Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Contemporary Twist on Belgian Classics Keeps Restaurant Fresh

SOPHIE SAGUIL FOR THE HOYA The mussels served with frites and a mussel sauce with a variety of modern twists are the standout dishes at this popular Belgian restaurant.
SOPHIE SAGUIL FOR THE HOYA
The mussels served with frites and a mussel sauce with a variety of modern twists are the standout dishes at this popular Belgian restaurant.

4/5 stars

Among DC locals and Belgian natives alike, B Too has garnered remarkable popularity for serving up traditional Belgian favorites with a contemporary twist. Located on 14th Street corridor, B Too is just one of the many culinary hotspots that have recently risen to prominence on this newly transformed city block.

B Too is headed by Belgian-born chef Bart Vandaele, a native of Roeselare who started his culinary career at the age of 12 (the young chef attended culinary school and interned at various Michelin-starred restaurants in Belgium). In 1997 Vandaele moved to Washington, D.C. to be the executive chef to the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, and he has since been most famous for heightening the popularity and prominence of Belgian cuisine in the metro area. Not only is Vandaele regarded a master of both traditional and modern Belgian cuisine, but the chef has also been knighted under the order of King Leopold II. He serves as a brand ambassador for popular Belgian beers such as Stella Artois and Hoegaarden and has been honored by the Master Cooks of Belgium. In more recent news, Vandaele competed on the 10th season of Bravo’s Top Chef. B Too is Vandaele’s second restaurant in D.C., and the restaurant’s popularity proves Vandaele’s success in putting Belgian cuisine on the city’s culinary map.

Walking into B Too, the first thing that strikes you is the open kitchen where you can watch chefs prepare your food, which features a Spanish-designed Josper oven for charcoal grilling — the only one of its kind in the District. The decor is cozy and comfortable, yet sleek and modern, with enough Belgian interior design influences to make any visiting Belgian feel right at home. Dark lighting and heavy wood floors add to the fine dining vibe, yet the friendly staff continuously serving up draft beers from the restaurant’s impressive bar mixes in a more casual kitchen atmosphere. One of B Too’s most popular dishes is the variety of traditional Belgian mussels served with frites, mussel sauce and, most importantly, a modern twist.

As recommended by the waiter, I ordered the joint’s most popular mussel dish, the B Too Mussels, which are Josper-cooked with Saison beer, spring onions, bacon, shiitake mushrooms, celery root and thyme ($24). The broth was light with a strong beer flavor, yet not overpowered by the heaping portions of bacon and mushrooms served atop the mussels. The frites were served Belgian-style, double fried to an extra crispy golden brown, with “mussel sauce,” a garlic aioli providing a spin on the more typical Belgian fries dipped in mayonnaise. Some of my personal favorite mussel dishes served at B Too included the more traditional garlic mussels (cooked with butter, celery, cream and lots of garlic, $20) and the eccentric curry mussels (cooked with green apple, celery, garlic, onion, curry and cream, $20). The ever-creamy and garlicky garlic mussels pay homage to more traditional Belgian fare, while the curry mussels challenge more typical Belgian cuisine by adding an exciting and extremely flavorful South Asian twist. More personal favorites include the fall-off-the-bone tender Le Steak Royal Belge met Frietjes, a slow-cooked beef tenderloin served with salad and Belgian frites ($29), as well as a side of Spruitjes, perfectly pan-fried brussel sprouts, cooked in duck fat and topped with crispy duck confit ($10).

Fancy enough to take your parents to, yet moderately priced enough to enjoy on a weekend with friends, B Too provides a refreshing spin on traditional Belgian dishes and is sure to keep hungry customers coming back for more. Come in for happy hour (every day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.), which features $5 draft beers and wine, $7 specialty cocktails and bar bites ranging from $6 to $11.

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