The Thousands

Every Wednesday eve, on a cobbled laneway commonly trod by balding suits and camera-toting tourists, there’s a clandestine gathering of thrifty mollusc-lovers, getting their fill of tasty moules-frites for half the going price. This is a little-publicised affair that the unsuspecting Belgian Beer Cafe patron could risk missing, as you won’t get a friendly reminder on arrival. It’s business as usual for cunning wait staff, apart from the vagabonds who greet you with an emphatic ‘perhaps you would like some… MUSSELS?’ – cue creepy wide-eyed, knowing stare/exaggerated wink.

**The mussels come in traditional Belgian kilo pots, with a choice of nine delicious flavours, a side of hand-cut chips and homemade mayonaise. Cutlery-free and merrily messy, the fun’s in using your mussel-shell pincers Dr Zoidberg style and making leaning tower of pisa empty-mussel-shell sculptures. Booking ahead is very much advised.