Cincinnati, Ohio – Another popular breakfast and brunch restaurant chain is facing financial strain, as Taste of Belgium has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while continuing daily operations. The filing comes as the company works to reorganize its business and avoid foreclosure proceedings tied to two of its remaining locations, according to reporting by Journal-News.
Chain Shrinks After Multiple Closures Across Ohio and Kentucky
At its peak, Taste of Belgium operated 11 locations across Ohio and Kentucky. That footprint has been sharply reduced over the past two years, with eight restaurants closing between 2024 and 2025.
The closures included Crestview Hills, Kentucky; multiple Cincinnati-area sites; locations in Liberty Township, Miamisburg, Beavercreek, and Clifton Heights; and an Over-the-Rhine restaurant that shut its doors in September 2025. These closures significantly narrowed the chain’s regional presence.
Three Cincinnati Locations Remain Open
Despite the bankruptcy filing, Taste of Belgium continues to operate three restaurants, all located in Cincinnati:
- Rookwood location at 3825 Edwards Road
- The Banks location at 16 West Freedom Way
- Findlay Market location at 1801 Race Street
The company has used social media to reassure customers that operations are continuing as usual.
“We’re open,” the company said in a recent Instagram post, adding that from a guest perspective, nothing has changed and that breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch are still being served.
Founder Says Filing Is Meant to Stabilize the Business
Taste of Belgium was founded in 2007 by Jean-Francois Flechet and grew steadily for years before recent financial pressures triggered widespread closures. Bankruptcy petitions were filed on Jan. 6 for the Taste of Belgium at the Banks and Taste of Belgium Rookwood entities.
Flechet described the filing as a strategic decision rather than a sign of retreat.
“This is not about closing restaurants. It is about keeping them open,” he said, calling the move a proactive step to stabilize operations and ensure long-term sustainability.
Rising Costs and Changing Dining Habits Cited as Key Factors
According to coverage from WKRC-TV, the bankruptcy filing was driven by a combination of economic and industry-wide challenges. These include lasting impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, rising food and labor costs tied to inflation, reduced downtown foot traffic, and high commissions charged by third-party delivery platforms.
Together, these factors have strained profitability even as customer demand for dining out has shifted in recent years.
Bankruptcy Cases May Be Merged
Court filings indicate Taste of Belgium is likely to request joint administration of the two bankruptcy petitions, effectively merging them into a single case. The move would streamline the reorganization process as the company works to restructure debt while keeping its remaining restaurants operational.
For now, Taste of Belgium’s leadership maintains that customers should expect business as usual at its remaining Cincinnati locations, even as the company navigates its financial restructuring.
