The Blankenberge Belgium Beer Cafe. Photo / Natalie Slade
The Blankenberge Belgium Beer Cafe. Photo / Natalie Slade
Address: 136 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna Rating:
First drinks: This easygoing establishment has a similar problem to many Kiwi watering holes in that it's confusing as to whether you wait to be seated or seat yourself, go to the bar, or wait for a waiter. It took a little to-ing and fro-ing before we got our robustAussie shiraz and a refreshing, dry house cider - both exactly as we'd hoped. There's an extensive beer menu, their specialty.
The vibe is: Casual, friendly, pub-like. There are large tables for gatherings, leaners and proper dining tables. It boasts a very authentic Belgian vibe.
It smells of: Mussel pots, fries, beer, and smoky ribs and you might catch the smell of the sea a few hundred metres away.
On the stereo: Or in this case, the TV screens. A wide-ranging mix of hits, from old-school Billy Joel to Simply Red, even some Beyonce. The old music videos make for a good trivia game of "guess the year", otherwise it would be better without the screens.
