Author: trudi_bruges

#219 Lunch at the beach promenade: Toi, moi et la mer, Ostend

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restaurant review #219 – Toi, Moi et la Mer is a traditional restaurant on the beach promenade in Ostend. The restaurant serves mainly dishes with fish. I had already asked several months ago whether they would be prepared to serve a vegan menu, and was told that is possible, if one asks it two days in advance. So we did! This review is from a visit a couple of months ago, in the Fall of 2018. Toi, Moi et la Mer is located on the beach promenade of Ostend, not so far from the Casino Kursaal. When we arrived, we were the first for lunch. But afterwards more and more people came in for lunch. This is what we were served. as a small appetizer, a little dish with Swissh Chard and red beet then another small appetizer followed: a mousse from chervil, carrot and scorzonera the entree was falafel, scorzonera crips and beet carpacio as a main dish we were served a homemade lentil burger, with haricots salad mix and quinoa The falafel beet …

#218 Two vegan pizzas from Domino’s, Bruges

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restaurant review #218 – Domino’s is part of an international pizza chain. There are also several locations in Belgium. The Domino’s in Bruges is located just outside the train station. Domino’s is not a restaurant for elaborate dining, but more a take away place (there are a handful of seating places, and also a small terrace outfront). Domino’s also offers delivery in the Bruges area. Since 2018, Domino’s has two vegan pizzas standardly available: the pizza margaritha (12€) and the vegan spicy (13€). The pizzas were nice, but with a soft chewy crust though. They are made on the same counter as the non vegan pizzas, so if you are allergic, I think there might be cross contamination. Domino’s Brugge, location Stationsplein 8 8000 Brugge 050/300.315 website: https://www.dominos.be/nl/winkel/be-brugge-31196 Looking for restaurants? See my lists of restaurants where vegans are welcome in the menu section of The Bruges vegan! List restaurants in Bruges and outside  Bruges.

#217 Ethiopian lunch at Kokob, Brussels

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restaurant review #217- Kokob is an Ethiopian restaurant in the city center of Brussels. I have seen it mentioned on social media several times over the years, as a place where vegans are welcome. We were here for lunch on a Sunday, and were greeted warmly. Kokob has a very cosy interior. I loved the artwork on the wall, which was from ARI Graphic art. Chairs were rather uncomfortable though. There are several vegetarian dishes mentioned seperatedly on the menu. We specified that we wanted vegan (no dairy, no eggs, etc) and that was said to be no problem. The waiter sounded very reassuring. The waiter suggested a mixed platter, with a selection of 6 dishes, at 26€ per person, and this is what we had. We were served a small appetizer with lentils as an amuse gueule. To me, this tasted a bit monotone. Soon afterwards, our main dish was about to be served. As the waiter wanted to put the large plate on our table, he noticed it was not all vegan (with …

Fancy a vegan pancake (or two, or ..)? LEO pancakes, Louvain

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LEO pancakes is a coffee/lunch house in the city center of Leuven. And as the name suggests: they serve pancakes! We were here a couple of months ago, in the Fall of 2018. It was a nice sunny afternoon, and we could sit outside (small terrace in front). The menu mainly consists of pancakes, and a handful of lunch options (one vegan bagel available). Vegan options are clearly labelled. We had the Chocolate drops pancake (8€) and the Fruit circle pancake (9€) and some tea and lemonade. Unfortunately it took a very long while for our pancakes to be served (more than half an hour), which was a real bummer. Especially since the outdoor chairs are not really comfortable. The pancakes eventually came, and they were great! Loved it! Huge portions and as we already had lunch shortly before, we could not finish all of it. Note: Interior is wheelchair accessible (ramp to go in – didn’t see an accessible toilet though). LEO Pancakes, location Mechelsestraat 45 3000 Leuven 0484/46.04.66 no website facebookpage: https://www.facebook.com/LEOpancakesleuven/  

#216 Vegan burger and croque at Sweet Nuts, Kortrijk

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restaurant review #216 – Sweet nuts is a combo of restaurant/lunch place and organic shop (mainly food and body and care products). Well, actually it WAS. A couple of weeks after our visit. Sweet nuts announced its closure (January 2019). I’m posting the review anyway (even if it is only for archival reasons). We were here for lunch during the Christmas holidays. Vegan options are indicated with a label on the menu. As far as we could tell, there were only 3 vegan options available: the vegan burger, a vegan quiche and a vegan croque (toastie) which we had seen noted on the chalkboard in the back. We were already seated a while, but nobody came to take our order. We went to ask at the counter whether we had to order there, but got a rather annoyed reply (yes, I will come in a minute!) The young lady serving us was a bit grumpy. When we ordered the vegan croque she seemed to have no idea. We said it was indicated on the chalkboard and …

#215 Two vegan pizzas at Otomat, Bruges

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restaurant review #215 – Otomat is part of a chain of restaurants in Belgium. The one in Bruges opened in the Summer of 2018. It is in the city center, on the Simon Stevin square. We were here a couple of weeks ago for lunch, in the Fall of 2018. Otomat has two vegan pizzas standardly available, each 13,9€. One with rucola and cauliflower (mega Vega), the other with yofu espuma (Las Vega), which is more spicy. So our choice was easily made! We also ordered a salad on the side (ask without the dressing). The pizzas were nice, but if you have a huge appetite this will not be filling. It would also be nice to have some vegan minced meat on the pizza, or tofu, or seitan on top, to add some more bite. It was good for a light lunch though. It’s a pity that none of the salads or appetizers is standardly vegan (you can ask a salad without the dressing, which we did). Ground level at Otomat Brugge is accessible, …

A visit to zero waste shop Refill, Oudenburg

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shop review #57 – Refill is a new zero waste shop in Oudenburg (close to Ostend). I was here with a friend a couple of weeks ago. Refill has a large collection of dispensers with nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and other bulk products. Also products like agave and cleaning products to refill. So bring your own boxes and bottles to fill! Also some vegan products in the fridge (burgers). Refill also sells vegan cake and muffins, and vegan labelled candy. I bought some nuts and vegan candy. First you have to weigh your container at the counter, label it, then fill it up, so the weight of the container isn’t included in the price. Also bought chocolate cake and a berry muffin. Very nice. Refill is a bright and modern shop. Everything seemed newely renovated. Pity it is not accessible though (several large steps to get in). Friendly lady at the counter. Refill is definitely a great addition to Oudenburg! Refill, location Hoogstraat 12, 8460 Oudenburg 0496 86 06 14 website: https://www.refilloudenburg.be/ See the list of shops, on The …

#214 Vegan lunch at Yak Tibetan restaurant, Ostend

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restaurant review #214 – Yak is a tibetan restaurant in Ostend, on the beach promenade, not far from the Casino Kursaal. In 2018, the name changed from Snow Tearoom to Yak Tibetan restaurant (I’m guessing new owners?). With no website and no facebookpage, it was hard to find any info about this place. We had already wanted to go previously, to arrive there and find out that it is closed on Tuesday (see Winter opening hours, sheet on front porch). We were on a Sunday last Winter, and besides a couple of casual visitors drinking a beer on the terrace, we were the only visitors for lunch. The menu has vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections. About half of the vegetarian dishes seem vegan (others are with butter sauce or with the use of dairy in curry). I was a bit anxious about having to ask and explain ‘vegan’ (no dairy no eggs), but the young lady serving us seemed to understand – in a mixture of Flemish and English. We had some springrolls and momos as an …

#213 The Dutch weedburger at Life Bar, Louvain

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restaurant review #213 – Life Bar is an all vegan lunch restaurant in the city center of Leuven (near Brussels). Not so far from the central market square. We visited Life Bar for lunch a couple of weeks ago, in the Fall of 2018. The menu is noted on a board above the counter and a menu card was also brough to our table. One orders at the counter, and there you also get your drinks. The food is brought to the table. We had the Dutch weedburger (9,50€), and a soup (it was leek soup) with a slice of bread (5€). We have eaten the Dutch weedburger on many occasions before, and I quite like the taste and texture! Life Bar is a cosy little place. Everything seemed newly renovated, and all was clean. Terrace out front. Reserved but friendly service. About accessibility: the restaurant is on ground level. There’s a small step to get inside. Toilets are on ground floor, but there is no accessible toilet. Toilets were clean and tidy. One damp …