Trifter

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There’s nothing wrong with screaming chefs or tailored bartending. But sometimes you just want a simple little place that plays it by the book. Even if the book happens to be Belgian.

Welcome to BXL East, the Midtown East result of a sturdy Westside Belgian cafe BXL, now open for your burly beer enjoyment.

BXL is everything you’d want in a Belgian bar, carried out with the simple straight-forward style of your favorite neighborhood tavern. Which means you’re coming here for beer, and tons of it. They’ve got 14 handsome brews on tap, including (color-coded) standbys like Leffe Blonde and Brune, Duvel Green and the infamous Witte.

If you’re looking to take things to the next level, go stronger with the ominous-sounding Gulden Draak (clocking in at 10.5 percent), go sweeter with a dessert gem (like raspberry lambic Lindemans Framboise) or go to the list: 35-strong collections of bottled imports (including a few Chimays).

Oh, and if you feel like being deceitful on your Chimay with a little sustenance, they’re making seven different types of mussels, from Moroccan and Thai-style mollusks, to one flavored with wheat beer (Are you full yet?).

If you can’t decide on a flavor, show up on Sunday or Monday for $20 all-you-can-eat mussel nights, which also happen to come with a Stella.

Or is it the mussels that come with the Stella?

BXL East
210 E. 51st St
(between 2nd and 3rd)
Midtown East
New York, NY 10022
212-888-7782