Dining Recommendations for Carlisle

[ThanksVille]

Family gathering to celebrate a graduation atthe Army War College ; we need a couple tried and proven restaurants for brunches and dinners. No pizza, subs, fast fooderies. Don't mind waiting for a table if necessary but can't stand sorry meals. Where would you take your own family for a once in a lifetime celebration?

[centralpadiner]

I don't know Carlisle really well, but we take a special trip there a few times a year just to eat and drink at Cafe Bruges. We've never gone for brunch, just lunch or dinner, but they do offer that on Sundays. One of our favorite places in all of Central PA.

[ThanksVille]

Seen several previous references to Cafe Bruges and went online to check out their amazing offering of beers and ales. Looks fabulous and hearing that is a go to destination certainly has piqued my interest. Have not seen any interior images, I assume the place is clean, attractive and comfortable?

[centralpadiner]

LOL! Yes, definitely not a "hole in the wall" place. Very modern, nice and comfortable, we've taken our kids there about 3 times. They do not take reservations, but I have never had to wait terribly long. Even when we showed up with 15 Belgian expats, we had a table made up for us by the time we were all able to enjoy a beer and a couple of shared appetizers at the bar. And I can honestly say that the Belgians all enjoyed the food almost as much as the beer selection. I think it is a 'can't miss.'

[ThanksVille]

Thank you for your insights. Planning a visit there for our trip this week.

[ThanksVille]

Just had a fabulous gastropub dinner at Cafe Bruges as part of our trip to Carlisle. Place was full but the wait was short enough that we barely leafed thru their multi-page beer menu before being seated. Sort of a bistro on steroids with a lot of conversations going on but not to the point of forced easedropping. Service was accommodating, intelligent, and attentive; never intruding in our family reunion /celebration. Deciding on a few appetizers to share was far easier than it was to select a beer, so a few of us punted and went with the sampler tasting of four beers on tap. Home run! The modules frites and steak frites seemed the most popular entrees and despite our distance from the nearest ocean the mussels were very good and quite well prepared.
Reasonable prices for the quality of brews and food. Certainly warrants a return visit anytime we get near Carlisle.

[centralpadiner]

So glad you enjoyed it!