Awful Waffle - Update

Where: Awful Waffle, 815 N 700 E, Provo

Who Went: Owen & Chelsey x2, then Chelsey, Monica, & Devynne

Number of Visits: 3

What We Ordered: Liège waffle with Nutella and Whipped Cream, Crêpe with Strawberries and Grandma Nellie's Cream Syrup, and Sausage & Egg Crêpe

What It Cost: $13.85

What We Thought:


As some of you may recall, during the early days of my site I previously wrote a fairly scathing review for the Awful Waffle when it first opened. I felt like they were still trying to work out the kinks and I didn't really get the whole waffle craze. But after many protests from loyal waffle fans and friends, and my revelatory experience at Bruges, I decided to go back and give them another try.

I remember that last time I felt like I was overwhelmed by all of the choices for toppings that I ended up ordering too many toppings and it just didn't work very well. So this time we decided to keep things a little simpler, which was a great choice. You can see from the picture above the difference in the amount of toppings that they used to give compared to now - before I complained that they hardly gave any syrup at all, but since they have been in operation for a while it looks like they have made a delicious change for the better.

Though I think I still prefer the taste of the waffles at Bruges in Salt Lake, I do have to commend Awful Waffle for their great variety of options. Any topping you can think of, they have it. And unlike Bruges, they also now have the choice of a Brussels or Liège style waffle, in addition to gratifying savory crêpes. I'm particularly fond of the locally-sourced Grandma Nellie's Old-Fashioned Cream Syrup that I've never had anywhere else - it is less overpowering and thicker than normal syrup, and is absolutely amazing.

They've also changed from the styrofoam plates that drove me crazy before to these cardboard boats which are much easier to eat from. The crêpes do sometimes stick to the boat itself, but they are much better. We also loved how the egg crêpe was served in a convenient foil wrapping, which would be great for BYU students who are looking for a quick tasty lunch near campus on the go. I like I definitely prefer savory crêpes to sweet crêpes - this one contained plenty of cheese, well-prepared eggs, and flavorful spicy sausage.

What You Should Do: Definitely go. They have made a ton of improvements since first opening, and have so many different choices that you'll never get bored. I love the addition of the savory crêpes, and want to try the barbecue chicken one next time I go - I've heard it's phenomenal!

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Also, for those of you who are concerned - I do not have a personal vendetta against the owners of Dave & Cranky Chuckie's. I just did not enjoy the meal I was served. Yes the photos make the food seem appealing, but as I am sure we all know, just because something looks good doesn't mean it tastes good (see McDonald's commercials for examples). I was completely honest in the review, and don't feel like I need to sugarcoat anything just because other people disagree. However, I am sure I will be back there again some time, and hopefully, like the Awful Waffle, they will prove me wrong and I can get some of that food that everyone else seems to love! 

Bruges Waffles & Frites

Where: Bruges Waffles and Frites, 336 W Broadway, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Chelsey and Devynne

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: 1 small order of Frites with Brasil mayo, Torpedo Waffle, Waffle Monster

What It Cost: $20.49

What We Thought:


I have to admit -- I was skeptical about this place. I've never really been a huge waffle person, only spent $2.50 on a crappy waffle maker from Walmart on Black Friday to satisfy my husband's repeated requests, and definitely don't want to spend lots of money on what I viewed as a glorified breakfast food. When I heard about Bruges Waffles and Frites, I thought -- "Really? They just serve waffles and fries?" I had looked at pictures of different orders on Urbanspoon, thought that the portion sizes looked totally dinky and overpriced, and figured it was just a fad thing. What's the big deal about Belgian waffles anyway?

Well the raving reviews haven't stopped, and I decided that during a recent trip to Salt Lake, I needed to find out for myself what the big deal was after all.

Let's start with the shop itself. There really is only one word to describe this place -- TINY. There is only a 6-seat bar for people to sit, approximately 2 feet away from the register. Luckily we came on a weekday at 11, so it was pretty empty, but rumor has it that this place fills up quick and can have crazy lines. Go during the off-hours! The owner has a delightful accent and is very friendly - apparently he and I have the same car, so we chatted about gas mileage and snow capabilities for a while. He also encouraged us to taste of the store's crunchy Specaloos spread. I also have been skeptical of this supposedly imported spread, since I can find it at my local grocery store (the brand name is Biscoff spread), but I've only ever been able to buy the smooth variety -- this crunchy kind took it to a whole new level for me! We ordered 2 waffles and some frites of course, though they do have a couple other options (the intimidating Machine Gun sandwich and some stew?), and got our food pretty quickly.

The fries were good. They were served hot, were nice and crispy, and were just the right width and consistency. I liked them with the fun flavored mayo we got (the Brasil mayo had flavors of pineapple, curry, and more!) and ate every last crumb. But would I make a 45-minute drive just for these fries? Probably not.

Now, the waffles...these are a totally different story. 

As I was reading up about this place, I learned that there are actually two different kinds of Belgian waffles - Brussels waffles (which are thinner, crisper, with deeper holes and rectangular shape), and Liège waffles (made with a thick dough more like bread, with chunks of pearl sugar that melt and caramelize on the outside of the waffle and form a crispy coating). Bruges serves Liège waffles, and they were one of the most heavenly things I have ever partaken of.

The imported pearl sugar forms the most delicious crispy exterior of the waffles, and is still melty and amazing when they serge it to you. The waffles are thick, but not overwhelming, and perfectly sweet. The Torpedo waffle, which was stuffed with Belgian chocolate bars, was wonderfully indulgent. The crème fraîche on top was the best I've ever had, and helped counterbalance the intense sweetness of the chocolate and waffle. This waffle was so mind-blowing that it inspired me to make my own crème fraîche for an apple pie I made, following this recipe -- it is so much better than regular whipped cream!

The Waffle Monster, shown above, was a waffle split in half, with warm crunchy Specaloos spread inside, along with sliced strawberries and vanilla bean ice cream. Wow. Wow. Wow. I don't think that there are words that can sufficiently how breathtaking the combination of sweet Specaloos, tart fresh strawberries, and creamy delicious vanilla bean ice cream were inside this perfect little waffle sandwich. All I can say, is you gotta try it. And I totally get what the big deal about Belgian waffles is now!


Waffle Sources: 

- A woman's experience in Belgium with both types of waffles
- An authentic Liège waffle recipe
- Wikipedia's input
- Another traveler's experiences


What You Should Do: 


Get in the car, and drive there right this minute! Seriously. Your life is not complete until you have tried this incredible Belgian treat. If you're feeling extra carb-hungry, then you can get the frites too, but definitely be sure to get a waffle. Or two. Or three. Or more... If you're daring, try the machine gun sandwich -- I think that when I get up there again with my husband, I'll try to convince him to get it. Some love it, and some say it's WAY too heavy. All I know is that these were the most life-changing waffles I've ever had, and you know, I think I may be a waffle person now.

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