Bonté Wafflerie & Café

Really AMAZING waffles. Only thing is they seem to have only one waffle maker, which, for a waffle place, seems quite hindering. Took about 15 minutes for our waffles to be ready. Other than that it’s great, just make sure you’re not in a time crunch.

All waffles. ALL WAFFLES! I freaking love waffles!
I ended up here while wandering Rittenhouse Square one Sunday before catching my flight back south. I had just finished a disgusting lunch that I hardly ate and needed a new taste and a coffee to revitalize my spirit.
It’s a super tiny place, and not super fancy or anything. But who needs that. I was here to slam a waffle, damn it!
They make the waffle right then and there however you want it. You can add stuff or take it straight up. I left my straight up and am glad I did. The sugar was intense, and I possibly could have done without it, but regardless it was still delicious. So crispy and gooey at the same time. Man I want this right now. Coffee was eh but I won’t downgrade a star based on coffee alone. Price was SUPERB.
Whenever I get around to fulfilling my dream of moving to Philadelphia, I will frequent the hell out of this place.

This would be my official stop for feeding once I disembarked off the R5 into Center City. Jogging down those few steps to heaven was always something I had looked forward to, especially in the early chill of fall after my 40 minute commute. And it smelled so good before I even opened the door!
The only treat I would allow myself would be a single warm sugar waffle, which was perfectly done every time. The sugar was my favorite part, and I was one of those who basically licked the napkin for any that escaped the waffle itself. I did once add-​in the dark chocolate and that was a little too sweet for my morning meal, but I would dig into this later on in the day (okay, maybe I treated myself twice in a day at times).
I don’t recall there being a long wait, even in the morning when others would get coffee, etc. here, but this back in 2003 or so. Perhaps it has become more popular, which is good because that means it will still be there when I come back to visit. Yes Bonte, I will making a special trip just for you. So be ready.

Typical coffee-​bar. It’s a cool looking hole-​in-​the-​wall, that smells amazing.
The best part is they take level-​up. Which I’m so obsessed with. But it’s a good quick coffee and waffle/​bagel stop.

I guess the easiest way to sum this up is, if you’re going to call your café a «wafflerie», you may want to purchase a second waffle making machine… just a thought.
I literally waited 35 minutes for two waffles to go. Now granted, it was 11am on a Saturday and that is typically peak time for most coffee spots, but I was one of 4 people there. +2-​stars because the waffles are amazing, and –3 stars because the hungover server continuously said, «Oh my God, I am so confused right now.» No lie, maybe 4 times in the 35 minutes I was there…
If you’re going to check out Bonté, try and call ahead to phone order your waffles (if you’re doing take-​out). However, I called twice and got no answer and expected them to be closed when I arrived… nope, just a confused server.

Goddamn, I wish I had never had their breakfast sandwich. Cheddar cheese, scrambled egg, thick cut turkey bacon on a croissant. I work half a block from this place. Just kill me with calories, why don’t you?
I was a tad put off that the sandwiches at Bonte were pre-​made, but I found out they’re just constructed at their other location in the gayborhood, which made me feel a little better. Wrap that shit in tinfoil and get it warmed up in the panini press. You won’t regret it (well, maybe a little).

This small, basement café is a hidden gem and guess what… They except credit cards!
I recently tried Bonte for the first time with a friend after class and we were pleasantly surprised. As soon as I asked for a side of syrup, the guys working knew we were newbies. A waffle that doesn’t need syrup, I thought that was unheard of but it’s true. These «sugar waffles» are warm and crispy with just the right amount of sweetness. A plus? They are even great if you’re on the go! My strawberry sugar waffle was accompanied by a chai latte, which was also a refreshing change from Starbucks with its light taste. (They also have breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches pre-​made if a waffle isn’t exactly what you’re in the mood for)
The staff is friendly and knowledgable and extremely approachable which is something I take note of since I have been working in an environment where customer service is key for as long as I can remember.
Great spot for a quick breakfast with a couple of friends, only downfall is the lack of seating so I suggest definitely checking it out while you’re on the go!

She called it the Trifecta.
I called it El Perfecto.
1 Strawberry, blueberry, banana gaufre + 1 wet cappuccino = 1 happy girl.
This small basement café only serves two things, and they serve them well. Don’t call it a waffle. It’s the Kanye of waffles. Carmelized crispy on the outside (what were those sweet little diamonds cooked into the crust??? Mmmm). Soft, sweet slightly chewy on the inside, with a light perfect balance of my trifectalicious fruits.
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what it cost. It didn’t matter. They are that good.
I can’t give them that fifth star, because I am an ambiance kinda girl, and this place doesn’t have much. Also, I’d love to see a little more on the menu… but, they earned a solid four with great service, free STRONG wifi, and those delicious gaufres.

I was so excited to try out this place especially since I was recently in Belgium and I haven’t been able to find a great Belgian waffle that was warm and chewy in the center and crispy on the outside.
Unfortunately that’s not what is served here. The waffles look promising in the pictures but they are a bit dry, and the sugar crystals are so large they’re crunching as you eat it. I do hear that the secret is in the sugar though. These waffles are also much too sweet compared to the aromatic, eggy sweetness that I was hoping for.
Alas, my waffle search continues.

I wanted to like these more, but I guess Belgian waffles aren’t my thing.
It sounds really good on paper. Why wouldn’t I enjoy a hot-​off-​the-​press waffle with fresh strawberries and white chocolate?
Well, it turns out they’re just too darn sweet. I think it was the pearl sugar that did me in, honestly. Also, my waffle was overcooked — it was crispy throughout, rather than being slightly doughy in the center.

Nice place to chill, hang out and study… there is free wifi!
But really, I went there to try their Belgian waffles and was quite disappointed. They were too hard to chew. I couldn’t taste the toppings (chocolate and strawberries) even though they were in the batter.

I love the concept of this place. What a great way to spend your time, sipping a hot drink and eating fresh made-​to-​order waffles. =)
When I arrived here, it was pretty quiet on a weekday morning. Menu looked promising too. A wide selection of coffees and hot drinks and belgain waffles that you can customize with different flavors and fruits.
I ordered milk with honey and a belgian waffle with stawberries. Bf ordered a café latte (the barista recommended it) and a waffle with chcolate and bananas.
While we sipped our drinks (the drinks were yummy!) we watched them make the waffles (very fresh), and I was really excited to try it. When I finally did… it was ok… I couldn’t taste the strawberries in the waffle, even though it had been mixed into the batter. Maybe the fruit was too mild. But all I tasted was dough. The sugar crystals mixed inside was a bit too sweet for me. I could have done without it, because the waffle batter had a good amount of sweetness in it too. My bf’s waffle tasted a bit better. The chocolate taste was prominent but you couldn’t taste too much banana. Waffle size was also a bit small, could have been a little bit bigger for the price ($ 2.95 for a waffle plus en extra 60 cents for each add-​in).
Overall, not bad. Maybe if I ever come by again… I can ask them to customize the waffle a bit (i.e no sugar crystals). It is a lovely concept though, I wish we had more Wafflerie establishments in California!

Oh man. Ohhhh man. Thank God i discovered this place late, as I was moving out of Philly, because this place is AWESOME and I would’ve ended up 20 pounds heavier. Pretty cheap waffles ($ 2 something + $ 0.60 per mix in). If you’ve got the nibbles, get one. If you’re starving, maybe get two? I got the Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and blueberries. They MIX IN the ingredients! So they get all mushy and absorbed into the batter.
The sugar icing cube thingies in the batter were probably unnecessary, but they do make the waffles dangerously addicting. Scarily addicting. Like… OMFG.
Crunchy on the outside. Chewy on the inside.
Oh and the staff is so phenomenally friendly! We had a lovely chat with them about waffle deliciousness, coffee, and fresh biscotti.
If you’re looking for a restaurant or full-​service place, this might not be for you as they only serve fresh-​made waffles, pastries, and coffee. But free wifi and tables = awesome for a quick delicious snack during a study marathon out in the city.

Bonte’s waffles are just simply wonderful! You can get them with all sorts of fruit or sweets mixed into the batter, topped with two generous scoops of ice cream! All of the waffle concoctions i’ve had have been very tastey and I have not seen a combination go wrong yet. The waffles come out crunchy and hot with the flavor evenly distributed throughout the waffle. A downside may be seeing the cost of your dish go up with each addition on your waffle, but it’s worth a splurge once in awhile.
As for their drinks, their dirty chai has a subtle spice to it, and since I personally don’t like chai all that much, this is the best chai i’ve ever had! Drip coffee and iced coffee are great, their teas are «Mighty Tea Leaf», which is a great brand of teas imo. Occasionally I have seen some seasonal lattes. I’ve had their pumpkin latte and that was what sold me on this café.
Free wifi is a HUGE plus for those students out there. The downside may be that there is bad lighting at some seats, and the café itself is rather small, so finding a seat may be a challenge. The friendly staff creates a very college-​like atmosphere that is just simply relaxing. Oh! another downer is that the café closes «early», usually around 5 or 6 pm.
Overall, great little café (^_______^)b

I woke up late this morning, so I ended coming here for a late breakfast.
I was craving a waffle, so I ordered one with walnut and white chocolate filling.
For a single waffle it cost $ 2.95 and additional filling cost .50 cents each. I had it with a hot chocolate which I thought was reasonable.
The waffle was decent, but wasn’t the lightest most flavorful I have ever had.
I thought the waffle was a bit on the crunchy side. Maybe they overcooked it.
I didn’t finish it, so I left hungry.
I suspect the café gets crowded in the morning because of its location.

My love has only grown since my 2006 review of Bonte. Bonte introduced me to the chewy LIege-​style waffle with sugar pearls, and I loved them.
Since then, I’ve moved around the country an dhad Liege-​style waffles in other cities, including the famed Wafels & Dinges truck in NYC. But Bonte remains my favorite. My only problem is waiting for the freshly baked waffle to cool enough to eat.
I’ve tried lots of mix-​ins (chocolate and/​or banana are favorites), but a plain sugar waffle is all I need to make my day. Add to that the fact that they serve La Colombe coffee, and I’m a happy woman.
Until I can get myself to Belgium, Bonte will be the waffle by which all Liege waffles are judged. Oh, and if you are lucky enough to live in Philly, they offer decent lunch options as well.

Oh Bonte! I have been going to you for years, and I’ve always loved you! You satisfy my sweet tooth, and my cravings for sugar in a way no other place can! And you are open for business all day — which means that I can enjoy a sugary, chocolatey, strawberry treat ANY TIME I want to! How wonderful! And yet how terrible for my waist line!
3 stars because the coffee has lately gone down hill, and they are often out of various ingredients. Otherwise, great place to go.

One of my best friends took me here for breakfast, and I’d never had a fruit-​infused waffle before, so I was in for a treat!
I loved the smell of the place, and the freshness of the waffle… especially that it was customized to exactly what I wanted. I had blueberries, strawberries, and chocolate in mine. Three of my favorite things. I could dance to Sound of Music right now just thinking about my waffle…
Wish there were one in NYC.

I don’t really understand the «Bonte hype.» Other than the amazing smell that hits you when you first walk in, I wasn’t to crazy about the place.
The Hot Chocolate was yummy, nothing special. Except the cream on top was fun and festive…
As for the waffles. Am I the only one who isn’t thrilled?! Maybe it was just the batch that my friend and I got. But they were hard, and not very appetizing. I guess I was expecting a soft and sweet creation?
Overall, the place is clean and the staff is friendly. But I rather go somewhere else for my beverage and biscuit needs…

I wish I could have given this place a fair review. But we walked in at what on my watch said 6. There was still plenty of light out. Go to order:
«Sorry we are closed.»
me: «What, what time do you close?»
«6PM»
me: «It’s 6PM right now.»
«No sir it’s actually 6:02. Sorry we are closed.»
Wow, I’ve never been refused service so bluntly, and for being 2 minutes late. I’ll tell you, if these people were Chinese, they’d serve you all night till 6 in the morning if there is money to be made. Oh well. Onward to other philly adventures. This is one I don’t care to dwell on.
Just come before 6PM. They are serious