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More than three-quarters of New York‘s roughly two dozen Georgian eating places and bakeries are positioned in Brooklyn. And that is no accident as the vast majority of New York’s 5,000-plus Georgian inhabitants dwell in South Brooklyn neighborhoods like Brighton Beach, Bensonhurst and Sheepshead Bay.
While the Georgian eateries in Manhattan are extra upscale with greater costs and smaller parts, you’ll be able to eat nicely in Brooklyn’s Georgian eating places for beneath $30 per individual (minus drinks). The locations in our listing have one factor in widespread, in addition to serving Georgian meals: all of them cater to a primarily Georgian- and Russian-speaking buyer base.
Here are 10 of our favourite Georgian eating places in Brooklyn.
ASSAIA
Shkmeruli from Assaia in Bath Beach — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Assaia is likely one of the latest Georgian eating places in Brooklyn. Opened in December 2021, Assaia is a bigger and extra upscale model of Toné Café, which the identical house owners opened again in 2014. The most important eating room is embellished with work by Georgian artist Hatu Chkheidze. Her brother Nick and his spouse Eka make up two-thirds of the companions, who can now declare the most important Georgian restaurant in Bath Beach.
As far because the meals goes, you’ll be able to count on the identical large khinkali and smooth bread that Toné Café clients have come to count on. But Eka needs clients to attempt different Georgian dishes as nicely. When requested to elaborate, the classical pianist and former music critic suggests the shkmeruli, chanakhi and gebzhalia. The latter is made up of garlic and mint, wrapped in skinny sulguni over a pool of medium-thick Georgian ricotta. You will not see it on most different menus.
They have live entertainment in the principle eating room beginning at 8 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. The piano performs itself within the west room, which has a banquet corridor vibe.
Nearest subway station: Bay Pkwy (D)
Cheeseboat
Khinkali from Cheeseboat in Williamsburg — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
While the remainder of our favourite Georgian spots are positioned in South Brooklyn and cater to a primarily Georgian- and Russian-speaking clientele, Cheeseboat is positioned in ultra-hip Williamsburg and serves a a lot youthful crowd. While the encompassing conversations usually tend to be about Tinder and roommates, the proximity to Manhattan (only one L prepare cease) makes Cheeseboat an excellent gateway to Georgian meals in Brooklyn.
You’ll pay extra for smaller dumplings, however you will even have a scrumptious vegetarian choice. And they serve their khinkali with a scrumptious creamy neeor’tskali garlic sauce. We additionally advocate making an attempt considered one of their namesake carb-heavy canoes. The choices are as inventive as Williamsburg’s popularity. Honeycomb brie and smoked gouda is probably not essentially the most Georgian choices, however they work on this case. For one thing barely much less experimental, attempt the shkmeruli rooster’boat, which mixes two of essentially the most beloved Georgian dishes.
Like most newish eating places in hipster neighborhoods, in addition they have a brunch menu.
Nearest subway station: Bedford Av (L)
Georgia
Entrance to Georgia on the nook of Bath and Bay twenty second in Bath Beach — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Run by two sisters and their mother, Georgia is a real household restaurant. The Tbilisi natives opened this intimate Bath Beach spot on the finish of 2019. Institute of Culinary Education graduate Maia Ninoshvili runs the kitchen whereas her cheerful mom runs the eating room. Everything is $15 and beneath on the time of this writing. Khinkalis are the primary vendor. And in contrast to most different Georgian eating places, they’ve a beef-only choice. While we extremely advocate both meat model, you also needs to attempt their four-cheese mix.
Before you allow, be sure you signal the sizeable Georgian flag that hangs on the eating room wall.
Nearest subway station: 20 Av (D)
Georgian Cuisine
Georgian Cuisine alongside third Avenue in Bay Ridge — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Thanks to Tbilisi natives Cecilia and David Khubuluri, now you can add Georgian to the combo of eating places alongside third Avenue in Bay Ridge. And this place is really Georgian, from the most important khinkali you are prone to attempt exterior the motherland to the imported wine, brandy and vodka. The most important eating space has eight tables, whereas the again patio is roughly equal in dimension.
Instead of making an attempt the extra widespread flat cheese bread, we advocate going for a culinary swim into considered one of Georgian Cuisine‘s seven acharuli (cheese boat) choices. Ingredients vary from rooster or bacon to grilled eggplant or smoked purple bean. They even have a sizeable vegetarian menu.
Nearest subway station: 86 St (R)
Georgian House
In Brighton Beach, you will discover a handful of Georgian eating places and bakeries combined in with the Russian ones — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
In April 2012, Tbilisi natives Geo and Ekaterina Kikvadze opened Berikoni Georgian Bakery a block from the Brighton Beach Boardwalk. The place turned an on the spot hit with the native Georgian and predominantly Russian communities to the purpose the place they opened a full-service restaurant proper across the nook lower than one 12 months later.
On the within, Georgian House is dimly lit and very laid-back, particularly given its proximity to the noisy elevated Q prepare. On nights when there is no such thing as a dwell music, you will hear smooth lounge music excellent for having fun with a glass of Georgian wine.
The menu could also be written in English and Russian, however the Kikvadze household recipes come from Tbilisi. The khinkalis and khachapuris are the very best sellers, however you may get both to go on the close by bakery. So, we advise making an attempt these in case you occur to be staying in a resort throughout a brief go to. But in case you’re a neighborhood or no less than staying for some time, department out and check out the kharcho, which is a standard Georgian meat stew with cherry plum puree and chopped walnuts. They serve the (commonest) beef model.
Nearest subway station: Ocean Pkwy (Q)
Guest House
Chaqapuli, or veal cooked with white wine, tarragon and recent herbs — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
While the identify is extra prone to invoke visions of a weekend getaway upstate than that of tennis ball-sized soup dumplings, Guest House is definitely the most important Georgian restaurant in Brooklyn. In the wood-centric eating room, you will hear the nice sound of cool lounge music combine with the rattling of the close by Q prepare as patrons converse in principally Georgian and Russian. You’ll additionally hear some slurping as khinkalis are on each different desk. While these well-known soup dumplings are a necessary a part of any Georgian meal, you will have loads of assist deciding what else to order, because of the big TV display which shows clips of different standard dishes being ready.
For meat lovers, the veal stew (chaqapuli) is a superb choice. Be certain so as to add bread. And whereas Napoleon is a fixture at practically each Georgian restaurant and bakery, we advocate making an attempt the much less filling pelamushi, which is a dessert made from flour and condensed grape juice. If you like grapes, you also needs to attempt churchela, which is a candle-shaped model of the latter with complete walnuts within the heart.
Nearest subway station: Brighton Beach (B-Q)
Mtskheta Café
They serve Giuaani wines at Mtskheta Cafe in Gravesend — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Named after a small historic city that was as soon as the capital of Georgia, Mtskheta seems like a heat and pleasant oasis of calm close to the noisy intersection of 86th Street and Stillwell Avenue. After the Q prepare, the D presents the very best selection in relation to exploring Georgian delicacies in Brooklyn. And this small, cozy café with purple brick partitions and a stone hearth adorned with Georgian wines has essentially the most handy location. They are positioned proper beneath the elevated D line.
When Mtskheta first got here to Gravesend in 2011, there have been no different full-service Georgian eateries within the space. Unlike most Georgian eating places, Mtskheta provides diners the choice of fried khinkali versus the normal boiled model. While frying an already hearty dish won’t be for everybody, it is value a attempt because it’s the easiest way to reheat the well-known Georgian dumplings. And as is widespread in South Brooklyn, they are going to be as massive as any dumpling you have possible tried earlier than.
We additionally advocate making an attempt the tabaka (Georgian fried rooster), mchadi (Georgian cornbread) and imeruli (Georgian gooey cheese bread). The latter comes pre-cut and stacked versus the extra widespread spherical pie presentation.
Nearest subway station: 25 Av (D)
Pirosmani
Imeruli and khinkali at Pirosmani in Sheepshead Bay — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Khinkali-shaped salt and pepper shakers, Georgian wine served in ceramic jugs and the longest forks and knives in New York City are a couple of of the peculiarities that make Pirosmani one of many quirkiest Georgian eating places in Brooklyn. While the vast majority of the menu is conventional Georgian, there are a couple of culinary curveballs thrown in, similar to rooster gizzards with nuts, calf tongue and pigs’ ft in vinegar.
The white tablecloth Sheepshead Bay restaurant will get its identify from the self-taught turn-of-the-Twentieth-century painter whose portrait and Tbilisi depiction adorned the final circulating one-lari observe in his native Georgia. Large replicas of Niko Pirosmani work adorn the partitions, making them the one place you will see representations of his work in Brooklyn.
Nearest subway station: Avenue U (Q)
Toné Café
Sucking the soup out of a Georgian khinkali at Toné Café — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
This cozy seven-table café will get its identify from the normal clay ovens which were turning out tonis puri for hundreds of years. While the lengthy baguette-length loaves are extra standard throughout holidays and particular events, you’ll be able to take pleasure in one at Toné Café for simply $3. For one thing a bit totally different, attempt the Royal Khachapuri or their kalmakhi. The latter is an entire roasted trout atop grape leaves in a pomegranate sauce.
As with a lot of Brooklyn’s Georgian eating places, Toné Café has a small Georgian deli subsequent door, the place you should purchase imported sodas, jams and cheeses.
Nearest subway station: Brighton Beach (B-Q)
18th Ave Cafe G
18th Ave Cafe G on the border between Bath Beach and Bensonhurst — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Despite being ten subway stops from Manhattan, 18th Ave Cafe G feels extra Chelsea than Bensonhurst. No house is wasted on this cleverly designed small café on the border between Bath Beach and Bensonhurst. Owner and Imereti native Maya Tsulaia designed the small eating space together with a couple of pals.
Café G (for Georgia) is her first enterprise, however you’d by no means guess that, as few different Georgian eateries in Brooklyn can match its character. The south-facing wall is lined with Georgian film posters, which hold above rigorously painted quotes from every respective movie. And then there’s the meals.
Nearly three-quarters of their clients are Georgian. You’ll see loads of (principally common) clients come and go as the vast majority of their enterprise is takeout. But we advocate ordering on the counter and eating in. The cool lounge music is right for people-watching, which you are able to do from considered one of 4 excessive seats going through the busy 18th Avenue thoroughfare.
Khinkalis are the highest vendor from the 27-item menu. They promote the normal beef/pork model, however you too can request cheese and/or mushroom. And you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with the khachapuri, which comes from Maya’s dwelling area of Imereti.
Nearest subway station: 18 Av (D)
