Patrick�s Belgian Restaurant & Caf�.   This well established restaurant has been running for 11 years under the guiding hand of owner, Patrick; who has an amazing background history that would fill this page. In brief, he was a Para Commando and professional boxer in his early days and was three times Professional Belgian Boxing Champion. One could call him �Pattaya�s Muscles from Brussels�; however, Patrick �Flying Frog� Van Den Berghe hails from the beautiful historical city of Ghent in Belgium.

Talking of �muscles�, it was Friday and that meant that it was Mussels and Fries night.  Some evenings at the restaurant are themed with a different Food Special, together with the otherwise extensive menu that includes many delicious authentic Flemish dishes such as Flemish Pea Soup, Belgian Beef Stew and Gentse Waterzooi, a tasty Flemish Chicken casserole.  There are also a very good selection of reasonably priced snacks, salads, meat, fish, steaks and Thai dishes available throughout the day.

The decor inside this friendly and comfortable air conditioned restaurant is very Flemish in character, one would be excused the illusion that one was in Belgium itself.  It seats 60 customers inside and outside at the cozy enclosed Terrace area. The wooden ceiling inside is gabled and the walls are decorated with bronze plates and a wealth of photographs of Patrick and his paragliding adventures together with many friends and celebrities.

Belgian restaurants have a reputation for serving huge helpings of food and Patrick�s is no exception.  His plates are very generously filled with large portions of food that will satisfy the hungriest of
customers.

After a relaxing glass of red wine, we sampled the Moules and Frites special.  A mountain of fresh clean mussels that had been marinated in white wine and cooked with a selection of vegetables and a traditional Belgian accompaniment bowl of great tasting Belgian Fries.  The plump mussels tasted absolutely delicious as was the wine sauce marinade that one dipped pieces of bread in to savour the full flavour of this wonderful recipe.  This was followed by a portion of superb Chateaubriand steak, that was so tender one could literally cut it with a spoon.  This was accompanied by a very good selection of homemade sauces, a favourite of which was the Be้arnaise sauce.  After this we sampled two other traditional Flemish recipes; being Rabbit Stew, succulent rabbit pieces cooked with prunes, vegetables and dark beer. The last main dish we sampled was a delicious Tenderloin Pork Fillet with a mushroom cream sauce and homemade potato croquettes.

After a small respite we then tackled a selection of desserts that Patrick�s Belgian Restaurant has to tempt one with.  There was a wonderfully light textured Crepe Suzette with vanilla ice cream, great tasting Profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream and smothered with a rich dark Belgian chocolate sauce and finally a fantastic melt in the mouth velvety smooth Belgian Chocolate Mousse.  We finished this excellent meal with a Belgian coffee specialty; coffee, Cointreau and something secret.   If you want a really great eating out experience at a very affordable price then go along to Patrick�s Belgian Restaurant.  Open from 12.00am until 11.00pm.  Telephone: 0-3872-0300.