Inauguration Week Day Six - Fri 1/23

Today was an easy-going day. Enjoyed the usual stellar Brannon Omelet (trademark and patent pending) in the morning, followed a little later on by a trek by all 4 Brannons plus myself into the S.E. section of DC around the corner from the Eastern Market. The destination? The hyped-up Belga Cafe, a Belgian beer and food extravaganza. I've heard so many good things about this place, and for whatever reason it always seemed to fall off the radar when planning eatery spots to hit. This time, with authentic Belgian food still relatively fresh in my head from September's Belgium trip, a stop at Belga Cafe was written in stone.

A tiny little place, a shoebox. Enormous beer menu. Stupendous. A mini-book. Think fancy wine list from other high end restaurants, and replace it with Belgian beer. Salivating. However, with all things at Belga Cafe, the selections were pricey. VERY pricey.

The food was, well, meh. We started with Kip and Krab Sigaar [spicy cigars of chicken and crabmeat with dipping suaces]. I then had the Vlaamse Stoverij [Flemish Beef Stew] just like at the brewpub in Brussels, but unlike the brewpub in Brussels it just wasn't awe-inspiring. James had the Biefstuk van de Beenhouwer [hanger steak] and the sauce included with it gave it the table top prize. Monica had the Coquilles Saint-Jacques [scallops]. The boys had a mini Le Vrais Steak Belge [steak and fries]. We of course ended with Vanilla Waffels [I'm not translating that] and scoops of chocolate/vanilla/coffee ice cream for the kids minus the coffee. Good, but not the "good" we expected with the prices involved. Yikes!

The service was subpar. Bringing the same 2nd round of drinks without asking if I wanted a different beer instead (I did). Giving James a Troubadour Blond when he ordered a Troubadour Stout. Never refilling the water glasses. Leaving dishes on the table for eons. Scooping the coffee ice cream for the kids when we asked them not to. Just an awful dining experience for the enormous amount of coin we dropped.

Overhyped due to the excitement of FINALLY getting here? Possibly. But it will be truly difficult to return and give it another try. Disappointing.

Monica then broke away to meet Kimberly because Kimberly wanted to go shopping. Shocker, I know. So James and I took the boys home and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather. We were able to kibbitz outside with cold beverage while the boys and Sam n' Maxie played. But once the sun began to dip low, the chill returned with a vengeance. Inside then for growlers of Sweetwater Tavern beers plus Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited on the telly? A nice relaxing evening.