Snuggled below the bustling street level in Rittenhouse Square's French Quarter is a lovely caf‚ featuring the signature dessert of the streets of Belgium. Bont‚, named the French word for "goodness," serves up fresh, warm Belgian waffles that are held to the strictest of authentic standards. Caf‚ owner, 24-year-old Brad Messinger, journeyed to Belgium several times in college and returned with the mission to bring the country's famed dessert to his hometown, Philadelphia. Opened just six months ago, Bont‚ and its waffles have found a cozy home and faithful patrons at 17th and Sansom. "There are stands on the streets all over Belgium selling these waffles -- like the stands selling soft pretzels in Philly," Messinger said. "Eventually, I knew I wanted to tap the market in the States."
Bont‚'s waffles are called "gofras," the phonetic spelling of the French word for waffle, "gaufre." Upon ordering a gofra, batter is placed in the Belgium-imported waffle irons, and the gofra is immediately cooked up hot and fresh. One gofra costs $2.50 and patrons can add various ingredients to the batter -- such as strawberries, bananas and chocolate for 50 cents apiece. These additions are blended directly into the batter before it hits the iron, ensuring a proper melding of the tastes into the waffle itself. The gofra is served piping hot and features a crispy outer crust complemented by a warm, spongy inside and topped with imported Belgian sugar. The flavorful additions are intended to be combined, and such pairings as strawberry/chocolate or chocolate/walnuts are encouraged. "The Belgian ingredients and the Belgian waffle iron are keys to the gofra," Messinger said. "Without them, we would have a flat, dense waffle rather than the light, airy pastry we have at Bont‚." The result is a culinary concoction that is true to its Belgian roots across the sea.
Gofras are perfect as an afternoon snack or as an afterthought to a meal. With its convenient location in the heart of downtown Philly, Bont‚ is an ideal place to spend an afternoon studying or relaxing. The caf‚ sees a diverse clientele due to its enticing gofras, which draw everyone from children to aging world travelers. The atmosphere is laidback and peaceful, decorated with simple furniture and French details. Unlike many other caf‚s, Bont‚ is notably well-lit, especially on sunny days when natural light combines with the many ceiling lights. The result is a salubrious, bright environment that goes well with the authentically brewed La Colombe coffee served by Bont‚. Toss in the free wireless internet and a studier has found his home for a few pleasant hours.
Bont‚ is a versatile gem of a caf‚ that can be your studying campout, a Center City shopping snack stop, or even a light breakfast treat. The caf‚ also serves freshly made sandwiches and soups along with a selection of pastries, coffee and other beverages. Try out Bont‚ the next time you are downtown to hit that sweet spot with a Belgian favorites. It's likely to become a habit.
