Belgo Noord proves you can enjoy a meal out on the cheap without having to cut corners on quality. Beer anyone?

The Venue
Belgo Noord is unusually divided totally in two. If you’re walking the short distance to the venue from Chalk Farm tube, you’ll be forgiven for perhaps being a little disappointed by the basic, tiny bar that you’ll find. A few seats are arranged in a small area with a diminutive bar nestled into the far wall. However, if you’re looking to indulge in more than just a quick beer then you’ll quickly be ushered back outside, past a couple of street-side tables, into a second doorway.

Stepping through the door you’ll need to navigate a narrow corridor, leading over the open kitchen, down some stairs into the subterranean dining room and larger bar area. This cave-like space is in stark contrast to the small bar upstairs. The room is divided into two by a wall. On one side resides a second, larger bar area with a huge sunken bar at the far end, proudly displaying its wares including some sleek silver draught pumps. To the right is the main dining area - a small, basic but comfortable space. A mottled floor in deep red complements the simple white ceiling and olive walls. The tables and chairs are basic - simple wooden affairs you’re more likely to get in a pub. The walls surrounding the dining room are made up of heavy cement with random words emblazoned into them - think ‘Donkeythistle’, ‘Stickyfingers’, ‘Coldeel’, ‘Thornback’, ‘Poorfish’, ‘Crabbreech’, totally random but definitely a talking point.

Behind the bar sits a few colourful posters depicting the latest deals at the bar and the lighting is kept simple – there are no crazy light fittings or eye-catching lamps here, merely simple spotlights set into the walls and ceiling. Peering down the corridor leading back from the stairway you’ll spy the clean open kitchen. The whole venue is modern and trendy without trying too hard.

The Atmosphere
Belgo Noord is undeniably a fun, relaxed place to be – an ambience perpetuated by the friendly, extremely knowledgeable staff. Ask them any question about the beer or menus and they’ll offer recommendations and anecdotes without hesitation. The tables are slightly sandwiched in but nobody minds as this is informal drinking and dining at its best. People laugh and the chatter is palpable without being overbearing. Being located in Chalk Farm you can expect everyone from families with young children and couples enjoying a romantic tete-a-tete to punk-haired Goths enjoying a plate of mussels before moving on to pastures new in Camden. It’s an unusual, eclectic mix that works well in an area that’s known for being open minded.

The Food
The food at Belgo Noord excels. It’s well priced and excellent quality. A starter of grilled goat cheese served on a crouton with roast peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and walnut dressing (£5.95) is delicious and the portion size is far from dainty. The goat cheese is rich and creamy with a pleasant tang and the soft, slightly gooey consistency works well with the crisp, large toasted croutons. The creaminess of the cheese works in tandem with the sweetness of the walnut dressing, complete with whole walnuts, and the bite of the sun dried tomatoes. The roasted peppers round it off nicely with an almost earthy flavour.

For mains, it’s well worth plumping for their huge plates of mussels – one of the big sellers. For £11.95 you receive a huge steaming pot filled with a generous pile of mussels that will take you a good long while to work your way through. The tactile nature of the dish adds to the happy ambience of the restaurant. You can opt for a smaller half kilo pot for £5.95 if you’re unsure. The mussels are prepared in a variety of ways, such as the Provencale (steamed plum tomato sauce, basil, thyme and garlic), Green Thai (coconut, green chilli, lemongrass, lime and coriander) or the ever popular Mariniere (white wine, garlic, cream, celery and onion) - a rich, creamy sauce that isn’t heavy or cloying, instead lifting the flavours of the plump, perfectly cooked mussels. Great value for money.

It’s well worth keeping an eye out for special menus, such as the Oktoberfest menu that matches beer with each course and utilises beer in the ingredients or Lobsterfest that centres around well priced lobster dishes. For example, you can order a delicious lobster thermidor (£8.50) comprising half a whole lobster with a generous layer of a cheese, mustard and Orval beer sauce – a rich, creamy sauce that works perfectly with the sweet lobster. Mains include options like a generous lobster salad with whole pieces of sweet lobster sitting atop a large bed of salad comprising spring onions and green beans for a fresh, light take on the dish (£16.95). Alternatively, the whole lobster comprises an entire lobster in its shell with a generous helping of crisp chips with a fluffy middle and a light, fresh salad. Excellent value for money and worth keeping an eye out for as these menus are only available for limited times.

Desserts (£4.75) fare equally well. The Brussels-style waffle with vanilla ice cream, chantilly cream and white chocolate sauce is well portioned and balanced. The sweet, doughy, warm waffle works well with the creamy vanilla ice cream and heavier chantilly cream. The white chocolate sauce adds a sweetness that surprisingly doesn’t overpower the already rich dish, instead lifting the flavours. Alternatively, the pistachio ice cream with dark chocolate sauce and chantilly cream is a light but sweet dessert. The pistachio ice cream is flavoured perfectly with real pistachios included and the dark chocolate sauce adds a heaviness that cuts through the sweetness of the ice cream. The chantilly cream rounds it off nicely with a decadent sweetness. It’s worth indulging in a Belgian cappuccino to finish for £2.45. Served with a rich cream rather than the usual foam, it’s a decadent end to your meal.

The Drink
Where Belgo Noord really excels is with its beer selection. On tap there’s an unusual choice of Cristal, Brugs Wit, Ciney Blonde, Fruli Strawberry and De Konnick, all well priced between £2.35 and £2.95 per half pint (many of the draught options are only available in half pint servings). However, where the bar really shines is with its bottle selection.

There’s a huge selection of bottled beers available here, including a great selection of Trappist beers, brewed under the supervision of Trappist monks. There are only six monastaries where this takes place worldwide. There’s an excellent choice, including Westmalle, Chimay and the highly alcoholic Roquefort (£4.40-£12.75). There’s also a good choice of white, blonde, amber and dark beers and – if you’re not a big fan of beer – there is also a lengthy list of fruit beers.

If you really don’t like beer and don’t want to give it a go then there is a decent, surprisingly well rounded choice of wine. Also, a selling point of the bar for those looking to move onto Camden’s party spots afterwards is the Schnapps. There’s a huge selection here and you can buy shots by the stick, ranging from 4-32 shots per stick depending on your party size. Costing from £8.50-£59 it represents excellent value for money.

The Last Word
Belgo Noord has attained the perfect balance between the quality of the beer served at the bar and the food offered by the kitchen. Prices are reasonable and it offers an easy, laid back environment to experiment with anything from Trappist brews to lobster. An excellent example of a chain getting it oh so right.

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