What happens when four longtime friends finally create the restaurant they’ve always dreamed of? They open The Liège Waffle, Jacksonville’s newest food establishment, and offer tasty treats with a historic origin.

“Our style of waffle originated in the city of Liège, Belgium in the late 18th century,” explains Jonathan Cummings, co-owner along with partners Spencer Henry, Seth Stephenson, and Cameron Ming—all boyhood pals from Oklahoma. “It’s different from other waffles because it’s made from dough, not batter. And because there’s yeast in the dough, it’s delicate; it actually takes fourteen hours to prepare.”

But that’s not all that makes this delectable offering stand out. “The waffle uses pearled sugar,” Cummings says, “which we import from Belgium. Pearled sugar gives the dough a bit of crunch. As it melts, it provides a sweetness that makes the flavor unique.” The waffle irons, which use a lower temperature range than their U.S. counterparts, also had to be imported from Europe.

Once the partners perfected their basic recipe, they began experimenting with different varieties. “I must have put on five to ten pounds during that process,” laughs Cummings. They settled on six taste sensations for opening day in February 2018: Plain, Lemon Berry, Nutella Bella, Red Devil, Fluff & Nutter, and “The Works” (Biscoff cookie butter, choice of fruit, and cream). They also serve two kid-sized waffles, each accompanied by a glass of milk.

The restaurant recently added a new variety—“Good Stuff:” Greek yogurt, kiwi, blackberries, and locally prepared granola. “We’ve sold out of it every day since we introduced it,” says partner Seth Stephenson, who’s been handling much of the cooking. He notes that they plan to introduce savory flavors to the menu as well.

Also on the menu: Green Smoothies. “We’re passionate about our waffles—but we also wanted to offer something that’s really good for you,” says Cummings. “Our smoothies are almost like a salad in a cup. We start with a quarter pound of spinach and add other ingredients. They’re super healthy.” Flavors on the smoothies list are: All the Fruit, The Green Berry, Mango Vanilla, Orange Pineapple, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Strawberry Ana (a kid-sized version of the Green Berry).

“The two sides of our menu are like yin and yang,” Cummings says with a chuckle. “That’s why our hashtag is ‘Sinful Waffles, Righteous Smoothies.’”

“With summer on the way, we’ll be opening earlier for breakfast and staying open later on Britt nights,” says Stephenson. With space available for catered events, The Liège Waffle adds a distinctive tang to Jacksonville’s food scene.

THE LIÈGE WAFFLE
150 South Oregon Street•541-702-2300
Wednesday & Thursday 9:00am-6:00pm
Friday & Saturday 9:00am-8:00pm