We spent May 2014 and May 2013 in Caucasus… first in Georgia and then in Georgia and Armenia. Since then, we’ve been big fans of this destination and we try to encourage anybody who has plans to go there. Georgia has it all: amazing landscapes, highland villages, lively Tbilisi, welcoming citizens… and obviously THE FOOD!
There’s a few places with Georgian cuisine in Warsaw but we haven’t found our favourite yet. Actually most of them were just the opposite – total bummers. So we decided to check new place out. A place called Rusiko on Al. Ujazdowskie hoping to finally find a place we can recommend without doubts when somebody asks us about khachapuri or khinkali in Warsaw.
Tuesday evening, cold wind and the city deserted. A few tables standing on the street and… drumroll! a nice interior! It’s a peculiar thing with Georgian restaurants in Warsaw that most of them look like they have frozen in time and got a bit carried away trying to depict Georgian vibe. Here it’s nice, quite bright with colourful carpets on the walls that don’t look too overwhelming. From the first look, you can say that the place will work both for a meeting with friends, for some girls talk an even for dinner for two.
first points for nice interior!
We start with the menu. I already knew what I wanted when I left home. The question is: will I find it in Rusiko? As usual, I’m dreaming about aubergines with walnut paste and pomegranate which turns out to be position no. 1 in the starter section – aubergines with walnuts, coriander and pomegranate (3 pieces) – PLN 15. I also have to try khachapuri (PLN 19) – Łukasz wants an Adjarian khachapuri (shaped like a boat with melted egg inside – you’ll find it in our guide to Georgian cuisine) but me and Maks we prefer a traditional khachapuri imeruli with cheese inside and that’s the one we order. We’re with Łukasz’ parents which allows us to order a combination of meals so that everybody can try a bit of everything. That’s the best way to try Georgian cuisine because who could possibly eat a whole cheese-filled khachapuri, a main course and a dessert?:)
hummus with mchadi pancakes (PLN 15) for starters. Apart from that, you can choose from snacks such as a traditional Georgian lobio, pchali or kubdari – dough filled with beef and lamb filling which we loved in Svaneti – you can catch it in our reports from Georgia, i.e. HERE.
khachapuri (PLN 19)
hummus with Mchadi pancakes (PLN 15)
Aubergines with walnut paste amaze me instantly. They’re just like I remembered them from our last stay in Tbilisi. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth slices of aubergine, delicious walnut paste and a bunch of pomegranate seeds to taste. I could eat them non-stop, preferably with hot khachapuri as a side which also tastes like a proper Georgian dish. Hummus the least Georgian meal from the ones we ordered is also tasty but the ‘pancakes’ are a bit disappointing – I have to admit that we haven’t tried mchadi before and it seemed a bit weird that we got regular bread?? We Googled it and learned that mchadi are a type of corn flour pancakes. It’s a shame that nobody told us they’ve ran out of it…
We also share main courses. Khinkali – traditional Georgian dumplings shaped like little bags with beef inside is a must (PLN 22 for 3 pieces). I go for ajapsandali – stewed season vegetables baked with sheep’s cheese (PLN 25). I know this meal from Georgia and I love it. As for meat dishes, we get a kofta – fried meatballs from minced lamb served with lavash and two types of sauce (PLN 30). Feeling greedy, we also order Russian pielmieni with veal (12 pieces) – PLN 24.
ajapsandali with lavash – PLN 25
khinkali – PLN 22
kofta with lavash – PLN 30
pielmieni – PLN 24
Ajapsandali seems like the best choice from the main courses. However, everything is delicious! Vegetables are properly seasoned, spicy, with a touch of coriander and sheep’s cheese that gives them a distinct flavour. We also like koftas very much – the meat is delicate and the tomato sauce amazing, also a bit spicy, also with a touch of coriander. Kihinkali taste just like in Tbilisi or Batumi – they make me feel like I’m in some restaurant in Georgia again! And pielmieni? For me it was the least interesting part of our dinner – not bad, but quite dull compared to the rest of the meals.
In the end, we order desserts – Medok – a traditional Georgian walnut cake with green walnuts jam (PLN 14) and something off the menu – mascarpone cream with passiflora sauce. It’s a pity they don’t have pelamushi – a Georgian dessert made from grape juice and corn flour with a touch of walnuts – you can find it HERE. Hopefully Rusiko will introduce it at some point as well. Łukasz and his parents love the cake which I don’t like that much, especially when it comes to its texture. But it must be just me, because the remaining pieces disappear quickly. Cream with passiflora sauce is delicious and I lick the very last pieces of it from my spoon, even though it doesn’t have that much to do with Georgia.
Medok – PLN 14
Rusiko instantly takes first place in our own Georgian restaurants in Warsaw ranking. There is one more place with Caucasian cuisine which we haven’t tried yet, but can they beat it? Here, we felt real Georgian vibe which makes it a perfect spot for everybody who have once fallen in love with this country. And if not, well…. come, eat and start arranging a flight to Tbilisi 😉
PS. PS. Another good thing about Rusiko – children’s facilities such as high chairs, crayons, toilet covers, wet wipes in the bathroom and pasta with tomato sauce on the menu (PLN 13) for those who don’t like Georgian food at all and aunt Lela’s varenyky – dumplings with fruits and butter (PLN 15). Kids’ menu wasn’t available during our visit, but khachapuri is a bit like pizza and all kids love it 😉
PS2. Great tea with ginger and lemon grass!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Al. Ujazdowskie
opening hours:
Monday – closed
Tue – Sun 11.00 – 23.00
big dinner for 4 adults + a child
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