Cincinnati-based restaurant chain Taste of Belgium has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
Taste of Belgium was founded in 2007 by Jean-François Flechet in Cincinnati. It started as a small waffle stand at a local farmers’ market and grew to more than 10 locations across Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
Most of its locations, however, have closed in the past two years, including its original full-service location in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine district. The chain is now down to just three restaurants in Cincinnati. It is known for its traditional Belgian waffles, chicken, and beer, as well as “American classics that have been Belgian-ized,” according to its website.
In its bankruptcy filing, the company listed $2.65 million in secured claims and $217,248 in priority tax obligations. Major secured creditors include the Small Business Administration ($1.85 million) and Emery Federal Credit Union ($706,465). The filing follows a foreclosure lawsuit initiated by Emery Federal Credit Union in Ohio’s Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.
Flechet noted that the filing is a strategic move aimed at stabilizing the business and ensuring “long-term stability.” He cited continuing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, including shifts in consumer dining habits, inflation, and changes in downtown foot traffic.
In a post on social media, the company wrote: “We’re OPEN. Taste of Belgium has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection so we can keep moving forward. From a guest standpoint, nothing changes. We’re serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
“We’re in the hospitality business, and hospitality is better in person. If you haven’t been in a while, we’d love to welcome you back. Our menu is back to its roots, everything is made from scratch, and our teams are ready to take care of you.
Thank you for supporting local restaurants and choosing to spend your time with us.”
Taste of Belgium is the second restaurant concept to file for Chapter 11 protection this week, following Compass Coffee’s petition. Such filings have been a major narrative for the past two years as restaurant companies continue to navigate higher costs alongside muted traffic and sales. In 2025, the S&P Global market recorded its highest pace of bankruptcies since 2010 — COVID notwithstanding.
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