Although kosher restaurants abound in nearby Antwerp (45 minutes by train from Brussels), there are three kosher restaurants in the Belgian capital itself, near its center. Pleasing the observant traveler with food prepared under the supervision of a rabbi, these restaurants offer a variety of sophisticated food, fine kosher wines, and culinary treats.
Although Pilpel Restaurant is situated in a shopping mall, it is located in Ukkel, an affluent neighborhood minutes away from downtown Brussels to the south. Its name means "pepper" in Hebrew. Besides Jewish specialties, it offers grilled meat and Mediterranean dishes. Here you can eat a traditional Israeli vegetable salad, falafel, pita sandwiches, or Moroccan cigars made of spicy meat in filo pastry. Specialties include fish, grilled meats skewered or minced, and foie gras. Pilpel has a kosher wine selection to heighten the experience of your lamb cutlets, sausages, or kebabs.
Unique to Pilpel is the Glatt Kosher Lamehadrin Mini-Market located next to the restaurant. All meat sold here conforms to Jewish dietary law. Here you can order a takeaway Shabbat menu, or purchase pastries and a large assortment of hot and cold foods.
Pilpel
Avenue De Fre 82
1180 Brussels, Belgium
011-32-2-374-5300
pilpel.be
Food at Balthazar has a distinctive Pacific Rim flavor, with a dinner menu that ranges from tropical meals to pasta dishes. Considered a meat kosher restaurant, Balthazar is a favorite lunchtime haunt for Eurocrats. It is located two miles east of the center of Brussels. The Kashrut level of this restaurant, as defined by Jewish dietary laws, is "glatt," which is a term stricter than “kosher.” It means the cattle whose meat is used in this restaurant are subject to a post-mortem examination and declared “glatt,” or free from any adhesions in their lungs. Here, all food served is kosher and under the rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Machzikei Haddas.
Balthazar
Rue Archimède 63
1000 Brussels, Belgium
011-32-2-742-0600
kosherclublebalthazar.com
The menu of the kosher restaurant Da Bruno lists Italian and Mediterranean specialties. Salads, pastas, pizzas, and fish follow a large assortment of antipasti such as smoked salmon with basil, mixed peppers or mushrooms in olive oil, and fried or grilled eggplant. Da Bruno is located in the area of Brussels known as Etterbeek east of downtown, near Leopold Park and the War History Museum.
Da Bruno
Rue Froissart 43 A
1040 Brussels, Belgium
011-32-2-280-1690
dabrunorestokosher.com
