Belga Café is located on a street called “Barracks Row,” named for the Marine Corps barracks bordering the street to the east. This is one of those D.C. neighborhoods that’s been here forever — the Marine Barracks and the Navy Yard, just blocks away, sprouted 200 years ago — but now is being re-vitalized by merchants and the city. New bars, restaurants, and shops are opening all the time along 8th Street, and this trend will continue as construction of the somewhat-nearby Washington Nationals baseball stadium approaches completion. Stroll around a little during the day to admire the handsome architecture of older houses, some of which are the homes of Marine Corps officers.
When it opened in late 2004, the cafe was almost too popular for its own good. The service was terrible. Things have quieted down and you can probably now snag a table without a wait. Enjoy sitting at the outdoor café on a fine spring day or inside the bustling, noisy, European-ish dining room. Everything’s a waffle at brunch and lunch, meaning many of the sandwiches — croque monsieur to hamburger — are served on waffled (wafel) bread.