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SYMBOL KEY
Average cost of dinner per person, no alcoholic beverages
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$
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Under 25 Hr
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$$
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25-55 Hr
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$$$
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55 - 120 Hr
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$$$$
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120 - 250 Hr
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$$$$$
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Above 250 Hr
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Symbol key
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Meaning
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Credit cards |
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Discount cards |
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Delivery |
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Reservations |
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Parking |
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Billiards |
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Currency Exchange |
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Darts |
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Dancing/dance floor |
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Mini golf |
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Live music |
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Live jazz |
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Banquet facilities |
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Take-out |
 Hr |
Business Lunch (price) |
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Catering |
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Breakfast |
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TV |
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Video games |
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60/4
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Capacity/Max table capacity |
ENTER YOUR REVIEWS
Kyiv Restaurant Reviews
by Walter Prochorenko - with notable quotes from Kyiv Post Reviews by "Food Guy" (whom incidentally I love to read), Daniel Mac Isaac, and Scott Lewis; Davidoff's Gourmet Guide Ukraine issue 1/2002; What's On magazine (that indispensable guide to what is happening in Kyiv every week), The Ukrainian Observer, Zephyr (Russian only guide), Kabare (also Russian only guide) and commentary from friends.)
I am not a restaurateur, chef, connoisseur, or even in the food business, but if you ask what makes me qualified to write any reviews, I would just like to reply as follows: a) I once calculated that I have eaten in over 10,000 restaurants in various places around the world, but mainly New York, Tokyo, London, and San Francisco. b) My friends in New York (from my skiing days at Hunter) included such notable chefs and restaurant owners as: Andre Soltner of Lutece: chef, critic, writer and TV personality Jacques Pepin; restaurant owner Jacky Rouette; and many others. c) I have traveled to over 100 countries around the world (over 3 million kilometers in the air) and have tasted every type of food imaginable.
If this makes me at least a little qualified in your eyes to write about Kyiv restaurants, then let it be so.
Enjoy my comments and recommendations, but if you feel otherwise or if you have a different opinion, please let me know. My e-mail is: walter@ukraine-today.com
Guides: Most guides you will find in Kyiv are of the "all things are good" variety and the comments are usually all very positive or diplomatically non-committal. This is nice if you are looking for a type of restaurant but not so great when you are visiting for only a few days or when you are looking for that "special place" to make an impression. Please note that the existing guides avoid criticism since restaurants bring in ad revenues and the guides' publishers need this revenue. It is difficult to be objective when you can't be critical or when the owner can pull his ad from your publication.
General Notes: It appears that the restaurant scene is indeed improving in Kyiv. Although most restaurants seem to want to cater only to one type of clientele: the up-scale, yuppie, new-Ukrainian, or "kruty" types that spend money as if it came down from heaven (in most cases in Kyiv it did), there are now a sufficient number of good restaurants to choose from. One no longer needs to go to Prague, Budapest, Bangkok, or London to get the "good food" fix. However, the number of Up-Scale restaurants is so great now that they will most likely die from over-proliferation. Already most of these expensive types sit empty. So how can their food remain fresh and good when it sits there for weeks on end? No restaurant owner is likely to throw out $5000 worth of produce each week to keep his food supply fresh. So quality will suffer and the up-scale will then become "mediocre - with high prices".
NR - means Not Rated. Either it is because it has food/atmosphere/decor/prices that are not worthrating, or because I have not visited the place personally.
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KYIV
RESTAURANTS
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REVIEWS
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Definitely worth a visit if you are in the mood for some interesting Yugoslavian (maybe the term should now be Serbian) dishes. One of their specialties is Steak Tartar which is done just right with 18 different ingredients and spices. The Fish dishes are all good but prices can be somewhat high. Nice atmosphere and decor and definitely a pleasant place to spend an evening. Live music on most days. $$$
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Loud, bright, modern, loud, popular, busy, loud, interesting, and full of young Ukrainians and ex-pats. With its revolving bar and expert bartenders (trained by the inexhaustible Viola Kim), the place is one of Eric Aigner's biggest successes. Worth a trip, but don't stay too long as your ears will need 24 hours to recuperate. $$
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Ukrainian - Continental Circus theme family restaurant. Relatively expensive. $$
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Fish - Ukrainian Marine style decor - reasonable prices - unexceptional food. $
30/4
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Despite the need for a good Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood, this one falls flat. The nachos (what I judge a Mexican place by) is unexceptional and uninteresting. Other items on the menu are worth trying for their sheer inventiveness. Mexican/Cowboy decor. Originally this was called "Cantina Baza" but has been redone since. Reasonable prices. In his review of 28 Nov 02, Kyiv Post's "Food Guy" called the restaurant "stereotypical Mexi-krainian" with somewhat negative commentary about the various dishes. $$
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Snacks -Disco/Music Bar The site of a former teeny-bopper disco, now resurrected as one of the most popular places of its genre. We once were going to take over the place (when it was barely making it as a teeny-bopper paradise, and make it into a sports bar (with all types of equipment and active-participation games, but Eric got there first. Still very popular with the ex-pat crowd but there is now a lot of competition. $$
300
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Low prices, good food, and attentive service make this a place to visit when you are in the neighborhood (of even if you are looking for a nice out of the way place to have lunch). $$
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One of the restaurant guides describes this restaurant as having a combination of romantic atmosphere, fine food, courteous service, and reasonable prices. Sounds like my kind of place (especially the "good food" part). Never been there but will definitely check it out next time I'm strolling down Andriyivskyj Uzviz and the hunger pangs set in. |
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Turkish food and plenty of it. Extensive and descriptive menu with lots of pictures allows you to sample a variety of Middle-Eastern specialties. The food is good to excellent and the wine list offers some good inexpensive Georgian varieties. In the summer the terrace is packed so book early. $$$
Hr
35 140/8
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If I told you how many evenings I spent at "Arizona's" you probably would not believe me. This was once the only place to go to for good plentiful American fare with a warm atmosphere, good drinks, and great American billiard. Still a very popular spot with the tourists and with ex-pats who left and came back, but with the advent of the Golden Gate Pubs, O'Brien's, and Friday's, it is no longer on top of the list. The food is still some of the best as attested by the fact that Arizona BBQ won "Best Burger" category in the Kyiv Post Reader's Poll. The service is always attentive (owing to great management by Falk), but the prices tend to be a little steep in comparison to other similar establishments in Kyiv. $$$
Hr
39 100/6 |
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One of the best if not "the best" Italian restaurants in the city. The staff is attentive and helpful to a fault. The service is impeccable. The food - particularly the pasta dishes are the best one can find anywhere. Try the various types of Gnocchi here. The furnishings are getting a little dated, as is the decor; however, this is overlooked once the service starts. Surprisingly, this is one of the most reasonably priced "excellent" restaurants in the city and certainly one that deserves a lot more clientele than it now enjoys. $$$$
136/10
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Are you in the mood for zesty Georgian food, warm Georgian hospitality, and delicious Georgian cuisine? Then head to this family restaurant that boasts that mainly products made or grown in Georgia are used. According to the Kyiv Post review of 23 May 2002, "Aragvy offers all categories of entrees: meat, poultry, and fish. But, due to the zesty nature of the food and generous portions, it's more than possible to construct a meal on appetizers alone." Try the traditional specialties such as: lavash, chakapuli, lobio, khachipuri, and tkemali. Prices are reasonable and the Georgian wine selections delectable. $$$
Hr
35 87/6 |
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Another "diner style" restaurant trying to please everyone with a variety of dishes. However do try it and let us know what your impressions are. $$
48/6 |
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Loud, noisy, smoky, crowded, but still a fun place to be (unless the drug dealers are in). Great place for Jazz and meeting friends (just don't try to have serious conversations here). Sometimes the music gets a little too loud (as in most of Eric's places), but then I'm no longer a 20 year old that can take it. Food is good (surprising for a place this crowded) and the drinks very reasonably priced. Definitely recommended for a fun evening out. The music is usually outstanding but the newly established "entry fees" on weekends are annoying. This only started and has markedly changed the clientele. $$
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The weakest star in the Uncle Sam Group of Restaurants. Hard to get to, (behind Respublicanskyj Stadium), and with little outside views (who wants to look at the back of a stadium?). Offering a good, fresh selection of Japanese specialties. Fresh, however, does not make it very good. There is too much mayo in the rolls, not enough fish on the sushi, and the rice is not "just right". However the decor is authentic and pleasing, the staff tries hard (as in all USG restaurants). The opening of the new club Opium next door should give the place more clientele, but Nobu still remains my favorite for Japanese food. $$$
75
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Reasonably prepared food at higher than reasonable prices. Interesting Ukrainian decor. A favorite of the locals. $$$
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From the interesting ads (depicting one woman smoking a cigar and the other looking at her longingly), to the black doorman, to the higher than normal prices, you would expect something interesting from this establishment. Unfortunately it disappoints not because of the good but unimpressive dishes, nor from the great variety of drinks, but from the "whole". Too much of everything and too much noise without substance. It would be nice if Ukrainians restaurants learned to specialize. $$$ |
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Well decorated South of the Border style restaurant with so-so Mexican fare. Food lacks the spiciness and zestiness of real Mexican that we Americans have found to enjoy even in such chains as Chili's. When I go back to the US, the very first place I head to is a Mexican restaurant. Ukrainian ones just don't make it and you always have to beg for extra jalapenos or salsa. In his review of Mexican restaurants of 28 Nov 02, the Food Guy of the Kyiv Post lists this as one of the better Mexican types outside of Tequila House. You be the judge and let us know. $$
40/8 |
