Belgo Centraal

Went to Belgo's tonight, which I had been wanting to go to for a long time..... Was very disappointed!!!!! Service wasn't anything to write about. Obviously the beer menu was great.

Now the food....... I had the mussels on a special that is advertised on the website which I feel amounts to false advertising. They say that when you order the mussels, "you pay the price at the time you order." Well, the amount of mussels on the special were half the size of the mussels on the normal order, but they make out that it is the normal size. So really, there is no special at all!!! And they were as bland as anything.

Not going back.
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Scotty - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, May 04, 2009

Went to Belgo on Easter Sunday night for meal with 5 friends was my first time and I was so so so pleased the food was fantastic one of the best meals I have ever had....I had the soup to start (butternut Squash) was out of this world then lamb on the bone and mashed potato the meat just fell off the bone (best lamb I have ever had) and the mash potato melt in your mouth only problem not enough of it!! I then finished off with Bread and Butter pudding WOW the best pudding ever. I was adventurous and tried the strawberry beer was nice. the only downside to the restaurant I found was the waiting area while had bar which was great no seats (although we were there that long) the waiters outfits are so quirky and they are so attentive excellent service!! all round brilliant night...
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Sharon Hughes
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Went here for a quick dinner with a friend after work. Wish I hadn't. I ordered the grilled mussel platter L'escargot (garlic butter and herbs), it came with a few mussels, was lukewarm, and so bland and tasteless that I had to resort to shaking pepper and salt all over it (which I NEVER do at restaurants) - not that it really helped. The fries that came with it were nice, but the whole main was not worth the £9.95 I had to pay for it. Ouch.

My friend's starter (mussels in curry) arrived and it was double my portion, at half the price, and twice the taste and temperature. Ouch.

Our waiter was a dude who looked more at home in one of the grunge bars in Camden - and he wasn't the most attentive. It was busy but where was the smile, where was the tap water we'd asked for, and to top it off he asked us twice at the end whether we'd already gotten the bill - from him. We hadn't. Ouch. (We asked for the service charge to be taken off)
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Tara
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Thursday, March 05, 2009

Been there for friend's birthday. Enjoyed the beer and mussels. But the place is a bit crowded.
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King - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Absolutley loved the food, and the atmosphere! My all time favourite restaurant! love it!
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Louise Brown
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Been there a couple of times during the last two years, food was really good, but a couple of months ago they changed their menu completely. Now it is credit crunch time at Belgos!! No Chateaubriand steak any longer (which was probably the best in central london at a reasonable price) and any non-brit would agree. They are still charging the same prices like a year ago but they save massively on their food. This is the last time I have been there. We went for the traditional mussels, which were completely dry and bad quality and the rib eye steak which was okay, but you can get this at a normal pub as well and probably cheaper as well. Staff there is always friendly and sometimes serving time can take a little bit longer sometimes it is really fast, but that's okay. We did not have to pay for the mussels but what this management has done to the menu and the cost saving is really crazy. I would not recommend going there unless they get back to what they were.
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Steven
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Sunday, January 04, 2009

Don't bother.... I am trying to book a table since last Tuesday for 12 people and was promised email booking packs & a call back (which happened today)

After I confirmed date and time the lovely receptionist said: OK, I have to check with my manager and call you back until Friday......(After nearly 2 weeks to try to book a table I still have no confirmed booking!!! Hello....anyone interested in our money or what?

Been there before, food nice, service OK, service charge goes on the bill automatically.

Will have a look for some other nice place now
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Jens
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Came down here for a quick bite to eat; we ordered off the Beat the Clock menu. Two of us had the poulet moutarde whist the other had a bowl of mussels. The choice was fairly limited although perhaps expected for the price range. The food was served extremely quickly; so quickly in fact that I had to assume that it was all pre-prepared. Despite this, everything was satisfactory, the staff were amicable and plentiful; the choice of beer immensely varied and interesting.

The dining experience was reminiscent of a school dinner table crossed with the hold of a ship; you're taken underground on arrival past the open kitchens to be seated on rows and rows of benches and tables. Perhaps not suited to everyone’s taste but I enjoyed the contrast between the wooden architecture and industrial design. I shall be returning if in need of a good value lunch or early dinner around the Covent Garden area.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Went there with my husband looking forward to some honest Belgian food. The restaurant has a quaint ring to it: warehouse meets spaceship in a monastery. The 'bar' area was like a holding pen - not sure if drinks are actually served there or it was part of the decoration.

The no reservation restaurant downstairs in the basement with its arches had a school canteen feel to it with its long tables and long benches. Cute enough were it not for the overhead airconditioning set to icy cold for the customers sat straight in its blowing path: we ended up eating with our coats on while it was really hot outside.

It took a really long time before we were even handed a menu and than we had to wait an equally long time again before our orders were taken.

When the food finally arrived on plates that were bigger then the table with chips served in steel bowl (add the icy airconditioning) the overdone freezer chips were ice cold in no time. From a Belgian restaurant you would expect freshly made mayonaise to go with the normally homemade chips and carbonades. Not so here: only after asking we got a small cuplet of mayonaise.

Luckily the my husband did not want his chips with his poulet roti 'piquant' which was not even spicy but has a sticky sweet and sour chili sauce poured over it. Don't expect to get the original Belgian roasted chicken with chips.

The carbonades was tasty with soft pieces of stewed beef in a not overpowering ale stew with apples and plums. Sadly with the size of the plates you have not much choice then to pour the overdone frozen chips into your big plate of carbonades and top with the little mayonaise you get.

One would at least expect to find a Belgian chef in a Belgian restaurant or at least a chef that cooks authentic fresh food. Not so at Belgo Centraal unless they are there as a theme park event which given the prices is likely. Belgian food is all about fresh honest food.

It was a massive disappointment which was topped by the service charge that was automatically added to the bill.
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Carol J
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Friday, September 05, 2008

Forget the food in this place, (which is rather good I should add), but what I love is the traditional Belgium ninja clothes that the floor staff wear.
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Stevie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, August 11, 2008