Photos: restaurant websites and social media; Yandex Maps
The soul of Georgia in all its glory. Satsivi, vibrant pkhali, dolma, khinkali, khachapuri, chakhokhbili, and shashlik straight from the mangal, all made to the standards set by chef Lika Mardaleishvili. A special reason to visit is the «khinkali mama»: an XXL khinkali with ten small «khinkali babies» inside. It arrives with full honors and a few special effects. Also worth a try: khinkali with shrimp and salmon, as well as cherry and sour cream.
The two restaurants span 1,450 m², with two dining rooms built around different concepts, a shared veranda, and a banquet area. For young guests, Shvili and Mario have a kid’s menu with pizza, khachapuri, and mini khinkali, and on weekends there’s a playroom with entertainers shared by both venues. The average check at the new restaurants is UZS 300,000–350,000.
The Italian part of this story is just as welcoming, steeped in tradition and driven by a love of dough-based dishes, juicy vegetables, fragrant spices, and cheese. Osteria Mario’s brand chef Alexander Morin puts the spotlight on tartare and bruschetta, Roman pizza with a crisp crust, house-made pasta, and risotto topped with Parmesan. Desserts include «bird’s milk» cake, honey cake, and tiramisu. Don’t miss the sparkling cocktail selection, it has the unmistakable mood of an Italian vacation.
