Restaurant review: Pure Veg India

Ravensteingalerij 15, 1000 Brussels

What’s good? This place certainly lives up to its name, serving a full array of Indian food — without meat. Pure Veg India has it all: curries, veggie dishes, rice (both white and yellow), samosas, naan, papadum … plus those doughy balls soaking in honey juice. Not to mention a full salad bar and a couple of chutneys to boot.

It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, so grab your thali (compartmentalized metal tray) and go to town. Nicely spiced (and spicy), you can wash it all down with a smooth mango lassi for a generally satisfying meal.

A lot of diners move through here, particularly during the lunch rush, meaning frequent new tubs for both warm and cold dishes — keeping it fresh.

There are plenty of vegan options as well, most of them clearly marked … you can always ask the polite staff if you have any doubt.

What’s not? Nearly all the dishes, including the seasoned salad, are a bit too salty. The naan can be somewhat gummy. And the overall concept is rather basic and, in that sense, a little lacking in inspiration.

Vibe: Utilitarian, with a dark (though clean) interior and minimal decoration. If the tray evokes jail, fret not — this is way more delicious than prison food.

Who’s picking up the check? The buffet costs €14.95 — quite reasonably priced for as hearty a meal as you can handle.

Spotted: The standard commuter crowd, skewing young.

Insider tip: When the weather outside is inviting, get your buffet meal takeout and eat it in sunny Brussels Park, just up the steps.

Fun fact: It’s open pretty late, so catch up and eat your fill on the way home if you’ve skipped meals over a busy day at work.

How to get there: From Brussels central station, exit toward the European Quarter, go under the street, then up the stairs into Ravenstein gallery. Pure Veg India is about a third of the way down the hall on the right — just follow the coriander aroma.

Review published on  May 16, 2024. Illustration by Dato Parulava/POLITICO