Prounced “khutarok” for those of you unfamiliar with the Cyrillic alphabet — the tone of that is meant to be entirely informational, not patronizing, I promise — this restaurant came as a pleasant surprise to me, as it opened my eyes to a whole new world of recipes and flavor. For it was the first place that I tried Ukrainian cuisine, and it did not disappoint.

Pilmeni, a little meat dumpling similar to khinkali, is a new favorite of mine. Especially the one that comes in a cream sauce with cheese and mushrooms — yum! “Chicken Kiev” is another Ukrainian delight that is worth trying as the experience and appearance of the dish offers a welcome complement to the tasty, but I dare say generic, Eastern European explosion of flavor.

The waitresses are all very friendly, clad in traditional Ukrainian dresses, with the cozy interior of the restaurant offering one an authentic, well-priced, and satiating meal. Definitely worth your time and money.

Chicken Kiev image source: rachaelrayshow.com