The Belgian Monk in Norwich

We visit the Belgian Monk every time we head out to Norwich. Wonderful beer, excellent food, friendly staff. Brilliant 🙂

Had a great evening tasting food and beers. Very knowledgeable staff and a great selection of Belgian beers. A fun time to be had.

The good really let this establishment down - very poor and expensive food. Our potatoes were very badly cooked - some pretty much raw and as potatoes were about 90% of the dish, this was terribly disappointing. For almost £20 I do expect something decent. Hopefully this was just a bad day in the kitchen. The staff were lovely and the atmosphere was great.

Met some friends for a catch-up, and we ended up outside the Belgium Monk on a damp Tuesday evening. Surprisingly quiet a few places were closed!! We were welcomed and sat at a table in the bar, ready to order. The barman explained that for food we would need to sit upstairs, we moved and went upstairs. We were given a menu and after 5 mins the waiter took our food order, 2 x muscles and 1 x meatballs, with regards to drink we were not sure what to order, finally we decided and when our drinks came the waiter also provided small shots of the beers we couldn't decide on to taste, which was very nice. Food arrived 15 mins later, there were 3 other tables, food was hot and we were asked if we needed anything else. Service was good and food was tasty.

As one who appreciates Belgium beers, I always make sure to visit the Belgian Monk when I'm in the area. Their beer selection is quite good and the food is excellent. However, on my last visit, the service was just awful. To be honest, it's never been amazing, but this time was even worse. The server looked to have his mind anywhere else but there. Also very rude, which made us feel very unwelcome. To blame his attitude on the fact that their kitchen was very busy isn't acceptable. I hope the service improves to match their menu.

Thank you for a very nice evening (Wed. 19.3.25). Staff, food, drinks and setting all excellent. Second mention: brilliant staff!

A classic PUB, variety of food and very good beer. The atmosphere is captivating. Recommended for a pint and some appetizers.

Friendly service, generous helping of moules frites and delicious Belgian beer. What’s not to like?

Went out with my couple friends last week .everything tasty and staff very helpful.will love to come back again soon Xx

Very poor service tonight. Waited 2 hours for main course which never arrived before leaving and having a Chinese instead. Very disappointed as always been good before.

We’ve been visiting this place for a while and have always had exceptional food, but sadly, our recent experience was a huge disappointment. The quality has gone drastically downhill—potatoes in the tartiflette were undercooked, the lardon was gristly, and the fries were clearly frozen. Such a shame given how good it used to be. When we mentioned this to our server, we were told there had been a change in management and that more changes were coming. As a ‘gesture of goodwill,’ the service charge was removed, which felt like an odd response—why take it away from the team instead of addressing the food issues? We actually asked for the service charge to be added back on and instead requested the uneaten tartiflette be taken off the bill. We weren’t the only ones—another table next to us raised the exact same complaints about their meals. To top it off, when checking our receipt, we noticed a half pint of beer had been added that we never ordered. After seeing another review mentioning the same issue, it’s worth double-checking your bill. Really hoping they turn things around, but based on this visit, we won’t be rushing back.

Went for Sunday Lunch. We had to wait quite a while for our food, however it was excellent when it arrived.

Have not been this disappointed in a meal since my last school dinner which was over 20 years ago. We had been to the theatre and at 6pm on a sunday decided to try the Belgian Monk for a meal. We were seated and waited a good ten minutes for someone to come and take our order. We received our drinks of orange juice and lemonade. These had not been mixed and the juice out of the bottle had not been shaken. We then waited over half an hour for our meals. I had ordered a pork roast, my other half the burger. We felt this was a long wait considering there was only one other table for food and hardly anyone in there. We would not have minded. But my roast came out. The plate was mainly filled with frozen peas and green beans that were cold. I had one carrot and one parsnip which were tasty, but would have been nice to have more. There was no cauliflower cheese. The pork and mash was cold the cabbage boiled to within an inch of it's life and cold. The roast potatoes were so burnt I could not eat them. All of this mess swimming in rubbish bisto gravy. My partners burger was dry, the chips were nice but the onion ring was greasy. Not once did a staff member come over to check if our meal was ok. Yet the table next to us got asked three times as they were happy and a regular. I could not eat most of mine nor could my partner. If we had not been hungry we would have left more. When the server came to finally clear our plates they asked if everything was OK. I said that no it really was disappointing. The server said he apologised and asked if we wanted anything else. I said the bill as we wanted to leave. He went with our plates. The server then began serving another table whilst his colleague did nothing behind the bar. Once he had served them he then went to chat to his colleague behind the bar. After waiting for about ten minutes for the bill I went to the bar and asked to pay. He handed the bill to me. It seemed rather much. I saw that he had had the audacity to automatically add a service charge. I asked why he had added this. He said for service. I asked for this to be removed as I felt I received no service. He removed this but offered no professional curiosity as to why I was an upset customer and how he could improve my experience. He didn't ask me what was wrong with the meal and could not have been less interested so I left very disappointed and angry that I had paid for what I felt to be a really terrible meal and experience. As a footnote the ladies toilets were in a terrible state. The toilet seat in one was hanging loose. There were cigarette butt's and tissue on the floor and stank of urine. I would expect this in a wetherspoons but not in an establishment like this. It's such a shame as I have had prior good experiences here but this was truly terrible and I will not return now. Considering they are charging £18 a roast this is despicable I know children who could produce better. If I could give no stars I would.

We’ve been frequenting the Belgium Monk every time we have visited Norwich in the past six years. We love the vibe, the food, the beer(!) and the staff. Ross has everything under control, multitasking at the bar, serving food, making customers feeling welcome, briefing his colleagues and finding time, even when its busy, to say bye to people as they leave. Also Ryan and Kieran provide great service. We’ll be back! Ray & Stella.

Best selection of Belgian beer and staff who know their beer. Good place for a few drinks, reasonable food menu as well.

Very disappointed went for Sunday lunch some of the mussels were not much bigger than my thumbnail when I asked if they came from Brancaster I was told mostly they come from Scotland or Spain won’t be going there again.

Great beer, great food, good service, reasonable prices

I was very dissatisfied with this pub. We arrived on a Saturday night after booking and the place was almost completely full. They told us that several dishes were not available so we ordered what was left. Then they insisted that we order drinks (they only have Belgian beers, a few of which are on tap and the maximum quantity that can be ordered is 1/2 pint - the price of which is the same as 1 pint in other pubs). After a while they told me that one of the beers ordered was no longer available. We ordered another. Once we ordered drinks they told us that we would have to wait a bit as they had to serve a large (and very noisy - we couldn't talk -) table near us.. Finally the dishes arrived and one was wrong. We sent it back asking for the one we originally ordered. After about ten minutes they told me that the dish ordered (tartiflette espana) was no longer available. No comment. So I chose a tartiflette regular. After another 10 minutes or so they told me that we would have to wait another 10 minutes. I wait patiently for another 20 minutes or so (in the meantime everyone at my table had finished eating and about 1.30 had passed since entering) and then I decide to cancel the order and ask for the bill. Incredibly the bill was wrong because they had marked an extra beer, the one that was not available. No comment. I advise everyone to go to other pubs in the area where, in addition to PAYING a minimum OF ATTENTION TO THE CUSTOMER, they have an acceptable real menu (half the food and beers were not available) and the beers do not cost double.

I was very dissatisfied with this pub. We arrived on a Saturday night after booking and the place was almost completely full. They told us that several dishes were not available so we ordered what was left. Then they insisted that we order drinks (they only have Belgian beers, a few of which are on tap and the maximum quantity that can be ordered is 1/2 pint - the price of which is the same as 1 pint in other pubs). After a while they told me that one of the beers ordered was no longer available. We ordered another. Once we ordered drinks they told us that we would have to wait a bit as they had to serve a large (and very noisy - we couldn't talk -) table near us.. Finally the dishes arrived and one was wrong. We sent it back asking for the one we originally ordered. After about ten minutes they told me that the dish ordered (tartiflette espana) was no longer available. No comment. So I chose a tartiflette regular. After another 10 minutes or so they told me that we would have to wait another 10 minutes. I wait patiently for another 20 minutes or so (in the meantime everyone at my table had finished eating and about 1.30 had passed since entering) and then I decide to cancel the order and ask for the bill. Incredibly the bill was wrong because they had marked an extra beer, the one that was not available. No comment. I advise everyone to go to other pubs in the area where, in addition to PAYING a minimum OF ATTENTION TO THE CUSTOMER, they have an acceptable real menu (half the food and beers were not available) and the beers do not cost double.

Excellent beers. Will return soon to try the food. Really friendly staff that help you choose from the vast number of beers.

Welcoming service. Great food and fabulous beer selection.

My partner and I went here for dinner on Valentines day. Our food was delicious, as were the few beers I tried from their draught menu. For a 3 course set menu the price was fairly reasonable too. We did find ourselves waiting a bit for each course, but thats to be expected on what is probably one of the busiest nights of the year. All staff we met were friendly, and helpful when there was a brief misunderstanding about our order. All in all we had a lovely time, and would definitely go back to try out the regular menu (and more of the beers)!

A usual favourite spot, this missed the mark for valentines which I suspect is from overwhelming themselves and changing up their formula in efforts to likely clean up financially. Maybe times are tough for them. Tables lacking cutlery and being wiped down as new customers are about to sit. Limited 3 course menu that you wasn’t made aware of when booking (£50 a head). Had to order every course up front. Burnt pastry on starter sent back, relatively cold mash on the main and slow on the drinks service too. Really really disappointed and clearly same vibe from other couples as I saw people leaving before eating, apologies from staff being heard and constantly seeking out staff as something needed or not right.

Visit one. Absolute gem of a place with a great range of Belgian beers and really good food. Loved our three hours there just experiencing the beer, cosiness and general vibe. Visit two. Disappointing. Welcome from staff as we took our table was good, assuring us of a warm evening. One hour and three minutes later they returned to tell us our table was needed in 15 minutes. We had reserved a table for two, day after Valentine's, for 19.15. being politely told time was up at 20.18 was a shock. The service was fast, we felt rushed and I didn't bother finishing my beer.

Booked months ahead for Valentine’s Day. Arranged babysitter and transport all set. Well we thought arrived just before 7 for 7pm table waited ages at reception to shown a table by the front door and toilets not really what we had in mind for valentines so waited for another table to become free upstairs. Without going into all the details quite frankly they couldn’t organise a drink in a pub so gave the food a miss and walked out and we were not the first to walk out that night and probably not the last it’s the perfect setting for Gordon Ramsay to step in save before it’s boarded up. Norwich is a small place once you get a bad name your done so I would listen to the feedback before it’s too late.

Unfortunately we had a bad experience here for Valentines 2025. We used to visit the place regularly when we lived in Norwich 4ish year ago but it just isn’t the same. Firstly, we booked a table for 8, and we’re not seated until 8:40. A couple who had a reservation for 8.30 got seated before us and only when we decided to raise this did we then get seated. While at the bar for 40 minutes we tried to engage with the barman and were met with a cold and frosty reception. The team didn’t seem as knowledgeable as we remember about the beers on offer and it didn’t have the homey touch we were used to. Once we finally got seated we were met with a set menu we knew nothing about, which had limited options and no choice to only opt for 2 courses instead of 3. When we ordered we were told the steak could only be cooked either medium or rare, and not medium rare. We were also told we had to order all three courses straight away. As the meal progressed, for two out of the three courses we were not given cutlery, and the lack of staff attentiveness was noticeable. The food was okay, nothing special but not terrible. The fondue desert felt half hearted with a few bits of fruit,a few Haribo sweets and a flump. We paid the bill, but will not be returning or recommending to friends who visit Norwich in the future. It felt disappointing compared to what this place used to be. Perhaps you can forgive the busy valentines night, and put some misgivings down to that, however it felt like the place was falling apart at the seams. Talking to surrounding tables, and seeing other reviews from the evening, it seems our experience was not an isolated incident. I’d sooner travel to Bruges than return here.

Lovely pub, excellent Cherry Beer on offer, good food, great staff, just a bit too dark upstairs for dining.

Great mussel dishes in particular the rest of the menu is very good. a must try is the cherry beer.

Mussels and beer all varieties available

Always nice food, nice beer and good service.

Me and my sister went for a Sunday lunch here however when we arrived staff completely ignored us. We found out own table. The staff were catering to other tables but then completely blanked us. I went to get a menu and then was met with a passive aggressive comment about asking for a menu. We then sat down for 15minutes and the staff were free but ignoring us. We decide to leave but definitely won't be coming back here again. It was really rude and unnecessary and I'm not really sure why we weer ignored and treated so badly. We heard very good things about this place and so was very dissapointed.

Great Belgian beers. Nice atmosphere.

Love the Bush Amber at 12% z delicious

If you're a fan of Belgian beer and food, The Belgian Monk is an absolute must-visit! This gem offers one of the best dining and drinking experiences I've had outside of Belgium itself. Whether you're a seasoned lover of Belgian cuisine or a newcomer looking to try something special, this place won't disappoint. First, let’s talk about the beer selection. It’s genuinely incredible. The variety of Belgian beers on offer is vast, and the quality is on par with what you’d find in Brussels or Bruges. Their Kriek Terdolen cherry beer is absolutely sublime—perfectly balanced, fruity but not overly sweet, and refreshing in every sip. They also have a range of other beers, from rich Trappist ales to lighter wheat beers. The depth of flavor in every glass is a testament to their dedication to authentic Belgian brewing traditions. Each beer is served in its traditional glassware, which adds to the authenticity of the experience. Now, onto the food. The menu is filled with Belgian classics, and everything we tried was cooked to perfection. The highlight for me was the moules (mussels)—absolutely fantastic! They offer several preparation styles, and I tried the traditional garlic and white wine sauce, which was so flavorful I ended up dipping the complimentary bread to soak up every last drop. The portion sizes are generous, and the mussels themselves were fresh, tender, and delicious. You’d think you were eating them right by the Belgian coast! The other food offerings are just as impressive. Their range of dishes includes authentic Belgian specialties that are rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. The accompanying sides and sauces are all thoughtfully crafted to complement the main dishes. It's clear the chefs know their craft and are passionate about delivering the best. The atmosphere at The Belgian Monk deserves a mention too. The interior has a warm and cozy vibe, reminiscent of a traditional Belgian brasserie. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help you navigate the menu or recommend a beer pairing. It’s the kind of place where you can relax, take your time, and savor every bite and sip. In short, The Belgian Monk brings an authentic slice of Belgium to town. Whether you're here for the beers, the food, or the full experience, you'll leave with a smile and the kind of satisfaction that only exceptional hospitality and quality can bring. I can’t recommend it enough! If you’re craving great Belgian beer and food, this is the place to be.

I’m guessing there’s little point in placing this review as none of the others, in a similar vein, have been acknowledged, which to me is further evidence of the arrogance of the management. However, hopefully, I can help to avoid disappointment for other potential patrons. This place is a disgrace. It’s lucky enough to be one of only two pubs featured in the Norwich Mystery Guide tour which I bought as a Christmas present for our family. As a result you’d expect maybe a discount off food and drinks or at the very least some courtesy. We were treated to neither. We were relieved when we reached the Belgian Monk as my husband has mobility issues and was in considerable pain by that point. There were no seats available downstairs so, with some difficulty, we made our way upstairs where, given that it was early afternoon, only about half the tables were taken, and sat down to order 4 drinks and some bar snacks only to be told that we couldn’t sit there without ordering a meal. Having advised him of my husband’s health issue, the member of staff who moved us on, advised us that his colleague downstairs would sort something out for us. We asked at the bar downstairs and the girl we spoke to glibly repeated that there were no seats available to us. We asked again if we could sit upstairs briefly instead and have some drinks to give my husband a rest but she said no. I told her we’d been doing the mystery tour which gives their pub a plug but that didn’t help at all. In fact a man behind the bar, whom I took to be the manager, took over to repeat, from a distance, that there were no seats downstairs and that we weren’t allowed to sit upstairs, even briefly, without ordering a meal. He didn’t even bother to come and speak to me directly or even to look at me. It’s a long time since I experienced customer service as abysmal as this. In my opinion this pub does not deserve to feature in any guide to Norwich. It’s a disgrace to the city. In fact the treatment we received felt to me to be quite discriminatory as I’d made it clear that my husband needed to sit down due to the pain he was in, something which the manager would have seen for himself had he paid the slightest attention to my request. I hope Mystery Tours take note and stop featuring the Belgian Monk in its booklets.

Stopped for a drink as it was advertised as a ‘beer stop’ in a Norwich mystery adventure book. The bar was busy but the restaurant had plenty of empty tables however we were told that my disabled father and pregnant partner were not allowed to sit there for a quick drink. The genntleman behind the bar took great glee in enforcing this rule and we were informed that we should ‘just leave a review then’ so here you go, thanks for a charming stop!!

Great service considering the large group. Staff went above and beyond.

I have had so many recent visits to The Belgian Monk and I have to say that the food and hospitality are second to none. Always a warm welcome and I cannot fault our welcoming the team have been. Looking forward to my next visit very soon.

A great place to start an evening, staff alway helpfull and cheery . The tall bar man with an accent is exceptionally helpfull and funny which puts you in a great frame of mind to make the evening a great time all round

Friendly knowledgeable service. Great advice on beers and wines. Tartiflette is a must but will fill you up. First ate mussels here 10 years ago. Clive is one of my top 3-4 front of house/management to ever work in Norwich. Courteous and committed to service and even when human errors happen always correcting them to keep clientele happy, I've witnessed that in several places he's worked over 15 years. The human touch.

Lovely food but my favourite remains the Cherry beer 😇❤️

Visited yesterday lunchtime with friends, service was not good, the waitress had no knowledge of the beers or wine. Worst of all my husband's mussels were served warm but my friends were stone cold, completely uncooked. How can a 'chef' send out a dish like this or a waitress not notice that it is not even hot! Plus we ordered a side of broccoli to go with the two tartiflettes - we were served yet another plate of potatoes with cauliflower, apparently broccoli was not available so this was their best substitute without asking us!!!! We will not be returning.

Went happily cos recommended by friends. Had a bit of hiccup with mussels ( not open enough). Just want to say the whole situation was very nicely taken care of. I have many years of experience in hospitality and was well impressed! Well done Belgiam Monk...

Went in to try the cherry beer 🍺 which was actually very nice. Overall atmosphere from bar staff wasn’t great unfortunately-There was a particular older man who was quite abrupt and rude to customers - I know you can get quite a lot of rowdy customers especially on a Friday evening but there was no need to take that out on sober people. Beer garden could use some TLC tables are wonky and a bit out of date

What a great place, can't recommend highly enough. Fantastic range of beers, including some gluten free and fruit beers, and the food was delectable. The wild boar sausage was good, but if you're in the area you should stop in and try the tartiflette! It's the only place I've ever seen tartiflette in the UK, and they really do it justice. The pub is great, a really nice venue, and the staff were so friendly and helpful. I will be back!

It was atrocious we'd booked a table and subsequently found out that there was missing items on both the food and beer menus. After waiting for an hour was told that the food would be possibly another 15 minutes we walked out. And I for one will never enter the premises again.

Great bar in the city, always a brilliant selection of Belgian beers, lovely service for the young lady whose name I didn't catch.

A cold day you have to drink outside half the heaters not working , Not allowed to drink at the bar or sit inside without ordering food

I wouldn’t call this a pub or ale house as we were turned away as we weren’t eating, not even able to stand and have a drink at the bar. Seems to operate more as a restaurant.

Excellent pre Christmas 'Sunday Roast', great beers, very knowledgeable staff!

Really enjoyed this Pub/Restaurant. The service is excellent, very friendly, and the food is delicious. The beer is traditional Belgium beer, so watch out for the alcohol content, it packs a punch. The decor is also very traditionally Belgian. Will definitely return.

Our booking was cancelled with no contact. I have just returned home to search for an email I was sent regarding my booking today dated 21.12.2024 at 1.15pm which was cancelled! I found the email in my spam folder it had NO SUBJECT, the information in the email is very limited no detail with no sign off information or contact number to call you. This seems a simple case of get an email sent you've done your bit! I received a text message from Open table on 20.12.2024 asking me to confirm my booking and that we were still attending which I did. I then received confirmation that I was all set to go and the Belgian Monk were updated we were attending. We arrived at 13.05 to be told that our booking was cancelled due to a party of 50 being booked in and you no longer could accommodate us. This booking was made on the 6th December, I'm sure you were aware if you had a booking of 50 people at the time of my booking. Considering you had not heard from me, surely this would alert you to contact me, you had my contact details, why was I not given the curtesy of a telephone call or a text message? You use a booking system which confirms by text message, adds it to your diary and then contacts you the day before to confirm you are still attending. This seems a simple case of you have bumped us to accommodate a larger booking. You had no consideration as to how this would impact our day and if this was a specific occasion we were celebrating. This is very unprofessional and I will not return to the Belgian Monk or recommend you to anyone. I look forward to your comments. copy of their email On Thursday 19 December 2024 at 14:47:52 GMT, The Belgian Monk Bookings wrote: Good afternoon please could you give the pub a call in regards to your booking thank you

Got told to F off on phone as too busy to discuss a booking for the next day. Horrifically unprofessional and then made the meal awkward by bringing out food for people not able to make it despite being told pointless to do so

Cancel your booking without letting know. Booked our table in 6th December. For the 21st December we got bumped for a party of 50! Showed up to be told our table was cancelled. Unprofessional

I came here with some friend from work and what a great experience, we’ve was very friendly, and the food and drink was amazing! I had the gravlax, mussels and a cherry beer and it was beautiful! Worth a visit to this unique building and menu

We came a few weeks ago had pork belly which was disappointing couldn't cut the crackling and was worried trying to eat it would damage teeth. We decided to visit again and try the pork belly again sadly they had no pork belly available. So picked another dish. It took a while to get our drinks , food took a while to arrive when it did the onion rings were missing from the burger it also took a while to get the bill. It seemed like the people downstairs didn't matter and the staff were only focused on the Christmas party upstairs. To say the whole experience was disappointing is putting it lightly. Really was not impressed and we won't be going back anytime soon. In general food and staff were really poor. One lady in particular was rude , abrupt and not hospitable. Wouldn't recommend going here. Has really gone down hill recently.

I had a query with the bill which the waiter had to talk to the manager about, who when I spoke to was very rude. it seems like the same person mentioned in previous reviews. I should have paid more attention to previous reviews. Food was good but there are better places to eat and with far better customer service.

I have been there a few times. They have a very nice selection of beers. The food is decent, they have limited vegetarian options. I have tried the Français tartiflette. That was nice. I have also tried a few other things including the moules, that was an interesting experience. I think it is worth a visit.

Very (extremely) busy pub/restaurant/pub. Glad we booked as they were turning customers away for drinks and food. Atmosphere at first felt stressed as staff were being snappy. Calmed down as the evening went on. Amazing selection of beers. And the food was very tasty.

Not sure where to start but it was a very disappointing experience. The food took ages to arrive , and when it did the chicken schnitzel had to be sent back because it was RAW! Mistakes can happen sure, but this level of mistake for a professional kitchen is difficult to forgive. Although we were partially compensated with a free round of drinks, overall the food was disappointing. The burgers were dry, the meat platter utterly tasteless and lacking in imagination, the tartiflett the least authentic I've ever seen, and mussels swimming in an ocean of wishy washy liquid.

We had lunch at this restaurant recently, and unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience. The wait for our food was unbearably long, and not a single waiter bothered to apologise or check on us during the delay. When the food finally arrived, it was nothing special for the price. On top of that, the restaurant itself feels outdated and neglected. The decor is old and unappealing, which only added to the overall unpleasant atmosphere. It’s clear this place hasn’t been modernized in a long time. Definitely not a spot we’ll be visiting again.

Staff could do with some lessons in customer service. Paid a deposit before attending, which they were unable to find a record of and therefore not taken off the bill. Showed payment on online banking, which clearly stated the amount in question and was told ‘I’ll see what I can do’. Not the answer we were looking for…. Then got questioned by another member of staff (rude woman, blonde hair in her 50s) in an accusatory way, who said we couldn’t have paid the deposit based on their dates. Was shown the bank statement again, then told us her colleague had told her the wrong dates. No apology at all. Like we were being held hostage at the end, whilst we waited for them to see if the bill could be reduced to reflect the deposit. Took forever! It’s a shame as up until that point the other staff had been very helpful and they ruined it at the end. Food was nice, but took an hour to arrive. Not as good as it used to be. Obviously asked to remove the 12.5% service charge and was told ‘yeah, well we are busy tonight’…..what, too busy to be polite?!

Just popped in for a cherry beer , very nice 👌 😋

Great atmosphere, Great authentic Belgium food and GREAT Belgium beer and a good choice of draft and bottled - Dave was a great server with a smile on his face and most helpful … Will make sure to visit again next time I am in Norwich 👍

A great range of Belgian beers, excellent food, ambience, and friendly staff.

Had a very hearty meal and a couple of lovely beers,will most definitely be returning soon hopefully.

Great place, their selection of stouts is unlike anywhere else, all very delicious, would love to sample every one!

To walk in and the manager to say only bookings and we make anoth money anyway is to say we dont need your custom...used this pub for years...never again off to st andrews bar...nice welcome friendly...unlike your pub..or restaurant...hope you make it good luck..

Fantastic food and beers - lovely place for lunch.

Nice pub with good choose of nice Belgium beer and food

Excellent range of beer. You should open a bar, maybe a cellar bar I don't want to eat with my beer.

Stumbled across this gem of a pub on our weekend away. Fantastic selection of Belgian beers all served in beautiful glasses. Lovely warm atmosphere and the wonderful South African proprietor made us feel so welcome. A definite hit for us and we will be back to sample the next few beers on the list!

Been a long term customer of Belgian Monk and this time (November 2024) sadly received awful service. Waiter was brusque, seemed upset to be here, refused dessert as they had another table coming (7 empty tables at the time- see pic) . Shame as food was not bad (although ironically took ages to come!)

Great beer .. food.. disappointing

An elderly lady alone - I used to live in Belgium so I was happy to find the restaurant and they made me feel very at home and comfortable. Food and beer/wine was excellent! Staff exemplary. Thank you so much.

Excellent selection of beers in a beautiful historic building

Last couple have been truly dire, I'll start with most recently, our table for 2 was seated right by the permanently open front door which is also the most high traffic area on a crossroads of the entrance\bar\outdoor seating\toilets and stairs, so constantly interrupted by varying degrees of traffic and unable to interact with my partner sat opposite me, then comes the food... Tough raw pork belly in a child's portion that was genuinely bleeding when I cut into it... Will admit that the waiter was apologetic and my meal was removed from the bill and replaced with a cooked version, being said it wasn't great and I felt ill all evening thereafter. Secondly, hearing the staff audibly snorting after every sentence and in and out the toilets makes for an uncomfortable atmosphere, and the previous visit our waiter was clearly still pissed from the night before, laughed in our faces whilst taking our order and had to ask what we wanted several times in the same interaction... Shame to write this review as I've been a loyal customer for years now but have to be honest on this one.

Lovely interior and great selection of beer. However I left feeling very underwhelmed with the food and service. I had been looking forward to trying out this place for a while but not sure what the hype is. Overpriced food for small portions. And beer is overpriced at average of £5 for a half pint. Left feeling hungry but didn't want to pay any more for dessert.

Amazing beers, very friendly and knowledgeable staff, thank you!

Great simple food, great beer and convivial atmosphere. Chapeau!

Great mussels, plus a vast variety of beers. excellent lunchtime.

Awful place don't bother trying it

I tried three excellent beers from the huge range. I hope to return soon to try some more and perhaps have a meal as well next time I am in Norwich.

Loads of choice both for the food and drinks is a great place to visit gir just a drink especially a beer so many to choose from and got a meal

Superb food, a fine range of beers and very friendly and attentive staff, a superb experience!

My friends and I, all in our 40s and longstanding patrons of The Belgian Monk, had a deeply upsetting experience last night. Within moments of our arrival, the owner baselessly accused one of my friends of being on drugs, refusing us service and effectively throwing us out. We are not, nor do we resemble, the sort of people who engage in such activities. After years of patronage and thousands spent, this unfounded accusation was both shocking and insulting. We will not be returning and strongly advise others to reconsider their support for an establishment where the owner displays such irrational and disrespectful behavior.

Nice beers but VERY expensive. They don't serve pints, only halves, and at £4.55 for half a draught white beer it's ridiculous. Barman was very condescending to the customers.

My friends and I, all in our 40s and longstanding patrons of The Belgian Monk, had a deeply upsetting experience last night. Within moments of our arrival, the owner baselessly accused one of my friends of being on drugs, refusing us service and effectively throwing us out. We are not, nor do we resemble, the sort of people who engage in such activities. After years of patronage and thousands spent, this unfounded accusation was both shocking and insulting. We will not be returning and strongly advise others to reconsider their support for an establishment where the owner displays such irrational and disrespectful behavior.

Great atmosphere and good service. Food was delicious but one of our party had liver and it was over cooked, tough and dry. All the other meals were lovely. Disappointed that plastic single portions of UHT milk were served with the coffee and the hot chocolate was served in a coffee cup not a mug as you would expect. Apart from this it was a lovely meal, love how the restaurant converts to a pub after service, keeps the atmosphere although the decor is looking a little tired.

We are all friends who have connections to this Fine City and decided to meet up at the Belgian Monk. We had to pay a deposit and pre order (8 of us) which seemed a bit odd but hee ho.. Staff were friendly and helpful but food was mediocre to say the least. The chicken seemed to have been cooked hours ago, kept under IR lamps but still cool and very dried out. We mentioned it to a staff member as we left who, to be fair, said we should have mentioned it at the time - (true but we are British!) as they'd have taken it off the bill. Even better, might be not to serve almost inedible food. Isn't that part of a chef's job?

Me and the wife where first time visitors to this place and will be the last, and we there with friends, and found the food rather bland and tasteless, presentation was nothing special at all, staff abrupt !

Great selection of Belgian beers

Great place for Belgium beer funnily enough 😁. Big selection of bottled beers.

Fantastic food and choice of beers.

Unique to Norwich. Always fantastic mussels- the excitement of the huge mussel pots adds theatre and the Belgium beer menu is out of this world. Hosting and service exceptional.

Stopped here for a couple of drinks, really good variety of beers and cider, can definitely recommend the elderflower cider. Staff were very friendly and talkative. The atmosphere of the pub makes you feel like you’re on holiday, however when you leave sadly you are still in norwich

Great little pub, wasn't expecting to walk into such an amazing little place. Staff were attentive and sociable and gave great recommendations on drinks. All the beers were of Belgian origin and although we didn't eat, the food on other people's plates and the menu looked amazing. You forget where you are until you leave the pub! Would 100% recommend this pub.

Had no food but beer garden good atmosphere a buzz..thriving pub good range of drinks..favourite being the cherry beer..a hidden gem of norwich...

Great choice of beer however I’ve been here three times and each time found the bar staff to be rude and unwelcoming. Felt very uncomfortable and not valued so won’t be back.

Cannot praise this highly enough. Food, service, ambience - all amazing. Added to which, tremendous value for money. The staff were incredibly kind, and extremely knowledgeable about their range of beers, giving us really helpful suggestions of which ones to try.