Tbilisi/Georgia?

[2Btoo]

Guys,

Short Q: Mrs 2Btoo and I are currently in Tbilisi as part of a trip 'round Georgia. Thus far all is good but if anyone has any good suggestions for local (preferably Georgian) restaurants which they can recommend we'd be happy to hear them. We're middle aged so not into loud music or nightlife, but keen to find authenticity rather than a tourist trap.

Ta!

[LRDefender]

The choice of restaurants in Tbilisi is truly mind boggling so I've kept it short.....

One of my favourites is Urmuli on David Guramishvili Ave, old school traditional Georgian, I always find the food and drink excellent and it's close to a Metro station. Very well priced too, I love it here and usually book a cabin. Not much English is spoken here.

I am a bit of a regular at Ninia's Garden (Dimitri Uznadze Street, Marjanishvili). Barbarestan is popular too, both are very good but a little pricey by Georgian standards plus you need to book. I always phone to make a booking, Ninia's speak very good English plus the staff are great. Mapshalia is nearby, it's very good and very very traditional, you can't book a table. It's run by some old ladies, super cheap. The ladies don't speak English and I don't think they accept cards.

All of the above serve Georgian food with Ninia's Garden putting a more modern twist to their offerings. Desserts at Ninia's are really good and sometimes they give the odd freebie to customers.

Elene Dariani (Paulo IIashvili St) is another favourite but check to see if it is open.

All the above are independents, for a good chain restaurant I'd recommend Pasanauri, they're found all over the city.

Enjoy and stay clear of the cha cha..!!

[2Btoo]

Thanks LRDefender. That was really helpful. We're back in Blighty now but did eat at Ninia's Garden on our last evening in Tbilisi and it was excellent. Notably good food (which was Georgian inspired but not too Georgian, which was welcome after a fortnight of eating Khachapuri), good surroundings and a very good wine recommendation. I was a little miffed that an eMail to them that morning asking for a table was replied to with them saying that they were fully booked but we turned up on the off-chance that evening and they found a table easily enough.

I can see what you mean when you say that the dining scene in Tbilisi is mind-boggling. There wasn't that much to do in the city but there was a LOT of choice in the evenings for places to eat and drink. The tourist strips of the city were welcoming and far from terrible but it's always good to get somewhere which is aimed even slightly more at locals. We were in Hotel Kisi by the sulphur baths which was quite touristy but it's a small city and easy to get around on foot (we lived in London for 30 years so anything is small by comparison). You can certainly eat and drink well in the city and we had a great time there, and elsewhere in Georgia as well. I suspect that living there is quite different to the UK and very enjoyable in many ways.

Thanks again for the suggestions - they were welcome!