for a place to get a great rating and serve $ 14 burgers I think the whole meal has to deliver and unfortunately there were elements missing.
Of course I did give it 4 stars so that must show you how far a good burger can take you!
Edit:
Also, I forgot to mention that half the menu is mussels in various forms. However as we sat down we were notified they had none. Apparently the place they get them in Maine was frozen over?

I’ve never been to Belgium, but based on what I experienced, I’d say this is the real deal.
We started with escargot appetizer, which I’d never had but was feeling adventurous. They’re served VERY hot in a garlic butter sauce and taste kinda like a chewy mushroom. Nothing I need to have again, but it was decent.
We both wanted the Truffle Burger, but in order to sample as much of the menu on one visit, got the Truffle Burger and La Mitraillette au Poisson sub and split them. The burger was better. The subs are served with fries ON them. Interesting. We split a very nice portion of chocolate mousse, which has no added sugar, but is all flavor. Delicious.
Ambiance was warm and cozy. Service was excellent. The owner/​chef and pastry chef both came out to say hello. We had a cute and funny server who reminded me of Lizzie Caplan. Menu is kinda limited, and the price is higher than it should be, including the cocktails and beers. Cocktails are stiff though!
Really great experience. Would definitely go back to sample other items like the salmon, ribeye…

When I heard that an authentic Belgian bistro was in the works for The Fan, I knew I had to check it out «tout de suite». I adore Belgian cuisine and moules-​frites is one of my favorite dishes. If you’re familiar with the now-​closed Belle Vie restaurant in Midlothian, then «quelle chance» for you because Brux’l Café boasts the same amazing staff and menu as Belle Vie.
The mussels and fries are fresh (portion of fries is small though) and served with a Mijolle sauce (consists of Dijon, white wine, and mayonnaise) — finally found my moules-​frites spot in Richmond! Croquettes de Fromage are Belgian cheese fritters — sinfully delicious and great to share as starter. The Belgian Chocolate Mousse is light, not too sweet, and the perfect finale to a delicious meal.
What makes Brux’l Café so special is its delightful staff = 5+++ stars! Chef Xavier is clearly passionate about his Belgian roots and it shows in his food. Jared is a fantastic and attentive bartender who is only too happy to make beer suggestions — his advice is seriously on point! The hospitality here is incredible — I even made friends with the couple next to me who were regulars at Belle Vie.
Brux’l Café serves daily specials, happy hour Tuesday — Saturday 4pm-6:30pm, and Sunday brunch. Seating options include large booths, tables (good for a larger group), and 8 – 10 stools at the bar.
Can’t wait to return and try the rest of the menu. Be sure to go here — you’ll feel right at home!