BRUSSELS (EJP)-- When meeting EU leaders before traveling to the Mideast on his first visit as the Quartet’s representative, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair sat eating at Da Bruno in Brussels, the new and unique vegetarian kosher restaurant in the city.

Located in the middle of the EU quarter, Da Bruno opened earlier this month.

Before, the place was an ordinary Italian pizzeria snack. “When the Jewish community living in the area came to me and proposed to transform it into a kosher restaurant, I found the idea attractive,” says 45-year-old owner Bruno Lupo.

“It was a real challenge but today I don’t regret, on the contrary, as the restaurant is almost full every weekday,” he stresses.

It however doesn’t mention that it is kosher. “Our objective is to attract Jewish and non-Jewish clients, “says Ruth Matusof, who is managing the 21-table restaurant.

It will also be a place to dine for travelers who visit the Belgian capital.

The clients are mainly from and around the EU institutions, the European Commission, the European parliament and the EU Council.

“I came there before with my colleagues and I think it is good opportunity to attract both Jews and non-Jews,” Jean-Pierre Haber, who works at the nearby European Commission, told EJP.

Da Bruno received kosher certification from Brussel’s Orthodox rabbi Menahem Haddad, who is himself Italian.

The menu proposes a typical Italian cuisine with Mediterranean taste. Antipasti, salads, pasta, pizza and fish, along with a series of Italian kosher wines such as Bartenura Moscato d’Asti, Barbera d’Asti or Bartenura Pinot grigio,….

Da Bruno is open from Sunday to Thursday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm and from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. It also makes deliveries.

Friday it opens from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Rue Froissart, 43, 1040 Brussels. Phone: + 32 (0) 2 280 16 90