At the Georgian table

old tbilisi, georgian cuisine, tallinn, old town, saperavi, mukuzani, hachapuri, hinkali

If you’ve wandered through Tallinn, you’ve probably noticed quite a few Georgian restaurants. Georgian Tavern Tbilisi is a favourite. A meal at this restaurant is more like a family meal at home. The dishes are prepared fresh to order, so sit back and enjoy a bottle of Georgian wine while you wait.

It’s a myth that all Georgian wines are sweet; in fact Georgians prefer dry wines. For dry whites, stick to the tsinandali grape variety; and for a dry red, try mukuzani or the full-bodied saperavi. There are descriptions beside each of the wines on the list, should you need a bit of guidance! If you are with a group, or even as a pair, choose a few dishes to share. While the portions may appear small, they are filling. The cheese hachapuri (melted cheese in flatbread) are a good start. A favourite are the hinkali (meat dumplings), which you pick up by the top and eat from the bottom, trying not the spill the liquid inside. The pork sashlik (grilled meat skewers) is cooked well and served with a tomato dressing; but the lamb chops have to be this writer’s favourite!

Location

Georgian Tavern Tbilisi

Rüütli 18, Tallinn Old Town I1

www.tbilisi.ee Facebook: Georgian Tavern Tbilisi

TEXT: KRISTINA LUPP, PHOTOS: ANDREI CHERTKOV

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