Dolma

In order to compensate for my dwindling meat consumption, I’ve been exploring the strange, new world of health food stores and vegetarian restaurants. And I’m quite enjoying the journey. My most recent endeavour takes me to Dolma, often referred to as Brussels’ best veggie restaurant.

I enter the cosy, Tibetan-inspired interior with three friends to find that our table is located closest to the buffet. Yes, Dolma is a buffet-style restaurant. While that may put off some, in this case it makes a lot of sense. There are several dishes available, which change daily, and the idea is to eat as much as you can/want.

We order a big bottle of sparkling water to share, and I select a pot of tea off the lengthy tea menu. They are mostly Ayurvedic or listed according to how they make you feel: relaxing, purifying, invigorating, etc.

Next, we all head to the buffet and start filling our plates with sumptuous-looking dishes like honey-caramelised witloof, pumpkin and squash sprinkled with southern spices, tofu topped with onions in red wine sauce, spinach feta pie (everyone’s favourite), mousse of green peas with mint, beans and rice, leeks and sprouts, vegetable soup and assorted salads. There’s a little “v” next to some dishes to indicate that they are vegan, meaning without dairy or any other animal-derived products.

After three trips to the buffet, we’re as stuffed as can be. But when the server informs us that dessert is also included, we reluctantly shuffle back to have a look at our choices: fluffy mocha ganache cake, blueberry pie, chewy chocolate-chestnut tart and a strawberry yoghurt parfait. One slice of ganache, one slice of chocolate and two slices of blueberry later, we truly cannot manage another bite.

The bill comes to about €25 a head, which I find to be a bit costly for a meatless meal with only tea and water to drink. The dishes and products used are fresh and seasonal, but none of them manage to surprise me or leave a lasting impression.

www.dolma.be

329 Chaussée d'Ixelles, Brussels; 02.649.89.81
Tues-Sat 12.00-14.00 & 19.00-21.30
Buffet: €22
Cosy and lively spot for fans of all-you-can-eat vegetarian food

This article was originally published in Flanders Today