Belgian gastronomy and brews take over Manhattan starting March 23, with the new A Taste of Belgium Restaurant Week. Through March 30, authentic Belgian dishes and specials will be offered at seven restaurants. If you visit any of the restaurants below, you’ll also be eligible for a chance to win a gastronomic trip to Belgium courtesy of Visit Flanders (www.visitflanders.us) and Visit Belgium (www.visitbelgium.com ) (www.belgianrestaurantweeknyc.com)
An authentic Belgian café, B. Café East serves up favorites like moules frites, cooked six different ways, and an exceptional variety of cocktails and brews. During this special week they will feature boulets liegeoise with sauce chasseur with Belgian fries, salad and applesauce. In addition, diners will have a choice of Palm or Stella Artois, perfectly poured, to accent the distinct flavors sampled in this menu. http://www.bcafe.com/
566 Amsterdam Ave., (212) 873-0003
These two midtown eateries offer classic Belgian comfort food, perfect for anyone needing a pick-me up from those spring showers. BXL offers classics from meatloaf to stews to beautiful roasted chicken to pair perfectly with frites and their selection of more than 25 bottled and 11 draft brews. The special Taste of Belgium Restaurant Week menu offers a special $16 prix fixe lunch menu and a $13 brunch with favorites like salade mison, croquettes aux truffes, and pan de veau. http://bxlcafe.pregraphic.com/
210 East 51st St. (212) 888-7782
125 West 43rd St. (212) 768-0200
For brunch or a hearty lunch, Le Pain Quotidien offers fresh, inventive dishes at more than 25 locations in Manhattan. For the special week, Le Pain will be featuring a prix fixe lunch for $15.95. Diners can choose from two entrées, a ricotta with mission figs or a curry chicken salad tartine (open-faced sandwich), served with a traditional Belgian waffle with chocolate sauce and a choice of either organic Belgian hot chocolate or coffee. http://www.lepainquotidien.us/
Traditional Markt serves up traditional dishes with the artistry of the Stella Artois pouring ritual. During Restaurant Week, Markt will feature a prix fixe menu of mussels, served any style, with one of its five varieties of draft beers for only $30. Choose from their fabulous sauces including cream and garlic, wine, or Belgian beer. http://www.marktrestaurant.com/index2.htm
676 6th Ave. (212) 727-3314
Three downtown Petite Abeille cafes are spicing things up with special discounted drinks this week. Each day of Belgian restaurant week will feature a new special, including Stellas for $1 starting at 7pm on March 28 and half-priced wines from noon on March 29. Bring the children with you as they will eat for free from the “mini me” menu on March 23, and schedule a return visit alone on March 26 for their $5 Petite Abeille burger special starting at 9pm. http://www.petiteabeille.com/
Mention Belgian Restaurant Week and Rouge Tomate will indulge you with authentic Belgian beer. Diners will be offered a complimentary glass of beer with two specialty toasts with any purchased entrée and appetizer. If you’re in the mood for drinks only, take advantage of the bar special and get a Belgian beer and two toasts for only $12. http://www.rougetomatenyc.com/
10 East 60th St. (646) 237-8977
Even the busiest New Yorkers can enjoy the tradition and flavors of Belgian Restaurant Week with the help of Wafels & Dinges. W&D is a Belgian waffle food truck, serving up delicious waffles and dinges (dinges means "things") with a variety of toppings. During Belgian Restaurant Week, all waffles come with a surprise goodie. Truck and cart locations change weekly – check their Web site for exact locations. http://www.wafelsanddinges.com/location.html
I love those kinds of sandwiches, I wish I could eat them everyday.