Beyond the beer: Bistro BE spotlights Belgian food

The who: Belgian restaurateurs Emmanuel Verschueren and Tim Michels have brought a taste of their native land to Brickell with Bistro BE. Executive chef Frederik Appelt runs the open kitchen.

The space: The former Box Park space adjacent to the shuttered Hoxton still retains its low-key charm with blonde wood tables, mod white chairs and a long marble bar. Communal tables near the open kitchen are great for larger parties.

The dishes: Traditional and modern takes on Belgian cooking. Prices skew toward the upscale, with starters ranging from $9 to $15 and mains from $15 to $29. The bar stocks 70 brews that are, you guessed it, all Belgian.

Bread spiked with Stella Artois starts off dinner service. Continue with baked wild mushrooms in a buttery garlic sauce or an endive salad drizzled with cherry-beer syrup. Even the mac and cheese gets a Belgian beer nod with Chimay Trappist cheese.

Mussel pots — there are seven to choose from — come in a base of beer or wine and are served with golden, Belgian-style frites. Traditional dishes include rabbit stew with prunes, served with potato croquettes, and sautéed duck with cherry-beer sauce.

For dessert, expect Belgian waffles topped with whipped cream, Belgian chocolate mousse, and Dutch pancakes with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. 

The Bottom Line: Buckets of moules and a hefty beer list make this stylish Belgian boîte a new Brickell standout.

This story was originally published August 1, 2014 at 3:08 AM.