Krsto
Novi Beograd
Recommends: Bemata — Vege burger
Bemata is one of those Novi Beograd neighbourhood spots that does not advertise itself as vegan but quietly has a solid selection. The vegan burger was really good, the portion could be a bit bigger for my liking, but the dessert menu alone is reason enough to go back.
We went to Bemata on a Friday afternoon for a quick lunch. The place was busy but not too crowded.
It is a neighbourhood restaurant in Novi Beograd, surrounded by residential blocks. This is not a vegan restaurant, but it has a dedicated vegan and vegetarian section on the menu, and that is worth knowing.
The meal started with some small bites on dark bread with hummus, nicely presented on a long plate. Nothing extraordinary, but a good opening. It set a tone that the kitchen staff pays attention to how things look and how they are served, not just what is on the plate.
I ordered the vegan burger. It is a bean, oatmeal, and spelt patty served with rocket and vegan mayonnaise. It was solid: well seasoned, good texture. For someone used to a filling lunch, it felt a little small as there were no sides, but the quality was definitely there.
What caught my attention most was the dessert menu, although I didn’t get to try it this time. There’s Jaffa cake made with cashew, almond, orange, and cocoa. Carrot cake with nut-based vanilla cream.
For a place that is not exclusively vegan, this is a surprisingly deep selection of desserts. We did not try any of them this time, but it is the main reason I want to go back.
The space itself is calm and well kept. White brick walls inside, good natural light and they also have a spacious covered garden out front with blankets, which would be a good spot once the weather warms up. We sat inside because it was too cold for the terrace, but I can see this being a proper outdoor lunch place in spring and summer.
Bemata is a neighbourhood restaurant that happens to take its vegan options seriously, and in Novi Beograd, that is worth a visit.