GEO: Retro
What are 'lobiani' and 'kubdari'?
Our first dinner in Batumi, Georgia was at Retro. It's said to be one of the places to sample Georgian bread dishes. Given that my BFF and I'd had enough cholesterol from Bar-Restaurant Palaty in Kutaisi, we decided to try something else than acharuli khachapuri, the national dish of Georgia.
Melon was hungry as she didn't have a proper lunch that day.
Our first dinner in Batumi, Georgia was at Retro. It's said to be one of the places to sample Georgian bread dishes. Given that my BFF and I'd had enough cholesterol from Bar-Restaurant Palaty in Kutaisi, we decided to try something else than acharuli khachapuri, the national dish of Georgia.
Melon was hungry as she didn't have a proper lunch that day.
Pelmeni with Potatoes GEL 4.00 (~S$2.20)
Taste: 7.5/10
Instead of the usual filling of meat, we went for the potato dumplings. I actually didn't expect them to be served without anything else, not even any garnishes. Nevertheless, the mashed potato filling was adequately velvety, besides being mixed with quite a significant amount of pepper.
Mushrooms with Sulguni on a Pan GEL 10.00 (~S$5.50)
Taste: 8/10
To those who've been following my posts on Georgian food, how many times have you seen sulguni (Georgian brined cheese) being mentioned? I relished the cheese-stuffed mushrooms that came in an sizzling hot earthen deep dish as they were juicy and savoury.
Lobiani (Small) GEL 4.00 (~S$2.20)
Taste: 7.5/10
Lobiani is Georgian flatbread stuffed with beans, traditionally eaten at St. Barbara Feast Day on 4 December. When it arrived on the table, I noticed that it wasn't particularly small despite such a mention on the menu booklet.
The bread was a tad chewy, while the filling of mashed beans was a tad sweet with a smoky aroma.
Kubdari GEL 12.00 (~S$6.55)
Taste: 7.5/10
Without knowing what it was and neither did we ask any of the restaurant staff, we ordered kubdari (Georgian meat-filled bread originating from the Svaneti region). Appearance wise, it looked pretty similar to the lobiani shown above, if not more charred.
The filling of lamb was succulent and savoury enough. I believe it could use a bit more sugar for a greater balance of flavours.
Lemonade GEL 2.95 (~S$1.60)
Having tried a few flavours of the Georgian lemonade, we went back to the basic. The fizzy drink was refreshingly sweet and sour at the same time.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7.5/10
Ambience: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Overall: 7/10
I forgot to take a picture of the appearance of the restaurant from outside, but I believe you should't have any trouble finding it. There's a huge, pretty much unmissable sign at the nearby intersection. Pika's advice: I wonder how big is the Acharuli Titanik that surely can be shared among four people or possibly more. For interested parties, it costs GEL 25.00 (~S$13.70).
Retro
54 Zurab Gorgiladze Street
Batumi
Georgia
(Daily: 9.00am - 10.30pm)
*Prices quoted are nett prices.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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