A vegetarian’s delight - Food guide across Georgia

Georgia is a delightful country to be in. We are talking about art galleries, wine estates, freedom squares, graffiti on the walls, historic churches, modern architecture and a lot more within walking distance from each other. With immense culture, history and good food to offer, Georgia is now making it to every Indian traveller’s wishlist. Vegetarian food is a major element when Indians are travelling and Georgia has multiple vegetarian options to offer. Interestingly, most of the traditional local food in Georgia is vegetarian and also spicy, thereby fitting into the food palate of Indians perfectly.

Every street you walk on in Georgia will have exciting food options to offer, but here are my top recommendations.

Filini - Filini is an Italian restaurant with an outdoor terrace bearing stunning views of Tbilisi outside. It is located in Republic Square itself. If the weather is warm and sunny, it is perfect to sit outdoors. The view from Filini also opens to the Ferris wheel on Mtatsminda, a popular viewpoint in Tbilisi. I specifically enjoyed the pizzas and pastas at Filini, safe choices for all vegetarians and they can be made eggless too. The cocktails and the wine selection was also interesting. With a wide range of local Georgian wines on offer, including those from Kakheti region in Georgia, Filini was a delightful experience overall. The restaurant felt especially welcoming to me as an Indian since they were mindful of eggless options and the spice level of their food was also friendly to my taste palate. I will go back to Filini for the views from their terrace and their spectacular cocktails.

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Republic 24 -Republic 24 is located at Republic Square where the name of the street changes often in Georgia based on the political scenario in the country. The cuisine offered here is local traditional Georgian. I tried a few Georgian dips with local bread including Pkhaili, which is made of spinach, beetroot, cabbage and walnuts. This dip was particularly flavourful with intense aromas of local herbs from Georgia. I also tried the Ispanakhis Pkhaili dip, made of garlic, cilantro and red wine vinegar. This dip had a particular yogurt-like flavor. Finally, Ajika, my favorite dip of all which is on a very spicy side. As an Indian, I rarely find anything that is too spicy for my taste levels, however, this dish did it for me. The ambience at Republic 24 is also fitting for its Georgian cuisine with graffiti art on the walls outside. The ambience inside the restaurant was rather European and unassuming, which allowed me to enjoy the food for what it was. What I loved most about Republic 24 was definitely their traditional Georgian cuisine.

Natella - Natella is another Georgian restaurant located in Tsinandali Estate in the Kakheti region of Georgia. The view from Natella is that of beautiful garden openings and Kakheti mountains in the distance. The interiors at Natella are blue in colour with large bulbs and butterfly structures. At Natella, I tried Khachapuri, a traditional cheese filled bread that tastes almost like pizza with the Ajika dip. I also tried Khinkali, traditional Georgian momos with a mushroom filling inside. It was interesting to draw parallels between Indian food and Georgian food while I tried the food at Natella. Interestingly, Khachapuri is somewhat like the Indian roti, with a cheese filling inside. Khinkali resembles the momos we eat around the Himalayas in regions like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The wine collection at Natella was also lovely. Personally, my favourite thing about Natella was the whole vibe inside the restaurant which teleported me to a fantasy land. It felt almost like a fairy tale. Not too far from Natella, is a tiny museum dedicated to the history of the family that owns the land on which Natella is located. That too is an interesting addition to the dining experience.

Umami - Umami is an Asian cuisine restaurant located inside the Radisson Hotel in Tbilisi. I did not expect to get vegetarian Asian food in Georgia however I fortunately chanced upon Umami. They had a selection of dimsums and sushi, including cucumber roll and avocado roll. They also had edamame pods for starters that were served with a spicy dip. Umami had a fine dine vibe with great interiors and lovely food. I wouldn’t say anything I tried at Umami was too unique or something that I couldn’t easily find in India. However, chancing upon vegetarian asian food which is my favourite cuisine, in a new country I was exploring felt warm. Normally, Indians go out to Asian restaurants to eat when it is a cause for celebration or occasion. It is not a cuisine Indians make at home. Exploring a new country was a celebratory moment for me and it called for some good Asian food. Umami did that for me.

Prince Alexander - Prince Alexander is an Italian cuisine restaurant located inside Tsinandali Estate in Kakheti. The restaurant almost looks like a cavern studded by lights from the inside making it perfect for a dinner date. Their wine collection is something sommeliers look up to globally. I tried Quarry wine here for the first time, which is made by fermenting white wine in deep claypots underground. The transformation process creates an orange coloured wine which is unique and stronger in flavor. Most people have only heard of red, white and rose wine. However, orange wine was a new addition I chanced upon trying. I also enjoyed their pastas since most of them were homemade and I cannot forget to mention their burrata salad with fresh baby tomatoes plucked from a farm nearby. In the mornings, Prince Alexander transforms into a breakfast restaurant with lovely avocado on toast and fresh juices on display.

My favourite thing about Prince Alexander was the vibe of the place which has the capacity to create strong bonds and lead to meaningful conversations. I have fond memories here since we dined here for almost 4 hours with great conversations.