Georgian food round up in NYC
I am not Georgian but grew up in Eastern Europe and was finally able to visit Tbilisi this year. Here's a brief roundup of 11 places that serve Georgian food in NYC:
Oda House (UES and Brighton) - the first Georgian place I went to in NYC. My college friend took me here back when it was located in East Village and I was pleasantly surprised. Owned by a Georgian lady, all the staples are there, prices are reasonable for Manhattan and the interior used to be nice enough for a date night. Haven’t been there since they moved to UES but I’m sure it’s still great. They also opened a location in Brighton in 2020.
Chama Mama (Chelsea, UWS, BK Heights) - first came here in 2019 when there were less options in downtown NYC. Solid but the portions were comically small – felt like you are being pushed to order 3+ dishes per person. Haven’t been back in a while but they must be doing well because they opened two more locations.
Chito Gvrito (Gramercy) - probably the biggest wine selection out of all of these but a similar vibe to Chama Mama. A good spot to take your amber wine connoisseur friends.
Saperavi (EV) - this opened last year with an unassuming name of “Mealz”. It seems the owner didn’t want to put all eggs in one basket and in addition to khachapuri, chicken tappaka (imho best in town) and other Georgian staples, Mealz started off by offering Caesar salad, burgers and fries. However, after a few months – on my 3rd or 4th visit the restaurant was rebranded to ‘Saperavi’ (a Georgian grape variety) and the menu is now completely Georgian. Friendly service and a casual vibe – this is my current Georgian go-to in Manhattan.
Ubani (West Village and Bay Ridge) - one of the newer ones on this list. Some interesting items that others don’t have (iirc) such as kuchmachi and quail. I’ve only been once but my partner loves taking her colleagues out here. Clean and more minimalist interior compared to an average Georgian spot in the city.
Old Tbilisi Garden (West Village) – One of the pioneers of Georgian cuisine in NYC. A bit of an old school Little Italy style vibe but good quality food with a solid selection of Georgian wines. Grilled lamb is exceptional here.
Cafe Delia (NoHo) – the newest (at least on this list) and probably 2nd smallest spot on the list. A casual order-at-the-counter place with reasonable prices and daily specials. Nice little spot for a quick khachapuri or kebab pickup, I hope NYU students support this business. Special shoutout for churckhela here.
Tone (Brighton) - my overall favorite on the list. Good prices, all the staples are perfectly cooked. They also have a bakery in the back so all the breads are freshly made. If you order a lot, you’re likely to get a round of chacha (Georgian grappa) shots on the house.
Cheeseboat (Williamsburg and HK) – the only place on the list I cannot recommend. Overpriced and whitewashed. I guess people who don’t know any better have been keeping them afloat but I'm not sure this place will be around for a long time.
Little Georgia (Brighton) - a tiny Georgian bakery a block away from the beach. Grab a beer at the bodega on the corner and a fresh shawarma or khachapuri from here before heading to the beach. If you like to cook, these guys also carry some of the best adjika and Svanetian salt in NYC.
Cafe EuroAsia* (Brighton) - next door to Little Georgia and not a Georgian spot per se but rather an overall post-soviet vibe serving all the favs from former USSR republics. One of the chefs is from a Georgian-Armenian family which means all the kebabs here are amazing. Come here instead of the trashy Tatiana’s.
TLDR: go to any spot on the list except Cheeseboat. Best quality/value is found in Brighton Beach to no one's surprise but it’s a bit of a journey for most in NYC
Feel free to ask any questions or let me know if I'm missing other good ones