Zinneken's Review

"I'm too busy" is never a good excuse to skimp on exciting and delicious food escapades. In this new series, explore the culinary scene of Boston and Cambridge with Jane, your Crimson foodie who may be picky, but will still try anything on the plate at least once (except maybe chicken feet).

There is no need to cross the Atlantic Ocean when the taste of Belgium is only a short walk away. Located at 1154 Massachusetts Ave., Zinneken's serves two types of authentic, freshly-baked Belgian waffles—Liege and Brussels.

The Liege waffles are made from dense dough with pearls of sugar imported from Belgium. As the waffle cooks in the skillet iron, the sugar caramelizes into the dough to add an extra layer of sweet, chewy texture.

On the other hand, Brussels waffles are made from a liquid batter with fresh yeast for a light, airy taste.

You can choose from Zinneken's wide selection of waffle variations or customize your own by choosing a basic signature waffle ($4.70) and adding various toppings, such as fresh fruits, Nutella, and whipped cream, for an additional $0.50 or $1 per topping.

The Gourmand ($6.70)—a Liege waffle with whipped cream, sliced bananas, and a drizzle of caramel sauce—and Fruit Delight ($7.20)—a Liege waffle with strawberries, bananas, and Belgian chocolate—were served on round silver plates dusted with powder sugar. About the size of a hand, the waffles were extremely dense. With a crispy exterior and chewy interior, I felt like there was a firework of sweet indulgence in my mouth for the first couple bites, but towards the end, I definitely had a hard time finishing these overly sugary waffles.

The Veritaffles in the dining hall pale in comparison to Zinneken's Brussels waffle ($6.20), which was topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Biting into this fluffy waffle was like floating on a bed of clouds. The Brussels waffle is also not as sweet as the Liege waffle.

You can even try a Liege waffle today for free. Let me know how your experience compares!