Tucker H.

This turned out to be one of my favorite restaurants in the Carlisle area, and after 14 weeks of living in a hotel room for training, I tried a lot of places! Cafe Bruges is on the higher end of the price scale for a town of Carlisle's size, but it's certainly not overpriced or out of reach for more than seriously special occasions. At ~$20 for most entrees (sandwiches are cheaper), you might not want to eat here every day, but if it was near me I'd probably be here a couple times a month. Beer: Great google-moogly! Not only do they have an excellent rotating cast of draft brews, they have a massive selection of bottles, and the servers and bartenders never steered me wrong when asking for something new to try. Don't expect to find Budweiser, but you'll have a ton of varieties of true Belgian beers, so no matter what your preference, the servers should be able to find something for you (even if you'd swear that you don't like Belgian beer). Food: I never had something I didn't like. The Steak Frites is a pretty solid way to go, especially for the price tag. My steak was always cooked properly, seasoned well, and with a nice big pat of herbed butter to top it off. Toss in some of the best fries I've had in a long time and you've made me a happy camper. Speaking of frites, the side orders are massive, and can easily be spilt two ways. I'd recommend the asian spicy-hot mayo as a side, but the horseradish and curry ketchup both went down well when I tried them as well. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, go for the Stoemp Saucisse (sausage platter), a massive plate of mashed potatoes and celery root, with 3-4 different types of sausages (each full-sized), and good luck to you in finishing it in one go. If you're less hungry, the lamb burger and the beet salad are also good choices. The lamb burger was nicely seasoned and flavorful, and the beet salad was bigger than I was expecting, and had a perfect beet-to-cheese ratio. The only thing I was a little let down by was the Belgian Waffle dessert, but that's because I was expecting a liege waffle not a standard (american) Belgian waffle. That said, it was tasty and a nice way to end the meal, so the disappointment was momentary. Service: We had excellent service every time we went, and as I already mentioned, they all knew their beers extremely well!
(4)
Adrian D.

Food quality and taste was excellent. Good portion size and almost overly friendly staff. Not overly decorated but was clean and had old character. I had a burger cooked medium that had a warm pink center as expected along with chips and a cup of chicken and pepper soup. The soup was incredible (10 out of 10). The burger I paired up with their Asian Mayonnaise which was very different and good. The chips came from a bulk bag I'm sure and are nothing to write home about; however, the meal was priced well. Overall good experience. Would return.
(4)
Heidi K.

The food is amazing--try the waterzooi of fish and frites to enjoy a taste of this Belgian restaurant in downtown area. Soups made on premises never disappoint and quiches are fluffy and delicious. End with a waffle.
(5)
Anthony I.

Fantastic establishment! First time there last night and was wonderfully impressed by the quality of the food, beer and service. Tried the salmon, which was cooked to perfection. Had two different beers (a sour and a lambic) and both were amazing. And the wait staff was top notch. Well done.
(5)
Full C.

The two current pics of the burgers are how it arrives. When is the last time you had a picture perfect burger cooked exactly as specified that then exceeded your expectations on taste? 7 stars. Hurray for Belgian chefs!
(5)
Andrew B.

Great beer selection, mussels were delicious (I normally don't like them) and the fries were nice and crispy. Been here twice now and love it.
(4)
Monica R.

Came here last July to try the frites (fries) and had a Tikka gold for the first time. Ever since then I have searched high and Lo unsuccessfully for that Belgian liquid gold. Being back in the Carlisle area I had to come back and sure enough they still serve it!! The fries are uh-maaayyyyy-zing but the mayo... The mayo is probably what will be served in heaven by the spoonfuls! Go immediately! PS - I don't usually review service so the five stars are for the food solely but we were waited on by Sinjin who was completely attentive and had such a great attitude that I give him 5 stars for service too!
(5)
Douglas D.

if you are in carlisle this place is a must. I've been here four times, three times for food and once just for beer. i have not been disappointed once. the lamb burger is awesome, and the fries are great. they have a lot of options for sauces: house made ketchup, Asian spice mayo, curry ketchup, horseradish, and i think there are more but all very good. i got the Bruges burger this last time and i didnt think i would but i like it better than the lamb. i was like have a perfectly cooked steak on a bun. we also made it for brunch on a sunday afternoon. i had the eggs saint Christopher (crab cakes). it was very good. beer, beer, beer, beer...it is worth just going there for the beer. ask you server, they are very knowledgeable about everything they have. i try something different everything and always find it great. go for the four tasting glasses, i think its on tuesdays. really nice.
(5)
Jonathan G.

This place is awesome. The service is awesome and the beers are too. Can't recommend it highly enough.
(5)
Maya H.

My Experiance here was okay. We came here because of a recommendation and in all of was a pretty good place. The service was prompt and friendly but the food menu is very small. The frites which we heard were amazing were only decent, the sauces being the highlight. The beer selection is very large though. Probably won't come again unless just want a burger/ beer.
(3)
Greg B.

What a gem. Gluten-free aware. Cool Belgian Cafe with traditional food and beer. Great server and space. Soups were delicious. Red Potato with leeks and a mushroom Asparagus started the meal perfectly. We each had steak frites. OMG. 8oz sirloin was cooked exactly med rare. The hunk of herbed butter was a bit too big and thick but once it began to melt, it was heavenly. Oh, the frites! Perfection! Cooked in beef tallow, crispy, light and so tasty. Fries are served with delicious house-made dipping sauces: mayo, Ketchup and spicy mayo. On par with any metropolitan Belgian Cafe.
(5)
Darcie D.

This place was great, Mat was awesome and they have a ton of beer selections!!! Burgers are incredible the fries are also. The asian dipping sauce is incredible!!! Must go to this place!!
(5)
Allie O.

I would NEVER have expected such quality shit coming out of a place that looks like a blend of a smoking lounge (minus the smoking), a green VFW hall, and a middle PA restaurant. But jeez louise! They have so many damn Belgian beers here. Good idea to look up the menu beforehand and check out what beeradvocate.com has to say on the flavor profiles because the list is perhaps a tad long to expect every server to know every one. It certainly did not perturb me that ours wasn't sure on a couple questions we had. Besides, the menu does a pretty good job of explaining the basics anyways. I just gave you the helpful beer website in the case that you notice that you're on the internet. Like, RIGHT now. Alternatively, they have a shorter list of Belgian drafts that can be turned into a sampler so you can let your tastebuds do the reading! Mussels.....mmmmmmmmmmm mussels. Where are we, France? What is this, Philly? What, are we by the ocean? What did you go to mussel cooking school? Haha ok I'm done. Seriously, get the mussels. They're super delicious. Best to share them with a friend or love since the entrees are great too and one of them is mussels but I feel like that's too many mussels at that point. Steak frites were verrrrry good. They serve the french fries on the side which makes them easier to share but harder for the fries to soak up all that yummy steak juice/melted compound butter. However, it's not hard to take a handful of fries and put them on your plate. What is this, my first time at the rodeo? It would be if this were a rodeo. Ned got the sausage spinach and potato...dish. It tasted very Yerman and had mustard from Yermany. Or in the same style. He was pleased and made noises of pleasure a few times so I think he liked everything. Didn't get dessert, didn't have room, who needs dessert when you have Orval? Not me said the cow.
(4)
Kris A.

First time I ate there it was lunchtime and overall it was ok. Second time was for dinner and everything was disappointing. From the time we entered we felt we were a burden to the hostesses and waitstaff. We sent back the fires that were cold and mushy to get hot and mushy replacements. My stew portion was not quite enough and my husband didn't finish his because it wasn't worth it. His 7oz beer was $10 and they don't have any wines at all. They do have a large beer selection. If you are looking for a great dining experience look elsewhere.
(1)
Samiam H.

I saw the big Restaurant Week poster on their front door but when I enquired was informed it did not start until after 4 pm and the prix fix menu was not special, had no choices and was only a couple of dollars cheaper than than buying off the regular menu by buying all three courses. This was very disappointing, why cant they do a Restaurant Week menu for all day? It is usually very noisy and difficult for conversation, but as there were few people in noise was not problem. The wait staff were all men who moved at the pace of molasses. They had no personality and I did not see one of them smile the whole time I was there. If you were on a 30 min lunch schedule this is not the place to eat. I tried the crepe with salad which was just OK, The ham in the crepe was deli counter meat. The best is the frites, they still have the best friies around.
(2)
Jason M.

The beer list is extensive, the food was good, the frites were okay but we mainly got the leftover bits, not too good for dipping. My main issue is that we were there with two kids and we waited over an HOUR to get our food! Service was lackluster. If you aren't worried about going anywhere and don't care about food too much, it fits. Not a great experience, probably won't go back.
(2)
John A.

So so food. Ale is overpriced. Thinks it's better than it is.
(2)
Mark L.

Popular joint very crowded, noisy, lively atmosphere. Ordered mine to go but a 20 minute wait for a burger and a chocolate mousse. the food was very tasty, service appeared to be slow at all tables and there was a line waiting to get in on a Saturday night. Atmosphere= B, cleanliness = C, flavor = A-, value = B-
(4)
Jennifer C.

If you like Belgium beers this is the place to go. Bartender was very friendly and knowledgable. Our waiter needed some polishing. He kept referring to my husband as "dude". His beer knowledge was limited. Our dinners were great. I started with the beet salad and had the steak. My green beans smelled funny? Wondering if they steam them in the same water as something else. Casual atmosphere.
(4)
Kermit S.

It's loud but in a very jovial way; not a negative by any means. The atmosphere is electric. The menu appears to live up to the restaurant's billing. I've visited "German" or "Southern" or a few other places that claim a style but it is usually just the decor that is themed. I've never been to the actual city but I imagine the food is similar. I started with the Frites with curry ketchup and it was great. If you've not had twice fried fries, expect them to be firm like al-dente pasta. They were excellent. My entree was the house made corned beef. Holy cow! (Not a beef pun.) this meal was exquisite. The whole plate was complementary to itself. A very well presented dish, very delicious, and just the right amount for dinner. I washed it down with a Stella because...well, go figure it out. I did not try the dessert but I'm sure it's outstanding also. I highly recommend this establishment.
(5)
Mohun K.

I've been wanting to try this place since it opened. First time for lunch on 7/17/14. This is a neat little restaurant with typical European-leaning dishes. The food quality is good and the beer selection is excellent (100+). Service was pretty good. I would love to go back and sample more of the food and beer. We had the leek tart and croquettes for appetizers and the Croque Monsieur for main. All the food was good! Parking is on the street, so bring quarters during lunch. Prices are a little on the higher side.
(4)
Tom Y.

An out of town friend and I had dinner here tonight. He goes to Belgium every year. He was blown away by the food, beer selection, and ambience. The service was also outstanding. He said the mussels and frites were as good as he gets in Belgium.
(5)
Melissa D.

Definitely a GREAT find in the central PA area! Came here for my birthday, which ended the night with satisfied full bellies! I rarely order a burger out since I can grill one better myself...but this one puts mine to the test! We ordered the cheese croquettes as an appetizer which were good, but not worth the $9 charge. Burgers ($11) all around, as well as the pomme frites ($5)...well above expectations. Everyone says to order the burger and I ALMOST ordered the yummy sounding fish dish instead, but I glanced around to find all the neighboring guests eating...yup...burgers. Cute to see the cone filled pomme frites on everyone's table as well. We also ordered the chocolate waffle as dessert...and I had to indulge. A decadent change of dessert for only $7. We spit this four ways, though I'd be better splitting it two ways next time...hehe. I'm coming back...want to try the brunch sometime...
(5)
Meghan C.

Still love the food and highly recommend the spicy mayo sauce. Frites are still a must. They recently upped their prices though, and it isn't a weekly place for me anymore. Great selection of beers, usually over priced, but good to be part of a delicious meal.
(4)
Bryndon R.

Yummm...ordered beef stew ($19). Delish!!! Hubby got burger ($11) and fries ($5). Awesome!!! Beer selection great. Waiter exceptional, offered beer suggestions that were a hit! Nice friendly pub atmosphere. Simple decor. I am not from the area and i'm sad i cant come back...
(5)
Jared W.

This is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite restaurant and bar in the entire south central PA region. Belgian beer galore, and amazing mussels and frites. Doesn't get much better (unless you go to Monk's Cafe in Philly). Rochefort 10 and the Rabbit Fricassee will put you on cloud nine.
(5)
eddie w.

Advantaged by its location but just OK. TERRIFIC selection of beers. Interesting and promising menu but the kitchen rarely delivers. Quality of the food is just too inconsistent to recommend. LOUD LOUD LOUD! Do not expect to carry on a conversation. Do go for a good Belgian beer but eat somewhere else.
(3)
Keith D.

The fries are the best that I have had outside of Belgium. They are made with the correct oil, double fried, drained correctly, etc. The sauces are varied, but American. (Good house mayonnaise, but no Andalouse). Mussels with white wine are very good, as well as the steak. Beer list is a bit expensive but very complete with most major labels represented as well as more obscure (more than 100).
(5)
Angel J.

Serious mussels! Stopped in late Sunday afternoon to hang out and see what Carlisle had to offer. We could not have made a better choice. Matt, the-one-man-show server, was friendly and welcoming. He knew the menu and the beers, and gave use recommendations that were right on the mark. The cheese plate was more than we could eat, piled high with a local cheddar that even my non-cheese-eating husband enjoyed. And then the mussels. Perfectly steamed and HUGE! We'll be regulars!
(5)
Lydia L.

Our expectations were low but our hopes we high when The L. and I ambled over to Cafe Bruges on the suggestion of our innkeepers (B&B-keepers?). Despite it being a weekend evening and kick off to Carlisle's car show season it was pretty quiet overall in the city but not so in Cafe Bruges. It is a modest place that more resembles an Irish pub and as such had a nice bar with boards heralding their Belgian beer offerings. I like me a flavorful amber hued beer so I had the Brugse Zot Dubbel (because I also love me a Zot) and The L. had the same as me because I am a trendsetter. ;))) ( globalbeer.com/content/bâ€¦ ) Our waiter was Fantastic. I had read about their Bloody Mary Mussels steamed with tomato, horseradish, celery & vodka. I had not realized that they were a brunch selection but our waiter asked the chef if it were possible to get them and it was so we got the bigger option of 2 lbs to share. The broth was a little thin and the horseradish flavor not pronounced enough to a spicy palate like mine but the mussels themselves were wonderful, nice and fat and cooked to perfection. I like me a chubby mussel!!! And the hand cut frites that came with, twice fried, were the perfect accompaniment. Then again when did good fries ever ruin anything except a waistline? ;))) We also had a beet salad comprised of marinated red beets & onions and served with mixed greens & goat's cheese. Another choice for an appetizer was their Fried Cheese Croquettes, lightly breaded Gruyere and Parmesan cheese triangularly shaped croquettes served with a fanciful half lemon. That left no room for dessert as we were well satiated with our beverages, apps and mains as well as our great service. It was a nice walk back to our B&B to thank the keepers for their great recommendation. We hope to go again! youtube.com/watch?v=sQR9â€¦
(4)
Stephen D.

Probably the best restaurant in Carlisle. Great beer selection. French fries deep fried in pure beef fat are incredible, even if they are bad for the artery.
(5)
Dawn M.

After trying for a late lunch at what seemed every restaurant in Carlisle, we were delighted to find that Cafe Bruges was open! We went for a seasonal beer sampler, and of the 4 beers I think we both liked one. The apple lambic tasted like cough syrup (not even apple cough syrup) and the pumpkin beer actually tasted like a gourd. So strange! My mussels were ok, but my friend's mussles were unbelievably gritty and had an odd aftertaste. The fries? Amazing. That saved the meal for us. The dipping sauces were super tasty. Our waiter was very accommodating and was kind enough to comp my friend's mussels, which went a long way towards us wanting to try this place in the future. Everyone has their off days, and that's exactly what this probably was.
(3)
Pete B.

A while ago I had a lamb burger here, which I liked. However, recent experiences have been pretty bad. I came here for brunch and got the Crab Benedict. It was pretty revolting. Completely slathered in Hollandaise sauce that seemed premade, I felt a bit trapped, like I had to eat it. The crab cake was also quite fishy. For a much better Crab Benedict, I'd go to Home 231 in Harrisburg. Also, the restaurant is quite loud. They really ought to put up some acoustic treatment.
(2)
Craig H.

What a pleasant surprise this afternoon to finally visit Cafe Bruges. The decor is cute and authentic, the mussels were out of this world, plump and perfect, and the fritte were crisp on the outside and hot and fresh inside. The beer collection is amazing. And the service oh so pleasant. Our new Saturday afternoon place to go.
(4)
Deborah G.

This is a very atmospheric cafe in the City of Carlisle. We decided to do Sunday brunch before going on our tour of the Carlisle Army Heritage Center. We were seated immediately by the hostess. The Cafe was bustling with happy diners, many of them in large groups at their tables. After looking at the menu we both ordered egg dishes. My husband ordered the New York omelette and instead was served a Farmer's omelette. I find this rather comical because instead of having lox in his egg dish, he was served bacon. He did not send the eggs back and ate them even though he was disappointed. I ordered the vegetarian scramble well done and it was delicious, filled with veggies and perfectly cooked. Both platters were served piping hot with Parisian potatoes on the side. These are little potato puffs, only okay, not that tasty. I asked for ketchup and was served homemade ketchup which had a very different taste than the commercial stuff from the plastic bottles. The coffee was good, hot and refilled as needed. Our server was efficient but somehow made that egg error and for that I'm taking away a star. The bread had a soft texture that made it a bit rubbery and the potatoes were not the best. So this meal was in my opinion only a 3-star because of the lack of attention to detail. If I were in Carlisle I would try it again but order something else and check that the order was correctly taken by the server.
(3)
Debbe T.

I will start out this review by saying I don't like beer. However, our server Paul, tried to find something I might enjoy. I actually drank half of it and gave the rest to one of my dining partners. The food was very good. Having had a late lunch I wasn't that hungry so I opted for the quiche. It was extremely flavorful. Even though all of us were stuffed we went for a dessert we could share, the Belgian waffle with strawberries. The overall atmosphere reminded me of places you might find in larger cities, a little trendy without being pretentious. Paul was an amazing server and knowledgeable about all the beers and ;menu items. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Jason B.

Pros: Great Selection of Belgian Beers, Food, Location Cons: Only Belgian Beers, Noise, Slightly Pricy --------------------------------------------------Â-------------------- Happened to take a day drive and ended up in Carlisle, which apparently has a decent amount of good eating establishments in the downtown area. That being the case it was a sort of flip of the coin and I ended up choosing Cafe Bruges. Cafe Bruges, as the name would suggest, is a Belgian style restaurant. That being the case your food and drink choices are decidedly Belgian. This is especially the case with the drinks, all Belgian or Belgian style beer. If you go to Cafe Bruges looking for a Bud, a glass of wine, or a mixed drink you're going to end up being disappointed. However if you are looking for a large selection of beers from Belgium, well you've found your happy place. The selection includes about 7 taps, two of which are on daily rotation, and near 100 different bottles. They also pretty much have a glass to match every single drink. As for the food, your are looking at your typical Belgian fair. Mussels, Frites, several stews, steak, ect. Dessert menu is also decidedly Belgian, with the Waffle being the signature dish. For my experience, I grabbed a seat at the bar. Upon my arrival the restaurant was only about half full, but this was also shortly before 5pm and changed very quickly. Was waited on quickly and decided to start off with a beer, a Bavik Pilsner. After walking around Carlisle this hit the spot (it's about as light and refreshing as Belgians get). Next i ordered dinner, decided to go with something different in the Lamb Burger (medium rare) on a toasted roll (not sure of the bread but it was good) with gruyere cheese (the cheese and the bread are not choices but are per the menu). Make sure you read the menu, as the sides vary. For this burger the sides consist of chips, a dill pickle spear, and garnish for your burger in the form of onion slices, a slice of tomato, and large leaf of lettuce. Burger was done to perfection with the right amount of seasoning to make its presence known but not so much so as to overpower the taste of the meat. I'll admit i am not much of a lamb person, but if i had a chance to order again i would. I also ordered a side of Frites which were, to my disappointment, slightly overdone. You also have a choice of sauces go with both the burger and the Frites, i went with a Horseradish sauce to with the burger (which as horseradish sauces go was extremely mild, yet paired well with the burger) and curry ketchup with the fries (which wasn't bad but it just wasn't my thing). Pared dinner with Monk's CafÃ© Flemish Sour Ale. Finished up my experience with a Scotch Silly beer (first time i had one and not one of my favorites) forgoing desert for a future visit. In all the experience was good. The staff were friendly and helpful in navigating both the beer and food menus as well as giving recommendations based on what i was looking for. The atmosphere was ok, the overwhelming amount of patrons were with groups, where i was by myself. The restaurant filled up quickly not long after i arrived, with parties waiting for tables in the front and at the bar (it also happened to be the Dickinson College alumni weekend). This impacted service at the bar some, but apologizes were quick, and the drop in service wasn't considerable enough to make any sort of major impact. Only a couple of issues, the bartop area where i sat was a bit wet in spots, i am guessing from the previous patrons. The establishment can get bit loud with it only being half full. And i was hoping for a TV so i could have watched the World Cup (in which Belgium is participating in), but that's not a big deal and something i can just overlook. Total bill (3 beers and a meal) came to just over $40, which i would say is a tad bit pricier than what I would expect the average establishment in downtown Carlisle would run. This is mostly due to the price of the drinks which runs about $4 - $12 dollars on average depending on what one orders (several are more expensive). When i have the chance to be back in Carlisle i would definitely consider Caf
(4)
Steve F.

Excellent food and beer selection. I've been coming here consistently for a year, and I've never been unsatisfied. Gotta try the burger and frites.
(5)
George S.

I got the steak and their special fries while there. The steak while not bad, was not worth the price tag and they don't have regular ketchup for their fries. They advertise this like it's a good thing but I honestly was not a fan of their homemade stuff. Sometimes it's just better to stick with Heinz.
(3)
Bryn M.

I loved the atmosphere, a warm pub feel with dark green walls and interesting Belgian posters. We had delicious steak, with frites - which were good - but not "stupendous" as one reviewer put it. it was $60 for lunch with the tip, ouch. The steak could've been half the size. I started with the beet salad minus the goat cheese. It was enormous. I couldn't finish it. Without the goat cheese it was missing something. I wish they'd substituted a different cheese, like shaved asiago or something. Very nice place, I'm sure there are cheaper dishes to order, I would definitely try it again.
(3)
Imogen B.

2.75... I just can't round up to three. We went here to get a late lunch (2pm) on a Sunday while visiting my sister at Dickinson College. Given that it doesn't appear that there are really any places to eat in this town...maybe this places deserves a higher rating, but I'm going to judge it along the same criteria I judge the restaurants I eat at in DC. Anyway, I ordered the beer flight before looking at the menu because this place is clearly the type of place where you order beer. The beer was good, I especially liked the peach flavored one I tried (it was a special, and I have no idea what the name was...sorry). There are like a billion choices, so the flight was really what made the most sense to me so I got to try a few. THEN, after already ordering my beer, I looked at the menu. Unfortunately, the options were 1. egg dishes, 2. waffle dishes, 3. side dishes, 4. expensive fancy entrees ($17-20). I was hoping for a simple burger but I didn't see one anywhere on the menu. Obviously neither egg dishes nor waffle dishes go well with beer, and none of the side dishes were substantial enough to qualify as a full meal, and I wasn't about to drop $20 on an entree. So, I settled with the savory waffle because I felt that this was most appropriate for a 2pm meal. However, I think they need to make the menu a little more lunchtime friendly. We did order a side of fries so that we felt a little lunchier. The fries arrived almost immediately and then our meals arrived about 30 minutes after that, at which point we had eaten all of the fries and were getting increasingly more annoyed at the length of the wait when there were only about 4 full tables in the restaurant. Also, while we were waiting, the table next to me received burgers. I don't know what sort of secret menu they were offering off but I am certain there was no burger on the menu. Food: The savory waffle is ham, gruyere, and poached egg, all on a waffle. The waffle itself was good enough, if I had ordered it as a dessert/breakfast waffle, I think I would have preferred it to be a little fluffier, but it was fine for the savory meal. The ham and gruyere were fine, my biggest issue was with the egg. I verified with my party exactly what a poached egg was before ordering, and I was assured that a well cooked poached egg had a gooey yolk with the white around it. Unfortunately, my yolk was hard and disgusting. I removed it from the waffle and continued eating. Even more unfortunately for my sister, who ordered the eggs benedict, all of her eggs were hard-yolked and inedible. So she really didn't get a meal, as the essence of her meal (the eggs) were bad. All in all: slow service, ruined eggs, secret burgers, not lunchy enough. I'm taking away stars for all of these things and giving a star for the beer.
(2)
Elena S.

Our favorite food in Carlisle! The food is great. Well, most of it. I am not impressed with their burger. But everything else I've tried, from steak to frites to brunch was delicious although not super affordable. Their waffles with strawberry compote, real whipped cream and chocolate sauce are heavenly. We like the coffee, the large beer selection and the friendly service. I don't really like the layout of the space because part of the kitchen is adjacent to the dining area and if you dine at a busy time your clothes will inevitably come out smelling of the cooking going on there. That's just my pet peeve. Nonetheless, we really do like this place.
(4)
Thomas J.

A long time back, I pretty much gave up on finding decent places to eat in Carlisle. I'd come home for family holidays and really only have the holiday meal to look forward to. In recent years, that's changed, somewhat. I'm happy to say that Bruges is a strong representative of that positive change. Had dinner here, tonight, with my wife and my mother. I started with the endive soup and had the steak and frites as my main course. My mother had the carbonade. My wife had the Bruges burger with frites. I'd ordered my steak seared. Bruges normally cooks their steaks on a grill, but were able to accommodate my order to cook up a nice, blue-rare steak. The mushroom with green peppercorn sauce wasn't quite as robust as you'd find in Europe, but was still decent. The dijon-mayo was pretty spot-on for what I encountered while traveling in Europe and went rather well with the double-fried beef-tallow fries. While their beer selection isn't what you'd find at a place like Monk's (in Philadelphia) it was pretty solid. They had a nice, wide selection. I ended up getting one of the featured beers. While the beer I had was quite good, it didn't match up with the description. Similar could be said for the beer my wife selected. Not disappointing - quite the opposite - but still resulted in getting a beer that you weren't quite expecting based on the description. All in all, it's nice to see that there's places better than McDonald's around, now.
(4)
Steve V.

The experience was even better than the hype. Saturday lunch. Bustling, but no wait. Hostess and waitress were A1 fantastic. There is one room w a bar along the back wall. The beer selection is ample and if you like beer, they can recommend something that fits your palate. A nice selection of Holiday beers, but watch the alcohol content with those :-) The half grilled ham n cheese w/ Endive soup (a special) was super tasty. I will order it again. My wife liked her egg salad sandwich, but felt the horseradish was a little overwhelming. The pommes frites were about as good as any fries you'll have. Parking wasn't too bad, though I could see how a Friday night could get a little tricky. You might have to walk a block once in awhile.
(4)
Jennifer M.

What a great restaurant! I was in town with a large group for work and this restaurant was recommended to us by a shop owner. We decided to try it and were not disappointed! I think we all had the hamburger (one had the lamb burger) and everyone loved it! We also shared several orders of fries and they were over the top delicious!! Although we were a large group, the waitress took the time to explain the different beers to us as well as chat with us for awhile. She was super friendly! I highly recommend this restaurant and would return if I ever find myself back in Carlisle.
(5)
Jaime J.

Awesome find in Carlisle! Who knew?! We stumbled upon Cafe Bruges while looking for another spot for dinner and were so happy that we did. Had a seat at the bar and one of the owners, Garrett, told us all about the beers and was friendly and chatty. I had the steak frites, which comes with herb butter, and a mushroom/green peppercorn sauce. The steak was served with fresh green beans, and fries, of course! The sauce was so good, I sopped it all up with the fries. The beer selection is dizzying! I never knew there were so many Belgian beers. Cafe Bruges only serves Belgian beer - so don't go in asking for a Coors Light! As if! I had the Draft Flight which included four draft beers of choice. Now I'm on the hunt for Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale! My experience was enough that I went back again the following night for dinner. This time, the Pan Roasted Pork Loin stuffed with sweet sausage and a Westmalle Ale mustard sauce - divine! Garrett also recommended a strawberry lambic that was like drinking fresh strawberries and went really well with the pork. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Carlisle.
(4)
Jana H.

I travel the country for work assignments and wasn't sure how excited I was about Carlisle. I was wrong, and Cafe Bruges and her sister restaurants helped make my stay here great. This place has the best beer ever. I was here for Christmas, and their seasonal brews (many of which were unbelievably expensive) were so good! Unfortunately, I can now only drink Belgian beer. I think I've become a beer snob. Sigh. Also, I never cared much for french fries, which is a good thing...but Cafe Bruges frites are to die for. Personally, I like the Asian mayonnaise (not sure if that's what it's called), but many (read ALL) of the sauces are outstanding. They have several good dishes, but what keeps me coming back is the excellent service, the really good beer and those stinking frites (double fried in beef tallow), which I sort of hate myself for loving so much. Oh, and the fried cheese appetizer is pretty amazing as well.
(5)
Zac M.

Great selection of beer, great mussels, great steak, best frites. Definitely a solid place for a date. I've been here 5 times and each time has been very enjoyable and memorable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a nice meal and anyone who needs a place for a date.
(4)
michael p.

My wife and I arrange out trips in order to have lunch at Cafe Bruges while on the road. This was our third visit and we enjoyed our soup and sandwich combo immensely. Service was friendly, but a little slow; this may have due to the place being packed for lunch and we weren't in a hurry. Portions were huge and tasty. None of the ginormous selection of beers--had to get back in the card. Have a couple and explore the pleasant downtown.
(4)
Leah P.

Best fries I ever had, best crab cake I ever had, best beer selection. Amazing. Everything is delicious, period.
(5)
S S.

This is quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Carlisle! Discovered with a visiting friend from out of town, I enjoyed day drinking here eating Pomme Frites and learned I love beets! Over the course of the last five or six visits, I have had the muscles, the egg salad, beet salad, some kind of awesome mushroom and cheese soup, the hamburger, plenty of Belgian beers and of course the Frites. It's my very favorite place to take my husband on a day-date! The atmosphere is very cozy, and we never feel rushed. In fact the last time we went I had cold groceries in the car but they kindly put them in their refrigerator for me while I ate! In fact, I wish I could remember our waitresses name from about three visits ago-she was the most knowledgeable woman I have met regarding Belgian beer since, well me! And I have 15 years in the beer biz!! Hope she goes far, she was/is stellar!
(5)
Nataliya N.

I came here with my boyfriend and his mother for a late lunch after a 1.5 hour drive from DC. We were starving and had not eaten anything all day so the actual quality of the food may be skewed by our hunger. Besides some appetizers, desserts, and the veggie burger, there are not a lot of options if you are a vegetarian. Boyfriend ordered a steak and I ordered the veggie burger. They brought the food out all at once, which I liked, even though the steak was what was holding up all the food. My boyfriend ordered the steak to be made medium well but it came out medium rare (which is better anyway!). He really enjoyed it. Still, we wondered how it would have turned out if he had actually ordered medium rare. I got the veggie burger and it was delicious! They also give you a sauce of your choice. I ordered the horseradish sauce and dipped my veggie burger in it. Good stuff! They serve house made potato chips, which I did not enjoy. They seemed oily to me. The fries also seemed overly...greasy. They were alright. We ordered curry ketchup with it and it made them really tasty! Overall, I could definitely see myself coming back here again, if only to try more of the dipping sauces!
(3)
Laura H.

Sat for a while at the bar, waiting for the bartender to stop making out with her boyfriend. They were both behind the bar, and it was the most unprofessional and inappropriate thing I've seen in a restaurant. Gritty, tiny, bland Thai mussels. Some still had beards. The worst mussels I've ever had. Bread was cold, seemed to be Italian loaf from a grocery store. Turned to mush when dipped into broth. Since broth was so tasteless, it wasn't much of a loss. Frites were pretty good, but need better dipping sauce, and serve a trio of sauces instead of being so cheap. Draft beers were $8, more than we paid at Brasserie Beck's in D.C. Maybe we were spoiled by Beck's, as their truffle mushroom bacon mussels with great French bread, crispy frites, dipping sauces, and fantastic beer is one of our favorite meals, and totally consistent every time. I'm worried about Carlisle, as most places are rated over four stars, but both meals we had in town were subpar and expensive. I didn't expect D.C. quality food, but then I don't want to pay D.C. prices, either.
(1)
C K.

The good, Stopped here this week on good reviews from a coworker for a early dinner. We decided to sample several items on the menu starting with the mushroom and endive soups. Both soups had a smooth texture with the mushroom soup having a creamy meaty taste and the endive soup having a lighter texture with a hint of cream. The so so, we ordered the fries with the mayo and they were a total strike out, very greasy and over cooked to the point that 80% of the fries were just greasy square cut straws with the middle cooked out of the pieces. Next up, the macaroni and cheese was OK, just standard elbow macaroni with a white cheese sauce and ham bits topped with shredded cheese and bread crumbs. Last up, The Rabbit ragu which my better half ordered arrived in a collapsed puff pasty shell filled with about a half chicken leg of meat covered with a light cream sauce, and surrounded with several uncooked red potatoes. At least the rabbit was real rabbit and was very tender, but not a lot of meat for the price. Last, for dessert we tried the waffle Ala mode with home made ice cream and the house chocolate sauce, that was the high light of the meal, have to order this if you stop here. The bad, We both had a bouts of serious intestinal upset a few hours after eating here, with my girl friend throwing up her dinner, As we both sampled every item I can't say what triggered the upset in both of us. It might be awhile before we return for a second visit.
(3)
Tanner P.

Great beer selection and fabulous staff. I am a huge fan of Belgian beer and consider myself a bit of an expert. I left having tried TWO I had never heard of and both were great! I also ordered the Frites and the homemade mustard mayo was a hit. I also ordered a burger and was disappointed that the bun was chewy. 4 min in the oven could have solved it and earned them a 5th star. Did I mention the staff? My waitress made the whole experience such a fun time and the bartender is worth coming back to hang out with. Well done guys!
(4)
Allison H.

A little hole in the wall with a lot of spirit in the kitchen . The food and service was fantastic and I will be returning for brunch and dinner. Our server was very pleasant and professional. The cheese croquettes was the first item we ordered. It teased my appitite until our food arrived. The portion was small and it almost looked like cheap mozarella triangles. We cut into it and cheesey gold trickled onto my plate. It was by far the most amazing cheese concoction I have tasted to date. I slowly savored it. My bruges burger was not unique, however It tasted lean, not greasy. The bread was very good and tasted fresh. It was good, but not something I would care to order on another visit. My husband ordered a bacon sandwich. It was so different and a great change for the bored pallet. Great meat to garnish ratio. The bacon was mostly lean and crisp with caramelized onions, swiss cheese and mushrooms. It was not greasy, and each bite was consistent with flavor bursts. Frites? Fries are my kyptonite. Fries cooked in beef fat? Heaven. I look forward to coming here again.
(5)
Douglas W.

Probably 5 stars for central PA but really just an average restaurant. It's a cool place and a great bar but the food is 3 stars. Too much average store bought stuff like the chips and the bread they serve with the mussels. The bread reminded me of sad grocery store bread and the chips don't belong in this restaurant. My lamb burger was ok. It had the thinnest slice of cheese I have seen in my whole life. I didn't know you could slice cheese this thin. Amazing. I opted for the curry ketchup. I didn't use much as it could easily overwhelm this burger. Ok, not great. I ordered some fries and I give them the same shrug as I am giving the burger. Served barely warm and not crisp at all. I got the house made ketchup which I do like. When caught going from here to there, I would stop again maybe but I could easily forget about it too. My companion gave hers the same. Great service, friendly, cool space. A lot going for it for sure.
(3)
Lauren M.

I hope I get to visit Carlisle again soon, just so I can go back to this fantastic restaurant! I love how cozy and warm it is, while it could also pass for a fancy date night experience. It truly has a very Belgian feel to it. I ordered the seafood crepes that had been a daily special. I live in the DC area and haven't had a savory crepe that good around here for that price! Best of all was the dessert - the Brussels-style waffle is a must-order! I'm fairly certain that I had a dream about the Belgian dark chocolate sauce served with the fruit-topped waffle. It was so bitter and good! I only wish my cause of death is drowning in a pool of that chocolate sauce.
(4)
Dan S.

We got off the highway to eat because we couldn't imagine consuming Roy Rogers. I'm so glad we did. Everything was delicious! From the Frites to the burgers, chicken sandwich and special grilled cheese. You really can't go wrong.
(4)
Karen-Lynette B.

Absolutely fresh & delicious! Hard to find good food on the road. This is excellent food, they make their own mayo & ketchup, both of which were so flavorful, no fake or cheap ingredients. This place beats the super expensive Belgian restaurants inNYC by a mile. Plus they have 100+ choices of Belgian beers. Also excellent! We had a refreshing & tasty lunch here. All good!!!! Service was quick & polite, too. LOVE this place.
(5)
J L.

Snobby owners. They wouldn't seat us until everyone in our party arrived, even though we wanted to put in the order for the missing party member. And their beer is way overpriced.
(1)
Joshua L.

Cafe Bruges is an excellent restaurant to grab a quick bite to eat and a brew if you are up for it. The Frites are a MUST and I recommend getting the Asian Spicy mayonnaise as your sauce to go with the Frites. The beer selection is the best I have seen and is comprised of all different types of Belgian beers. The bartender, Paul, was highly versed in the different brands and tastes of the beers. I HIGHLY recommend stopping by Cafe Bruges for a great bite to eat and a cold Belgian brew!!
(5)
Angela H.

Amazing brunch! The fries are extra crispy and yummy. Had the savory waffle it was so good. And the cheese croquettes were delicious with fresh lemon and crispy parsley.... Sooooo good!
(5)
Daniel G.

My coworker and I went here around Valentine's Day which turned out to be bittersweet. The menu immediately grasped my attention when I saw a very appealing dish of duck (I love duck), only to find out that it was sold out. Apparently duck is romantic eating. There was no wait time to be seated and the food came out promptly (even though it did take me awhile to decide on something else). I ended up getting quiche and a beet salad. It was good, but could have been a bigger portion. For dessert we ordered a Belgium waffle which I devoured in record time since I was still hungry after eating my dinner. And despite the size of the waffle, I ended up going to Issei Noodle afterwards because I just didn't get enough to eat here. Given the price to portion ratio I wouldn't highly recommend eating here. Perhaps my tune will change once I finally get the duck I was craving, but until then I am not too thrilled. *Props to them for playing Joanna Newsom.
(3)
Charlie B.

Simply put, this is a regular haunt of mine, and I have NEVER been disappointed. Typically, when I go to a restaurant, I'll order something new that looks interesting, just to mix it up a little. CafÃ© Bruges is the one and only exception; my regular order is just so perfect, I can't bear to diverge from it. Leek tart appetizer, steak frites (medium rare), St. Bernardus Christmas ale, and chocolate mousse for dessert: it just never gets old. The staff is unfailingly friendly and knowledgable (and of course have come to recognize me by my order!). Never change, CafÃ© Bruges.
(5)
Basia M.

My rating would have been higher had the room temperature not been so COLD. I prefer to eat my food slowly and really enjoy it. This might not be a problem for others. However, at home I was able to enjoy those perfect fries and half of my lamb sandwich after heating them properly. Maybe in winter I'll try the seafood crepe.
(3)
A B.

Great food and beer! The food was very authentic and brought back memories of being in Belgium. And the selection of beers was outstanding.
(4)
Andrew M.

Road tripping from Phili back home, and found this hidden gem from Yelp. Let's put it this way, I'd give them 6 stars if I could. I had the lamb burger and the regular one as well (halfsies with my bro), sooooo good!!!!!
(5)
Sparky P.

Cafe Bruges successfully occupies that niche of Gastro pubs with a good selection of beer, and an intriguing and delicious menu. The fries come with a selection of in house made sauces and the asian spicy sauce while not being too spicy, has a good balance of flavors to complement burgers and fries. The cheese plate is quite good, comes with mini toast, tomato, olives and to fulfilled my inner mouse. The Bruges was excellent. Very good meat with nice melty cheese. The veggies all came on the side so if you were picky you could pick and choose which veggies to top your burger with. Choices were tomato, lettuce, onion and pickles! The best part though, is the Waffles. . . MASSIVE fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside waffle. . topped with whipped cream, fruits and chocolate syrup. . . you can smell the waffle even as it cooks in the back. The warm deliciousness will be fully consumed no matter how stuffed you are. It's just that good. Wonderful atmo, great food! Cafe Bruges is a great choice for food or drink!
(5)
Amanda D.

Decent place, huge selection of beer. Definitely do not go if you're with anyone that drinks anything other than it! Reasonable price and our waitress was very attentive.
(3)
Dan W.

Went for lunch. The waiter was awesome and when we asked about his beer recommendation he recommended the sampler which was five 5oz beers of our choice. Great idea. They are famous for their fries, they were good but not the best I have had. I ordered the Mussels. Two pounds of the best steamed mussels I have ever had. Done in white wine, shallots and some other things. I definitely will go back.
(4)
Alexandre H.

the beers are good but that is all, I tried the moule (mussells), they were very unattractive and very dirty, after asking the weather why rhey are so dirty they said that the cook said that it come from the see so that why they are crunchy with sand, first they could in least clean them meaning not a fast wash but actually scrapped them like we all do as belgian like me, and all restaurant in belgium such a shame to sefve such food and claim that this is how we serve this in belgium. next I asked what kind of waffle they have so somehow they claim to sell bruxelle waffle as a round shape no were in belgium we do ghat plus it might sound silly but that is half way why it is call bruxelles waffle because they are light and recrangular, then they toldme we are sorry we do not serve it with strawberry but we put warm apple on it because it is fall , so the waffle were awfull and placing some can wip crwam does not qualify to call this a bruxelle waffle, then I had to laughed because some cook came through the dinning room with us pants half way down is legs not wearing a belt has his boxer were showing to the crowed, the owner not such thing to be found there only a young manager that will tell you o yes I understand this is not so great I will tell the owner, well not very convincing she just does not care about they are picturing belgium food to the us public another shame, so there is a small place that serve crepes in harrisburg downtown that is so much more better as a good experience. to me at last I told myself something after leaving I said there is only 3 way to have great authentic belgium food around here either you have a Belgian owner, or you have a cook or owner that take pride into the food that they present, in cafe bruge situaition they have none of the 3. sorry but I am being honest , the beer were good and the price were pretty pricey 2 person dinner was moremthen 80 dollars for nothing to brag again, first and last visit. to anyone that would think that my critics are maybe too much, please excusse me but this was our sad experience and if you ever been to Belgium you can relate , and if you are happy with that then you will be in heaven if you have the opportunity to travel to belgium , and if not then you are satisfy with such food and all I can say is good for you that they can make someone happy
(1)
John C.

I've been craving a nice Belgium waffle since my last visit to San Francisco. I finally decided to drop by over the weekend. I immediately ordered the waffles since that is what i was there for, even though it was lunch time. Unfortunately you don't get to choose the toppings. The one I had was with caramelized apples and whipped cream. It came with chocolate as the syrup. The Belgium waffle was nice and crispy. Unfortunately the caramelized apple made the middle of the waffle soggy. I think they should serve it with non liquid topping to keep the waffle crispy. I wish they would give me a choice on the topping(banana and strawberry if they are reading this) or let me know what toppings they were using each day so i know when to come in. I also got the croque Monsieur which was pretty awesome. I will most likely visit again and enjoy another waffle as I have not found another place in the area that sells belgium waffles
(3)
Rose R.

Probably one of the best lunches I've ever had and by far the best frites! The quiche was so creamy, the crust flakey and not a ridiculous portion. Yum, yum, yummy!!!
(5)
Jeffrey S.

Cafe Bruges is a little difficult to rate fairly so 3 stars and A-OK is probably a reasonable rating considering the following: It is a Belgian beer garden, it is in Carlisle, the staff is quite knowledgeable about the beer, the mussels are very good, it is in Carlisle. Carlisle is not the hot bed of culinary diversity or experimentation, however over the years with the help of out of town clientele - car shows, military college and Dickinson college, there has been an influx of some finer dining establishments. Cafe Bruges excels at their beer selection and their pomme frites and mussels hit their mark. Items to avoid, the rabbit fricassÃ©e and a new offering of duck. The rabbit seems to have mostly bounded out of the fricassÃ©e process and you are left wanting. The duck, whereas presented quite nicely, is way overcooked and has a rubbery texture - which is what happens when you overcook duck. Overall I like Cafe Bruges and would go so far as to recommend (when ordering mussels) the entrÃ©e portion of 2 lbs. with pomme frites as opposed to more expensive by the pound appetizer portion without them. The beer selection is sublime if you like Belgian style ales. Having the wait staff be very familiar with the ales available really helps the customer to not order the wrong thing.
(3)
Sean C.

I happened to be in Carlisle visiting the Army War College and someone recommended checking this place out for dinner. First, I will say I was impressed with the variety of restaurants in downtown Carlisle. However, this place was definitely a find. I have never had Moules Frites before (Mussels and Belgian fries), but they were fantastic and will now be my go to Belgian meal. Every place from now on, though, will have to compare to Cafe Bruges. I have to admit, I didn't have the traditional serving of the Mussels because I was tempted by the offering of a spicy Thai curry sauce, which I absolutely loved. I also got a spicy Asian mayonnaise to go with the fries (which are cooked in Beef Tallow instead of oil). Of course no Belgian restaurant would be complete without Belgian beer and Cafe Bruges had a great selection. There were about 7 or 8 on draft and a long list in bottles. You can even do a "flight" of four draft beers in small glasses. I was excited that they happened to have one of my favorites, St. Bernardus Abt. 12 on draft. If I come back to Carlisle, it will be hard to resist exploring some of the other places, but I would definitely want to come back here.
(4)
D H.

Service was good. Food was pretty good and unique, not a menu I would eat from every week, but its OK for a once in a while place. It is busy, so if you like that and your a beer drinker I would imagine that this is what heaven is like for you.
(3)
Jessica L.

Came here with hubby on date night, a Saturday. It was packed! But we were seated right away. The fries are good, could have been a little less greasy but I think the volume of people in the place and the pressure to put food out was the cause of that, still delish! The mayo is awesome! Definitely you can tell it is home made. We had the mussels and unfortunately they were pretty over cooked. Definitely worth trying again, maybe on a slower night.
(4)
Douglas D.

Came in on a Saturday night. I was upsold to a sour beer a little pricier than I'd intended, but it was fortunate for me because the waiter had made a great choice. I ordered a burger and some fries. Wide selection of homemade condiments for both, so for the burger I chose the mayo, and for the fries the curry ketchup. All delicious. The fries are twice-cooked, using beef fat. Very tasty, even though not the crispier sort of fry I usually prefer. The burger was just a bit overcooked, but still delicious. I couldn't tell whether it was made from mixed meats, or just a beef provider who does things a little differently, because the meatiness was a little outside of what I expect from most burgers. This is not a complaint, though; the burger was excellent.
(4)
B C.

Awesome beer selection including 8 or so on tap and another 50+ in bottles. Wife and I both got the steaks which were perfectly cooked. The frites come with your choice of dipping sauce. I was a fan of the curry ketchup. Wife like the Asian spicy mayo better.
(5)
Pete S.

Have visited several times. Most recently order mussels and frites both were excellent. Previous visits included Quiche, rabbit fricassees, burger and all were excellent. Service has always been good and servers were all knowledgeable of the Belgium beer selection. Recommend the establishment to everyone.
(5)
Krystle M.

This place is AWESOME! They have an incredible selection of delicious Belgian beers that you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere in Central PA. If you are a beer noob, you're in luck! They have a beer guide that describes each beer so aren't ordering blindly. It seems like every beer has its own official glass too. Just neat! The food is also pretty great. I like the rabbit fricassee, personally. Rabbit can easily be gross, but this was delicious. It is served atop a flakey pastry, along with a side of their "famous" frites (french fries). The mussels are a must! My boyfriend had never been into mussels before eating here, but he ended up loving them! They serve sliced bread so you can dip it in the wine sauce. That's a plus. The dessert is reeeeeally good. Last time, we ordered chocolate mousse and a Belgian waffle with strawberry compote. Both did not dissapoint. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, you really must give this place a shot!
(4)
Michele M.

My favorite restaurant of all time! The steak frites and dipping sauces are to die for- always grilled to perfection. The waffles are also delicious with rich chocolate sauce and apple compote. Top it all off with an imported Belgian draft beer and you will be in for a perfect night. I lived in Carlisle for 3 years while in school and miss Cafe Bruges so much!
(5)
Crystal L.

If you like mussels, you will love this place. We always get the mussels and fries combination--and it is always more than enough to share between 2 adults--huge portions! The mussels are brought out in a big steaming pot and are HUGE! Succulent, juicy, and full of flavor. The fries are outstanding...and coupled with your choice of specialty dipping sauce, it is a match made in heaven. We've also tried their burger which is beyond delicious. All this and great service?? Unbeatable. What a gem of a place!
(5)
Shelley R.

This has been one of my favorite places in Carlisle since they opened. The selection of Belgian beers, ales and lagers is excellent. It is a great place for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The restaurant reminds me of many I have been to in Belgium with the close tables and casually comfortable ambiance. The mussels are delicious as are the frites. Try the curry catsup with the frites. My favorite thing to order is the leek tart served with greens. It's on the appetizer list, but I think it makes a great meal along with a hearty Piraat. The eggs Benedict at the Sunday brunch are yummy and I have heard others say they enjoy the Belgian waffle.
(5)
Michelle R.

Food was fresh and delicious. Get the frites!
(5)
Donna M.

Stopped here after the car show this past weekend for a sweet treat before our long ride home. Had the Belgium waffle with fruit compote and a side of chocolate sauce....oh so good. Hubby had the trio of sorbets but agreed mine was better. Server was very pleasant and attentive. Would definitely come back if we are in the area.
(4)
Dan R.

We stopped at Cafe Bruges for lunch this afternoon. I had heard about the Belgian food & the selection of beer that they have available. The restaurant itself was pretty elegant and the walls were adorned with pictures of homes, markets, streets and boats in Bruges, Belgium. They had banners & posters hanging displaying the names of some of their beers. It was pretty loud as noted by other reviewers, but not crazy. We ordered the following food as our entree we had the waterzooi of fish, which was basically a stew of shrimp, scallop & snapper, potatoes, carrot, leak & celery for 18.00. As an appetizer we had the Liege salad, which didnt have any lettuce at all, but consisted of green beans, potatoes & bacon bits in a sauce (8.00) and lastly we shared an order of frites with curry ketchup (5.00). I enjoyed my visit because of the atmosphere and the fact that it unique. Service was fine, but I wasnt so thrilled with the cost of the items or the portions, they were OK, but not large (minus 1 star), and the entrees didnt come with any sides. (minus 1 star) I didnt have the chance to have a drink, but the beer selection was nice: Bavik, Winterkerke, Stella Artois, etc. I'll be back Im sure, I'd like to try the Belgian Waffle, Crepes and/or some of the desserts! It seemed pretty kid friendly, there were other families there also. About half the tables were full, families, bikers, locals. It has on street parking, and accepts cash VISA and MC available.
(3)
J W.

First of all, if you are a fan of Belgian Beers, this is your place. A wide selection of beers with a staff that is very knowlegable, and ready to answer questions or make recommendations. The food is wonderful, if it is your first time I would recommend the Steak and Frites (with the house made ketchup) and the sampler of beers. While I have never been I have been told Brunch on Sundays is wonderful. If I would have any thing negative to say would be the noise. The ceiling is I think tin, at least some sort of metal, so it can make for a loud room. But other than that this joint can range for a great place to take a first date to a night of drinking with some old friends.
(4)
Thomas P.

Stopped by with the sister and the mother for a birthday dinner. I had visited once before a few months ago, and liked the modern pub decor. Plus, I was craving some Belgian beer and food for weeks. The servers and host were amazingly friendly, possibly because my sister knows every server in the Carlisle area. It was kind of ridiculous. The host noticed my mother giving me some hot sauce for my birthday, then went out to his car. A few minutes later, he came back with a bottle of Srirachi hot sauce and gave it to me. In addition, the service was prompt and attentive. I had the leak tart and house salad with a shallot vinaigrette. A nice, creamy appetizer for one with a quiche-like consistency. For the main course, I downed a pound of thai mussels and we shared a crispy cone of frites. The sauce for the mussels was creamy and spicy, the coconut milk sweetness reminding me why this combination works so well. Sadly, the mussels were pint-sized and maybe it was just my luck, but many times I felt that crunch of sand in my teeth. Good thing I had a Monk's Cafe Sour Ale and a Westmalle Tripel to wash it down. I love that the beers are served in glasses with the correct logos; it feels perfect. My sister also had the beer sampler, which I recommend since after sipping I knew exactly what to order. Great place, great time, good for groups. If they can just get some meatier mussels, offer some heartier bread for dipping, and double (or triple) fry the frites, I'd be in heaven.
(4)
John M.

If you appreciate quality beers, this is the place to go. Huge selection and knowledgable staff. You'll be a beer snob after just a few visits. :) And the moules frites (mussels and french fries).... so amazingly good. Get the homemade mayo to dip the fries. Trust me. Love this place!
(5)
Keith D.

I live about 100 yards from Cafe Bruge, and quite frankly, I am very biased. I love the staff. The bartender, who is also one of the owners, is very friendly to all and is extraordinary knowledgable about Belgian beers. I concede that the place can be bit loud, but the noise you hear is the sound of other diners enjoying themselves. The restaurant has a very energetic vibe. Generally, the fries are crisp and quite flavorful. If they happen to be a bit limp, send them back! I know the staff would want you to. The portions are more European in size. If you want to graze, might I suggest Country Buffet. I particularly like the Steak Frites and the Leek Tart. My Wife enjoys the mussels and it is the only place she ever orders mussels. The beer list is all Belgian and, therefore, the beer is some of the best in the world. They generally have about six brews in tap, one of which is always Lambic Framboise. Seriously, if you can't find a beer out of the 90 plus availabe that you like, you just don't like beer.
(4)
Rebekah S.

Okay, I'm only giving it 4 stars because the fries are AMAZING and all the sauces are very good. But everything else is just average. The veggie burger is okay and the crab cakes are full of filler. Little pricey. I love going for the fries though!
(4)
April W.

Have eaten here many times when I'm in the area. The beer selection is spectacular and the staff is knowledgeable as to the best choice for you. We were there at 5pm on a Sunday and it was starting to get a little crowded, however our server was attentive. I had the lamb burger asked for it to be cooked medium, came out rare. This is actually not a problem for me, but if you prefer a well done burger it may be. I asked for frites (fries) instead of chips and was a little annoyed when they brought both, but the frites as always were amazing with the house mayo. My friend had the quiche of the day, and it was a good size portion and came with a side salad. As for desert we split the dark chocolate mousse, I was not impressed. Stick to the waffle it is a much better choice.
(4)
Jessica H.

Amazing beer, amazing food, the best place in Carlisle for a burger and beer.
(5)
Glen R.

In a million years, I never would've thought I'd find a terrific Belgian Beer garden in Carlisle, PA...then again, I really don't know anything about Carlisle, PA since I was just passing through. I'm a sucker for a great beer list and especially Belgian beers, so this place had me before I even walked in the door. But, they lived up to my expectations with terrific service and food. Our waitress was fantastic...she didn't just work there, she KNEW about the beers. She was very attentive, didn't rush us and made excellent beer recommendations. She knew we were big beer fans and even let us take the beer menu home, since I buy a lot of these beers at my local distributor. Now I have a nice checklist! The food was great as well. We started with the fried cheese croquettes and they were quite unique and delicious. They were accompanied by fried parsley, which was surprisingly good on top of the croquette. They had a rabbit stew special, which was more of a soup than a stew, but the flavor was excellent and worth trying. When in a Belgian restaurant you must get mussels. We tried the ones with white wine and garlic. They were not the best I've ever had but they were very good and we had no problem eating them all! A delicious and well made Belgian waffle finished up a great meal. A definite "must go to" place and I hope to pass through Carlisle again just to go here.
(4)
Thomas B.

They closed the doors on us after I called TWICE to make certain they were open, AND SERVING FOOD. They said yes we are. We drove 30 minutes to get there, only to find them closed. This is inexcusable IMO. Horrible management & public relations. I told them we had a long drive to get there and that if they were going to be open, we would drive into town. They said yes we are open until 1030 (Saturday Night). We got there after driving all the way, to find the doors locked and the staff visible inside, cleaning up. We arrived at about 945. IMO the place is poorly managed. Closing EARLIER than the posted hours of operation on Saturday night? WTF. I'll go there again sometime, and give 'em hell when I get there IF they are open! Sheesh.
(2)
K G.

Great food loved the waffle, I will consider going again for a night out. However was really over charged for a large group birthday party.
(3)
Sam 'Wags' W.

Great small brew house w/ nice ambiance.
(4)
Jeff S.

Had the pan roasted pork loin; had to send it back (undercooked!). Wanted to like this place more, but compared with other Belgian restaurants I've been to, it came up a little short.
(3)
Ken E.

Very good selection of beers, my mussels were perfect and even my beet salad was tasty. Recommended.
(3)
Shelley W.

We went in again last night...YUM! Quality is consistent and delicious.....we shared 2 pounds of mussels and frites. Sampler of 4 beers is just right. Vea (sp?), our waitress, was great! I love Bruges!
(4)
Joel S.

Attractive interior, tasty food, excellent bread.The service was just adequate, but there was nothing about my lunch to truly complain about. Their dessert menu looked amazing, although I was too full to indulge. I would certainly recommend this place.
(4)
Caitlin M.

Cafe Bruges is a great addition to the Carlisle restaurant scene. It's popular with students and locals. It can get a bit noisy but the food is delicious. I definitely recommend trying the beer sampler. Unlike the other reviewer, I think the serving of frites is adequate. They have a great Belgian beer selection.
(4)
Matt N.

I have been here once before for lunch and thought the experience was decent, but I was seriously impressed by brunch. The service was friendly and my New York Scramble which was made with salmon, caramelized onion and egg with parisian potatoes was cooked perfectly. I enjoyed the De Dolle Dulle Teve as it was served to me in the appropriate glassware and the side of bacon my wife ordered was very tasty, not overly fatty or too crisp either, just how I like it. I recommend for a few reasons -friendly, and comfortable. I was able to enjoy Father's Day with my son and wife and so did other families. I also think the selection while not mind blowing has a very good amount of quality beer selections from Belgium.
(5)
Marc P.

I went here because I really enjoy Belgium beer and north sea mussels. I was not disappointed. An incredible beer selection, a total fan of Zot beer, on draft. The mussels were very good and the Belgium waffle. Eager to return , but live so far away.
(4)
Susanne S.

Def one of my face places! Grew up on the Bay & these are some of the best mussels I have ever had! Don't even get me started on the homemade pomme frites & dipping sauces or the beer catalog (yes, I said catalog). We frequent this place & still can't get enough. Love to bring the fam here for dinner when they come for a visit!
(5)
Carlem P.

Portions were small and overpriced. Beer was extremely overpriced. Service was on par. Restaurant was extremely loud and crowded. Probably will not return.
(2)
Juan B.

Went there with my wife for brunch. To start off, the place was smaller than I expected. Other than that, I have no complaints. The service was very nice, the food was good and priced decently. The beer list was exceptional. I've been to some other Belgian restaurants and this one had one of the better beer menus. Were definitely going again.
(4)
Beth D.

Delicious food and outstanding beer selection. We have been eating here since they opened several years ago and have never been disappointed. It is always our first choice when we have unexpected dinner guests no matter the age or gender, it is always the perfect fit. We ate here on Friday with my teenage nephew who is very (I mean very) finicky. He loved the frites and even sampled the sauces (come to find out his favorite was curry ketchup - who'd of thought) devouered his steak and then commented "this may have been the best steak I ever ate." He even ate most of the green beans which is a first. If it is anything other than corn he simply skips it. Wow - that is really saying something for the cooks. We were looking forward to dessert but by the time we finished our dinner we were too full to even share the belgian waffle. We have had all of the desserts on previous visits and I cannot say which is my favorite. The best option is to order a few different selections and share among those at your table. Servers are all very knowlegible of food and beer selections and very attentive to your needs without being overbearing. If you have not tried Cafe Bruge, get there soon your only regret will be that you have not tried it sooner. BTD
(5)
Jim H.

Awesome place in Carlise very friendly (and knowledgeable) staff Frites are awesome
(5)
Mandy A.

Perfect spot for lunch in downtown Carlisle - super fast and friendly service! Food is good. And it appears to be a good place to grab drinks at night - their beer selection is decent. I recommend the potato soup - pretty tasty. Tarragon chicken salad was good for a light lunch. Their portions were spot on - not too little, not too much, just right! Right next to a great little candy shop for a something sweet afterwards :)
(3)
Tammy R.

I am certainly not a beer connoisseur, but we were very excited to find Cafe Bruges. The beer selection is great and there server recommendations were very helpful. While a relatively small menu, everything we tried has been wonderful and fresh. The frites are definitely a must have while there. One of our go to places!
(5)
Ben S.

Great food in a relaxed atmosphere. Perfect for those who like an exciting belgian beer selection steaks and freaking amazing fries! Also very fair on prices. Make sure you get the spicy mayo...you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Brian R.

I like this place! Can get a little noisy inside but the atmosphere is nice, and they have some fantastic belgian beers on tap and bottled. I believe they had about 10 taps, really enjoyed the piraat. Our food was also good, the lamb burger and frites were delish, as were the mussels. I really like how they offer a number of different condiments - try the curry ketchup! Service was good and I really don't have any complaints, the food is a little pricey for the area but it's a unique addition to Carlisle. Check it out sometime for yourself.
(4)
Krista K.

It's been quite not a year since our previous experience. Based on some recent news, we thought we would try it again. It was all around thousands time better. The change in management perhaps? Their servers have always been very good. Jessica was ours and was fabulous. Knowledgeable, pleasant, efficient, good timing, and a bit bantery on the entertaining/ good side. I had the liege salad for the first time, and while it wasn't quite what I was expecting, it was really good. I felt the healthy perfectly cooked green beans had to off set the pommes frites and spicy mayo, right? I also had the thai mussels, and my husband had the Bruges style. I prefer my Thai style with a little more kick than they prefer, but they were ok. My husband's had tons more flavor. He was very happy with the bread basket (that had adequate butter) served with them. He is all about sopping up the left over broth with buttered bread. We all shared a waffle for dessert. The apple topping was awesome. I think I prefer it to the strawberry that we have had it before, but maybe because it was different. Lambic on tap is pretty cool!
(4)
Viki H.

Great food, great beer, great place. The end.
(5)
MaryAlice B.

The beer selection is excellent, and our bartender was very knowledgeable and pleasant. Beer is served in a glass that's appropriate for the variety-- a welcome attention to detail. The other good news is that there were plenty of happy-looking diners the night I was there. The bad news? I could barely hear my date over the din of their conversation. Some appropriate background music --any music -- would have been nice, although perhaps this is impossible, given the accoustical challenges posed by such high ceilings? The decor is handsomely casual. Parking is something of a challenge, but this is nothing new for a downtown business. This is, overall, a very welcome, urbane addition to our small town, and it is still very new. I will go back again.
(3)
Eileen L.

Great spot with delicious food. We had small plates and a flight of Belgian beer. We were on a cross country trip on our way from CA to our new home in Doylestown, PA. Stopped in local restaurants each night. Cafe Bruges was a highlight. Our server Singing (sp?) was personable, knowledgable about the food and beer and a real asset to the restaurant.
(5)
Jon R.

- Huge Selection of Belgian Beers of various styles all served in their proper glass - friendly quick and knowledgeable service - Sunday Brunch; amazing Chocolate Covered Belgium Waffles with Pears, apples and cranberries. Also rave reviews from other par
(4)
Jenny W.

One of the BEST burgers around. YouMUST try the fried cheese, its not what you think, but it is great!
(5)
Kevin C.

Enjoyed a wonderful early dinner here this past Saturday. Had flights of their draught beer, mussels in Thai sauce, Frites with the sauce assortment, burger, soups and quiche around the table. Ian was great - had good suggestions and knew all the beers. Everything was perfect - thank-you!
(4)
Becky H.

Every time I have gone to Cafe Bruges, the service has been good, and all are friendly. I was there on a BUSY Friday night, and there was no delay in service. We even added an order of Frites quite awhile after placing our dinner order, and they were out to the table quickly (unexpectedly). We had a sampling of all sauces to go with the Frites, and I couldn't decide which I liked best -- all were tasty. As for food, I almost always order the lamb burger. It is seasoned perfectly, and it tastes amazing. I had the chicken with juniper berries last night, and it was cooked perfectly. Beer selection is great, and they are priced accordingly. If you want a cheap beer, Belgian isn't the way to go.
(5)
Maura G.

Great menu of Belgian beers, and PERFECT steak frites. Staff is friendly, and the ambience is quite nice. I always love my experiences here!
(5)
Bernie S.

The lamb burger here is excellent (10.00). One of the best burgers I've ever had. Also, the frites are delicious (5.00). The Belgian beer selection is sizeable and (5.00-10.00 for drafts). Prices here are a tad bit high however. I would have liked to have tried a few of the beers, but it would have put a sizeable dent in my wallet. They do offer a sampler of their drafts however.
(4)
John P.

great place if you are a beer lover, they have some outstanding Belgian beers that normally you'd need to drive to NYC, Philly or DC to get. The staff is attentive and fairly knowledgeable, it is tough to staff a bar in a fairly remote location with beer heads. Taps almost never change which is great if you love what they have but I'd like to see then rotate a bit. The bottle selection is outstanding with just over 100 choices. Food is very good the burger is great with local beef and a tasty bun. The mussels also are a great choice with 4 preparations on the menu. Yes it is on the expensive side but right in line with other beer bars that specialize in Belgians.
(4)
Valerie C.

The quiche was VERY good and the bacon something salad dressing was good and creamy with excellent flavor. I can't begin to say how tasty the mousse was. Zeb was a great server. He was very attentive despite the busy lunch crowd.
(4)
Michael C.

Great food, great beer, great service. A little pricier than my budget can handle for multiple weekly visits but if I could I would be there often. They could use a wider variety on their menu but what they do make is done well.
(4)
Joshua T.

Portion was small but food was terrific. For Carlisle it deserves at least 3 stars. 5 stars for quality, 1 star for quantity = average 3 stars.
(3)
Amy G.

Hubby and I found this by accident. Stopped in for lunch. Place was pretty much deserted. I think we were the only patrons for most of the meal. It was a Saturday. We were surprised that we had the place to ourselves. Nice atmosphere. A cross of Irish pub and New York cafe and American chic. We started with the frites. $5 for a waxed paper-line wire cone full. They tasted ok but they were definitely not crispy enough. They came with a choice of sauce/dip and I opted for the spicy Asian mayo version. The sauce was good but it wasn't very spicy. The greasy-ness of the fries outweighed the flavor of the dip. It needed a lot more zip. After the first few fries they were almost too limp to dip. I would not order the fries again. I'd rather go to McDonald's. This is saying something b/c for years I tinkered with the idea of opening a frites restaurant that served tons of different dips. Soggy fries are a big no-no when it is a key component of your menu. Hubby got the chicken sandwich. It was pretty typical. We were both shocked that they served cheap-o potato chips as the side. They could make their own, offer some type of salad, or fruit. I expected something a little more exciting and of higher quality. Hell, serve a small portion of the frites for Lord's sake. I ordered the mussels. For $10 I received a bowl of them. The order is 1 lb and that seems to be about what I got. The Bruxelles is the sauce that I chose. The sauce wasn't bad but the small bacon pieces were either too flacid and bland or they were so hard I actually wrenched my jaw a few times when I bit down on them. The mussels were small so they were nice and sweet. My only complaint is that a few of the mussel shells were broken. As I was using my bread to sop up some of the broth I accidentally picked up a few shell pieces. One of them sliced up the inside of my mouth. Fortunately I caught it in time because if I had swallowed it I would have probably needed immediate medical attention, it was pointed on the end like a scissor. This happened a few times and I finally stopped putting my life at risk. By the way the bread was terrible. It was served cool, it didn't have a flaky crust like you want. It was also too dense to do a good job of sopping up the broth. I was really disappointed by the bread. Also, it came in thin slices. Definitely not sop-worthy. Hubby got a bottle of Val-Dieu. At $9 I'm really, really glad he enjoyed it so much. That's a little pricey if you ask me. Since the kids were at grandma's for the day, we decided to end our meal with dessert. We decided to try the sorbet trio. For $6 we were served three small scoops of sorbet. Peach, cherry, and raspberry. We were told it was made with Lambic but I was hard pressed to taste the Lambic. Each of the sorbets were good. One was a little on the icy side. The three scoops were garnished with one mint leaf. I was a little surprised that they didn't at least splurge on at least two leaves. ;) Overall, it was a decent meal in a decent restaurant. I'd give them two stars but their unique beer list bumps them to a 3 star rating. I do think that the food is a wee bit over priced for the quality. If they crisp up the fries, serve some knock-dead mayos, come up with something other than some pathetic chips for the sandwiches, and pick out the broken mussels before serving . . . they'd deserve the prices.
(3)
Lisa D.

Consider this a 5 star place if your focus is beer. Food was nice. Too crowded and noisy for dinner conversation and relaxation though.
(3)
Cheryl P.

My husband and I loved this place. We were weary after a day of travel, and though the one big room seemed rather unatmospheric, the friendly spirit in the place was warm and welcoming and provided an atmosphere of its own. My husband tried a beer tasting, which he really enjoyed amd of which the waiter was very knowlegable. They have something like 148 types of beer. I had a strip steak and he had rabbit stew, my good, his better if you can eat bunnies. The side dishes, mine green beans were perfectly cooked and delicious. The real attraction for me was the frites- the best french fries I have ever tasted. They are double fried, once low and slow and then hot and fast. I don't remember ever eating all of my fries before but I did there. The group next to us were eating mussels which they serve in big balck pots, fun. Good bread too. I would love to go there again and try some other dishes, as long as they come with frites.
(4)
Justin B.

Great place! Insane selection of bottles and several on tap as well. All Belgian- yum. Great small plates; lots of vegetarian options.
(4)
Kate T.

I know a lot of people who like this place, but we've eaten there a few times and been disappointed. The food is perfectly fine (although I've had better mussels) but seems overpriced. If you're interested in a wide variety of beers, this might be a great place for you. The service has always been friendly and efficient. Yes, it can definitely be noisy if it's at all crowded.
(2)
Mike I.

We heard there was a new place in town, so we decided to check it out. We called a few dozen times to make a reservation, but the phone was never answered. We went anyway. It was very crowded, which is a good thing. It was very loud, which is not so good. The beer selection seemed pretty good, the menu looked pretty good too. That was where the good times ended. Our server was very nice, with a great smile. However we waited a long time to order, for drinks, for our food, refills and to have the table cleared. The portions didn't make the atmosphere and price. The atmosphere (and long wait) didn't call for small "fancy" servings. The price did. I felt the servings were small, not fancy and not a very good value. If you are in a quiet, quaint place with your date of company, it's ok to take 2 hours to have a 2 course meal...but when it's too loud to hear the person next to you, and the food was "ok" and not plentiful, you sort of just want to get the check and leave. While the desserts sounded good on the menu, we opted to walk down to Massey's Creamery - just for the walk. Hopefully things will improve and they will add some sound absorption materials to deaden the din of the dinners...check back in a few months...
(2)

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Address : 16 N Pitt St
Carlisle, PA, 17013
Phone (717) 960-0223
Website https://www.cafebruges.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Cafe Bruges

16 N Pitt St, Carlisle, PA, 17013

Cafe Bruges Menu

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