‘Georgian food and culture is all about indulgence!’ Lasha, one of the co-owners of Alaverdi, tells us, with a cheeky grin. As more and more dishes keep pouring out of the kitchen, we soon learn that he’s not kidding.
The Georgian restaurant, Alaverdi, lets off an elegant vibe, with its subtle colour scheme and professionally trained staff. It’s surely a fancy place to take your date, or business partners to. But don’t let yourself be fooled – sharing plates of food amongst each other, drinking plenty of Georgian wine, breaking out in loud laughter and letting yourself feel right at home is all highly encouraged here.
The Georgian cuisine prides itself on its great variety of dishes, possessing both Mediterranean and Asian influences. It also has a masterful command of a vast array of fresh herbs. Alaverdi lives up to its country’s reputation – each dish is an explosion of surprising flavours.
The starters, Georgian salad with a walnut dressing and the entree plate (different spreads made from red beans, green beans, spinach and eggplants, each one refined with fresh herbs) have us smiling from ear to ear. Don’t miss out on the infamous Khachapuri (flatbread), it’s a beloved Georgian side dish.
The main dishes are just as mouthwatering. We go for the bean stew (accompanied by homemade cornbread and pickles), stewed eggplant and scalloped champignons. Like we said, be ready for a feast when you turn up at Alaverdi.
While the food isn’t exactly cheap, we appreciate the fact that the owner himself ventures out to various markets on an almost daily basis to source the freshest ingredients in town.
We recommend… you and your feasting companions do it Georgian style: order lots of different dishes, and share.
