Brighton: A Delicious Melting Pot
Growing up in the melting pot of Los Angeles, I had always been involved in the Jewish community, as many of my friends and their families are observant. Although my family was Christian, I spent my teen years at bar and bat mitzvahs, eating challah, and spinning dreidels, experiencing the rich culture of the Jewish community, including their delicious traditional foods. We would eat at Jerry’s Famous Deli every week, have lox and schmear every weekend, and gorge on latkes every Hanukkah. So, when I was invited by Jasmin and her lovely team at Novellino to come try their Kosher menu, I was over the moon!
Kosher Comes in All Cuisines
At first glance, you may look at the Novellino menu and think, “Wow, that’s eclectic.” But the reason behind their exceptionally diverse menu is that every single item is completely Kosher. Why is that important? For those who follow a Kosher diet, dining at Brighton’s only Kosher restaurant could feel limiting if there were just a handful of menu options. Novellino has designed the menu to allow their community to enjoy a variety of cuisines while keeping Kosher. From sushi to salt beef, bagels to beef carpaccio, the talented chefs at Novellino want their customers to be able to meet up and enjoy dining out with the rest of the Brightonian foodies morning, noon, and night.
Welcoming and Warm from Start to Finish
Does this mean you need to be Jewish to enjoy their delicious offering? Absolutely not! In fact, they pride themselves on being a welcoming neighborhood base for all, which was exactly how we felt the moment we walked through the front gate.
Do You Remember Your First Roast?
Greeted with big smiles, our lovely waiter showed us to a window seat in their stylish, newly built restaurant. The restaurant was filled with a diverse crowd, including Orthodox families savouring the Kosher Sunday roast. Jasmin, the Centre’s Head of Marketing’ at Novellino, came over to explain that today was the launch of their very first Kosher Sunday roast, and that it was the only one of its kind in Sussex. Jasmin went on to explain the complexities of Kosher preparation and that many of these diners would have never experienced a roast dinner at a restaurant before today. How exciting!
Well, after hearing this, we had to see what all the fuss was about and ordered three! Alanna ordered the beetroot Wellington, our sweet Caroline was all about the lamb, and I indulged in the three-meat roast – so excited!
Refreshing Drinks and Delicious Wine
As we awaited our feast, we ordered drinks: a fresh mint lemonade and a lychee cocktail, along with a gorgeous bottle of Israeli red wine. The lemonade was a slushy-style summery drink that was a perfect palate cleanser from our morning coffees.
Alanna allowed us a couple of sips of her sweet-but-not-too-sweet lychee cocktail that had plenty of zing and great balance. I stuck with a large glass of the complex, smooth, very drinkable red, which went down a little too easily.
A Community Space Where Anyone and Everyone Is Welcomed Wholeheartedly
Our table overlooked the manicured courtyard, which has a beautiful artistic blue wall at one end. We later learned it was the entrance to the synagogue and community meeting spaces, which are ideal for talks, gatherings, and events of all kinds. The Jewish Community Centre not only has a beautiful café and restaurant but also apartments for rent, a Montessori nursery, Kosher-friendly holiday lets, and even a co-working space.
Jasmin later explained that the vision for the space was to encourage more Jewish people to travel to Brighton, who would ordinarily be restricted due to the lack of Kosher options in both accommodation and eating out. By creating a welcoming space with Kosher facilities and a Kosher café and restaurant, it allows observant Jews to easily travel while also keeping faith—a truly well-thought-out space inspired by the needs of their community but open to absolutely everyone from any background or religion to enjoy.
Our First Kosher Roast!
A team of very happy waiters approached the table with some of the largest plates of food you have ever seen! Generous portions of gorgeous technicolor vegetables were piled high on the plate with thick slices of lamb, beef, and turkey, served with a side of Kosher cauliflower ‘cheese’ and topped with the crispiest vegan Yorkshire pudding you could imagine. Delicious! As meat and dairy aren’t mixed in Kosher dining, anything traditionally dairy was replaced by a brilliant vegan alternative.
Alanna’s beetroot Wellington was a stunning deep purple, wrapped in a crisp puff pastry and overflowing with vegetarian delights.
Caroline’s lamb was succulent, moist, and generous, served with plenty of gravy and all the trimmings.
Each plate was piled high with crispy roasted potatoes, honey-roasted parsnips, charred carrots with just the right amount of bite, broccoli steamed to perfection, electric green kale gently blanched, moreish creamy cauliflower ‘cheese’ (vg), tart red cabbage, crispy chipolatas, and a vegan Yorkshire pudding that was everything I could ever want, all served with as much gravy as you could need. 11/10—top marks for every bite on the plate!
Family Spaces Welcoming to All Ages
Well and truly stuffed, my girls and I chatted about how lovely and welcoming the space truly is. We remarked on the mixed ages of the diners and how this was a multigenerational space, which we rarely see and miss so much. I love taking Nan out for coffee and cake with families nearby and meeting girlfriends for brunch in a relaxed restaurant that is welcoming and inclusive. Jasmin also mentioned that they are in the process of building a Kosher bakery on-site and that their deli is already open. I cannot wait to come back for fresh bagels and breads!
Dessert Is Served!
After a short break, we decided we just had to try dessert. I mean, it would be rude not to, right? We ordered the chocolate mousse with fresh berries and the apple crumble with custard, and oh my word, they were good!
The apples were gently cooked, which gave them a satisfying bite, and topped with a crunchy crumble that melted away with the custard… top marks all around!
Make Mine a Mousse!
My personal favorite was the chocolate mousse, which I physically had to remove from my line of sight to stop myself from eating it all. Rich, beautiful chocolate flavor whipped into a smooth, velvety mousse that was both light and decadent—a perfect balance to the sweet-tart fresh berries. A perfect finish to an exceptional meal.
Thank you so much for inviting us into your wonderful center and for the outstanding service and food. We were so impressed by the new space, and it’s clear your dreams of creating a welcoming neighbourhood space are already coming to fruition. We look forward to returning soon for more exceptional food in your beautiful café and restaurant!
