Where in Brighton can you choose from 115 different beers, including one served in a coconut shell? “Belgian beers are made naturally,” says owner Gary Busshe, who takes the restaurant’s beer as seriously as the food. “There are no additives, so it’s very difficult to get a hangover.”

Surely this can only be a good thing, as you’ll want to sample all the varieties on sale, including raspberry, cherry, coconut, blonde and dark beers.

The food is equally worth trying. As Gary says: “Belgian food is similar to French but tastier. People say Belgian food is the best tasting but also the most underrated.”

With its changing menu, starters might include deep-fried whitebait (£4.95) and Scotch smoked salmon served with capers and lemon (£5.50), while mains might typically include carbonade flamande – a sweet and sour beef braised in Belgian beer and served with stoemp (Belgian mash) and vegetables (£9.95, or £10.95 with stilton); tarragon and cream chicken served with salad, frites and dipping sauces (£15.50); and wild boar and beer sausage served with stoemp, tomatoes and mustard sauce (£8.95).

There are delicious options for vegetarians, too, including the brie and mushroom crepe served with frites and salad (£8.95). Café Belge also specialises in mussels and offers 50 different styles, from blue cheese and wine, to Thai spices and Japanese sauces. You can also order a plate of mussels, which are grilled, half open and served in their shells with a range of toppings.

The specials board might typically include avocado, strawberry and prawn tower (£6.50) for starters, and sirloin on the bone (£19.95) as a main.

Delicious traditional Belgian desserts include the chocolate mousse (£5.50); the Dame Blanche (vanilla ice cream served with whipped chantilly and hot chocolate sauce, £5.50); and Toblerone fondue, served with mallow and fruit dips (£6.50, or £10 to share).

There’s a lighter lunch menu (served Monday to Friday, 11am until 3pm, and 11am until 4pm at the weekends), which features a range of salads, baguettes and fish dishes, including the deli fisherman’s plate (smoked salmon, herring, dill, anchovy, prawns and crab, £6.95). Omelette of the day is also ideal for a lunchtime pit-stop.

Alongside the fantastic range of Belgian beers, there are French and Spanish wines, starting at £4.50 per glass, plus a selection of Belgian schnapps, including apple, cherry, vanilla, hazelnut and melon flavours (£2.50 per shot).

There are also alcoholic coffees and champagne to choose from – and don’t forget the beer cocktails at £7 each, which include such intriguing combinations as coconut beer with Malibu and lemonade, and Crystal Pils and CocaCola.

Party menus are available for large groups and children under 12 can order from a selection of smaller dishes at just £3 a go.