No doubt Bistro de Belgique has class. Like its counterpart, Batida, the interiors breathe heavy with sophistication and elegance. Classic Franco-Belgian touches play to its advantage, with tall French windows giving views of pl. Konstytucji and allowing for rare streams of sunlight to come slanting in. It all makes for a pleasant afternoon if, all you are after, is a decadent hot chocolate and a classic pastry (of which there are many).

Yet unlike a more traditional Belgian bistro, the place didn’t have much of anything in terms of food. It does, however, offer a set lunch and brunch menu on Sundays. We stopped there at noon on a Saturday for lunch. With not much to choose from, we went with the set lunch, starting with a cream of broccoli soup garnished with slivered almonds. The first bite was promising.

But then something was spotted – tiny, yet quite visible and very similar to a maggot. Was it, I couldn’t say, but it certainly put me off the opening dish.  So much for promise. The main would have to be very impressive to make up for that disaster and it wasn’t. Grilled chicken, baby potatoes and asparagus were next, and though the garnish was impeccable taken as a whole the meal was rather average. For a Batida-owned bistro, the food is disappointing, and not least sadly lacking in the traditional elements of Belgian cuisine.

It’ll take a while for them to attain the same quality as that of their pastries but that doesn’t mean the place isn’t good. If it’s a quiet atmosphere, a good dessert and a cup of rich Belgian hot chocolate you seek, it’s worth a shot. The food though, that just isn’t there at the moment. (VL)