Brussels Bistro

Brussels Bistro Restaurant Review:

Traditional Belgian bistro food served with panache is hard to find in Orange County. But in a cool subterranean space right on downtown Laguna’s Forest Avenue, you can experience the Belgian “bon vivant” attitude, plus good food and drink and live entertainment. Mussels, usually a summertime delicacy in Europe’s lowlands, can be found year-round at this eatery, and guests can enjoy an endless pot of mussels and Belgian fries for a reasonable price every Tuesday. If you want to sample more regional specialties, start with the small croquettes of sea shrimp and cheese. Entrées fluctuate between French and Belgian influence, including crêpes stuffed with chicken and mushrooms and topped with béchamel sauce or beer-based beef stew with vegetables. The compact nature of the beer list, which features several Belgian brews, may surprise those in search of a wide variety. The venue has a sister location at 218 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949-218-8489.