Belleville.. for the last time

thanks Paul - I have to say I haven't been back since the time I went and waited forever for food that didn't come - we left after only paying for our drinks. The worst part was that your waitstaff didn't even come over to apologize for the delay which was obviously in the kitchen (I noticed that food didn't come out for quite awhile adn when it finally did it was coming out very slowly). So while I think your food is really good I think your waitstaff needs some training (we asked them once about getting our food - 15 minutes later we asked for the check to pay for the drinks - in the time it took for them to get the check together food still didn't come out - and it was frustrating that your waitstaff never came to us - we had to go to them) - all that being said, I will go back.

Ate at Belleville last night. Still beautiful and comfortable. Service was a bit scattered, but not bad. There didn't seem to be anyone overseeing the room. Wonderful house made pate. My short ribs were a bit tough, but loved the horseradish spaetzle it comes with though the spinach was a little gritty. Companion's coq au vin was way overcooked. Good selection of red wine by the glass and they were generous with letting us sample different ones. So all in all a pretty positive experience with some reservations. Keep making it better! We'll be back...

petitchou wrote: Ate at Belleville last night. Still beautiful and comfortable. Service was a bit scattered, but not bad. There didn't seem to be anyone overseeing the room. Wonderful house made pate. My short ribs were a bit tough, but loved the horseradish spaetzle it comes with though the spinach was a little gritty. Companion's coq au vin was way overcooked. Good selection of red wine by the glass and they were generous with letting us sample different ones. So all in all a pretty positive experience with some reservations. Keep making it better! We'll be back...

You tried to sweeten it, but that sounds like a terrible review. Tough ribs and spinach with grit on it? AKA they didn't wash the spinach, they had a poor cut of meat & not cooked well.

Had brunch at Belleville this weekend. Went with the eggs benedict and my wife had the croque monsieur. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the hollandaise was sparse but flavorful. The problem was the food wasn't very hot. The potatoes that came on the side were luke-warm to cold and not crispy at all. It was like they fried them off earlier and then never reheated them. No crunch and spongy.

I had hoped they they had improved their croque monsieur but it was the same two giant pieces of toast (an inch thick each) with one sad slice of ham in between them. Where's the bubbly bechamel? The oozy gruyere goodness? If I wanted a ham and cheese sandwich I'd order it. That is one sad croque people. It's all bread.

Once again the decor trumps the food. Service was good. I really want this place to be better. They need to take some lessons from Bar Tabac on Smith Street. At least there the decor and the food are excellent (the service? not so much). C'mon Belleville.