Belgian classics
Mussels and fries arrive in notably generous portions, while steak frites, croquettes and stew keep the Belgian focus clear.
Cafe Belge
DIFC
Cafe Belge is a Belgian restaurant in DIFC inside the Ritz-Carlton, combining a polished European setting with a lively bar atmosphere. Reviews point visitors towards dishes such as mussels and fries, Belgian beers and creative cocktails, with outdoor seating and occasional live entertainment adding to the appeal.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
1,059 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Seafood
Reviews repeatedly highlight the seafood, including tiger prawns, grilled octopus, fresh oysters and fish and chips.
Beer selection
The Belgian beer range remains a strong reason to visit, with Leffe available on draft and other distinctive choices.
Outdoor seating
The garden and terrace give you a more relaxed setting, with one review noting a comfortable summer breeze.
Cocktails
The aperitif menu includes inventive versions of classics such as Negroni Nero and the spicy Off the Fire.
Business lunch
The business lunch is praised for fair pricing, good choice and portions substantial enough to avoid a skimpy midday meal.
Live entertainment
Live music, DJs and other performances can turn the venue from a dining room into a more energetic evening destination.
What to Eat at Cafe Belge How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Cafe Belge, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Cafe Belge, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 2
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Fish and chips Net +2
“Fish and Chips were fantastic. Crispy batter and tasty cod.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Fish and Chips were fantastic. Crispy batter and tasty cod.”January 2026
“The food here is always incredible - a top notch is the fish and chips and the grilled octopus.”August 2024
-
Pizza Net +2
“We loved this place and came for the mussels and fries which were big in portion, pizza was also prepared like a Napoli style even!!”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved this place and came for the mussels and fries which were big in portion, pizza was also prepared like a Napoli style even!!”March 2025
“The pizza was super good crispy and light ,for the dessert I try the Baba Napoletano very delicious”August 2024
Honorable mentions (27)
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Artichoke salad Net +1
“I had the 3-course menu: started with an artichoke salad with the most flavourful sauce—such a win for someone who usually skips salads.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the 3-course menu: started with an artichoke salad with the most flavourful sauce—such a win for someone who usually skips salads.”October 2025
-
Baba napoletano Net +1
“The pizza was super good crispy and light ,for the dessert I try the Baba Napoletano very delicious”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The pizza was super good crispy and light ,for the dessert I try the Baba Napoletano very delicious”August 2024
-
Baked anellini siciliani Net +1
“the food is amazing we particularly enjoyed the Baked anellini Siciliani I think only in cafe Belge we can find I all UAE never find in all restaurants in uae 🇦🇪”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“the food is amazing we particularly enjoyed the Baked anellini Siciliani I think only in cafe Belge we can find I all UAE never find in all restaurants in uae 🇦🇪”August 2024
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Beef carpaccio Net +1
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”December 2025
-
Beef tartar Net +1
“Beef tartar is incredible and cheesecake is exelent! Bravo! My next vacation ill be back to this place 100%”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Beef tartar is incredible and cheesecake is exelent! Bravo! My next vacation ill be back to this place 100%”January 2021
-
Bel-gem Net +1
“• Bel-Gem — hands down, the best digestif cocktail of my life! Smooth, comforting, and infinitely elegant.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“• Bel-Gem — hands down, the best digestif cocktail of my life! Smooth, comforting, and infinitely elegant.”May 2026
-
Business lunch Net +1
“The business lunch is fairly priced with a good selection and importantly good quantities, unlike some other business lunches.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The business lunch is fairly priced with a good selection and importantly good quantities, unlike some other business lunches.”January 2022
-
Cheese platter Net +1
“I love their cheese platter! It’s a perfect spot for business meetings or just spending a nice evening with friends.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love their cheese platter! It’s a perfect spot for business meetings or just spending a nice evening with friends.”July 2026
-
Cheesecake Net +1
“Beef tartar is incredible and cheesecake is exelent! Bravo! My next vacation ill be back to this place 100%”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Beef tartar is incredible and cheesecake is exelent! Bravo! My next vacation ill be back to this place 100%”January 2021
-
Chocolate and cherry dessert with vanilla icecream Net +1
“The chocolate and cherry dessert with vanilla icecream was delish.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chocolate and cherry dessert with vanilla icecream was delish.”January 2026
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Crispy whitebait Net +1
“I ordered the steak tartare, paired with a Leffe Brune, and started with some crispy whitebait — every bite was a perfect balance of flavor and finesse. The steak tartare was prepared to perfection, fresh and well-seasoned, while the Leffe Brune added a rich, malty contrast.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the steak tartare, paired with a Leffe Brune, and started with some crispy whitebait — every bite was a perfect balance of flavor and finesse. The steak tartare was prepared to perfection, fresh and well-seasoned, while the Leffe Brune added a rich, malty contrast.”July 2025
-
Foie gras Net +1
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”December 2025
-
Leffe Net +1
“Delicious beers on draft (Leffe) and also a nice atmosphere to sit down for a bit (on certain days they also have a DJ).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious beers on draft (Leffe) and also a nice atmosphere to sit down for a bit (on certain days they also have a DJ).”April 2024
-
Leffe brune Net +1
“I ordered the steak tartare, paired with a Leffe Brune, and started with some crispy whitebait — every bite was a perfect balance of flavor and finesse. The steak tartare was prepared to perfection, fresh and well-seasoned, while the Leffe Brune added a rich, malty contrast.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the steak tartare, paired with a Leffe Brune, and started with some crispy whitebait — every bite was a perfect balance of flavor and finesse. The steak tartare was prepared to perfection, fresh and well-seasoned, while the Leffe Brune added a rich, malty contrast.”July 2025
-
Mussels and fries Net +1
“We loved this place and came for the mussels and fries which were big in portion, pizza was also prepared like a Napoli style even!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved this place and came for the mussels and fries which were big in portion, pizza was also prepared like a Napoli style even!!”March 2025
-
Mussels with champagne sauce Net +1
“I ordered grilled octopus and mussels with champagne sauce. It was delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered grilled octopus and mussels with champagne sauce. It was delicious.”October 2021
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Octopus Net +1
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”December 2025
-
Off the fire Net +1
“• Off the Fire (my absolute favorite!) — an incredible balance of heat, tartness, and subtle sweetness. That playful, spicy kick fires up your appetite so intensely that waiting for dinner turns into a true test of willpower... 🥂”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“• Off the Fire (my absolute favorite!) — an incredible balance of heat, tartness, and subtle sweetness. That playful, spicy kick fires up your appetite so intensely that waiting for dinner turns into a true test of willpower... 🥂”May 2026
-
Pinot noir Net +1
“Love the happy hour drinks. The pinot noir was delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Love the happy hour drinks. The pinot noir was delicious.”January 2026
-
Steak frites Net +1
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food itself is excellent — highlights include the snails, beef carpaccio, foie gras, octopus, and of course the classic steak frites.”December 2025
-
Steak tartare Net +1
“I ordered the steak tartare, paired with a Leffe Brune, and started with some crispy whitebait — every bite was a perfect balance of flavor and finesse. The steak tartare was prepared to perfection, fresh and well-seasoned, while the Leffe Brune added a rich, malty contrast.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the steak tartare, paired with a Leffe Brune, and started with some crispy whitebait — every bite was a perfect balance of flavor and finesse. The steak tartare was prepared to perfection, fresh and well-seasoned, while the Leffe Brune added a rich, malty contrast.”July 2025
-
Tiger prawns Net +1
“The tiger prawns were on the best i had in dubai.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The tiger prawns were on the best i had in dubai.”May 2025
-
Tiramisu Net +1
“As someone with a sweet tooth, I particularly enjoyed the tiramisu—the flavor was exquisite.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“As someone with a sweet tooth, I particularly enjoyed the tiramisu—the flavor was exquisite.”June 2026
-
Truffle fusilli Net +1
“The truffle fusilli by Chef Bashar was next level—he’s an excellent chef who gets flavour into every dish.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The truffle fusilli by Chef Bashar was next level—he’s an excellent chef who gets flavour into every dish.”October 2025
-
Tuna bowl Net +1
“I tried the Coco Americano and Tuna bowl and it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried the Coco Americano and Tuna bowl and it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended!”June 2026
-
Waffle with berries Net +1
“The waffle with berries was also tasty!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The waffle with berries was also tasty!”October 2021
-
Cream of tomato soup Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Had a cream of tomato soup: average”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 1
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Coco americano Net +1
“I tried the Coco Americano and Tuna bowl and it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried the Coco Americano and Tuna bowl and it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended!”June 2026
What to Avoid (2)
Food 2
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Dover sole fish Net −1
“Dover sole fish: wait time is too long, didn’t like the sauce/cooking style, fish too thick for a Dover sole”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Dover sole fish: wait time is too long, didn’t like the sauce/cooking style, fish too thick for a Dover sole”August 2025
-
Plato of seafood Net −1
“Plato of seafood we ordered contained many types of shrimps, shells, etc.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Plato of seafood we ordered contained many types of shrimps, shells, etc.”May 2017
Tips for a Better Visit
Book ahead. If arriving late, confirm table availability and dinner plans first; one guest was initially told all tables were reserved.
Try brunch. Saturday brunch includes starters, a main, dessert, beverages and live entertainment; one customer reported a price of 325 aed.
Choose outdoors. Ask about outdoor seating in cooler weather: reviews describe the garden and terrace as comfortable options.
Check the mood. If you want a quiet conversation, ask about the evening’s music or screens before choosing a table.
Mind seating. If smoke bothers you, specifically request a well-separated non-smoking table, as smoke has crossed over from the adjacent section.
Plan the visit
Practical details
The Ritz-Carlton
Zaa'beel Second - DIFC, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Sat | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Several visits mention slow pacing, including delayed dish clearing, a long Dover sole wait and a coffee that never arrived.
Loud atmosphere
Music can be too loud and upbeat for conversation, particularly when the venue is also showing football on screens.
Smoke drift
Smoke from the adjacent smoking area has reportedly reached the non-smoking section because the separation is inadequate.
High prices
Some customers consider the food and drinks expensive, despite positive comments about quality and variety.
Reception issue
One late-night visitor reported rude treatment at reception before being offered a table after confirming they wanted dinner.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
325 aed
Saturday brunch
“You should come for a Saturday brunch here! for only 325 aed you’ll be getting 3 set of starters, main dish, dessert and beverages”Google review · June 2023
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Cafe Belge is a Belgian restaurant in DIFC inside the Ritz-Carlton, with a polished European setting that can shift from relaxed bar to lively entertainment venue. Customers come for mussels and fries, steak tartare, fish and chips and a wide Belgian beer selection; creative cocktails are another draw for an aperitif. Food feedback is strongest around seafood and classic dishes.
” The Saturday brunch has been described as a set menu with starters, a main, dessert, beverages and live entertainment, and one review reported 325 aed. The garden and terrace, bar area and occasional live music or DJs make it workable for business lunch, an evening with friends or a Sunday drink. The mood is not always quiet, though: one Valentine’s Day visit found the music too loud and football screens out of place.
Another guest reported cigarette and cigar smoke drifting into the non-smoking section. Service is often warm and attentive, but several reviews mention slow clearing or long waits; one coffee never arrived and Dover sole took too long. Prices are considered high by some, so check the menu and ask about seating and entertainment before settling in.