I have eaten in Belgo and other similar restaurants before however, my real test of a restaurant is how it stands up to a group booking. Many other places have badly fallen down during this test - Barracuda in Bray being a notable one but I had high hopes for Belgo because (a) it serves loads of beer and (b) it serves frites - both two guaranteed draws for a mixed large group.
The occasion was my significant other's 30th birthday & there were a grand total of 25 twenty & thirtysomethings at the feast. Belgo offer a choice of two set menus for parties of 10 or over - a good idea because it stops the invariable "his steak was dearer than my pasta" malarkey. The menus are £16.95 or £21.95 per person & seeing as we were out "for the night", decided to opt for Menu 1 at £16.95. Cheap doesn't mean second rate in this restaurant.. a choice of 3 starters - Salade Liegoise (a bit like a Belgian Salade Nicoise), Gravadlax (very like smoked salmon) and Cheese Croquettes. I made sure that all 3 dishes were ordered and sampled - no complaints so far.

Mains were Pork & Leek sausages with Belgo mash, the ubiquitous Poulet & Frites (yes... chicken & chips), a ragout of Mushrooms or Moules Mariniere. The Belgo mash is absolutely gorgeous - a mix of well seasoned mash with plenty of veg thrown in. The sausages were excellent... no complaints from the chicken or mushroom eaters. As for the moules.. The last time I had moules was about a month ago in a fancy restaurant in Cannes renowned for its seafood - not in my estimation - the sauce was divine but THERE WAS GRIT in all the mussels. Not what I would call a pleasant experience.. not so in Belgo - they were juicy, plump & devoured by all.

Dessert (yes more food) was a choice of a waffle with ice-cream & a white choc sauce or vanilla & ginger biscuit ice-cream. Both perfectly nice - as was the coffee.We spent a very enjoyable evening upstairs in Belgo - the staff were very friendly and efficient, the beer flowed in copious amounts & we ended up paying about £40 a head including about 5 drinks per head & service.