Tkemali

Three restaurants of the Tkemali chain are located in the very heart of Moscow: the first opened on Pushchennaya Street in 2016, the second in a historic building on Novaya Square in 2020, and in 2022 the flagship Tkemali opened its doors in a two-story mansion on Kitay-Gorod. The menu by brand chef Rukhshod Zaynitdinov and grill master Emil Karimov features everything that can be associated not only with Georgian but also with Caucasian cuisine as a whole: dozens of varieties of khachapuri, an extensive grill menu including rare dishes such as royal shish kebab made from thin slices of veal and lamb back fat, various traditional appetizers, soups, authentic cheeses. Meinkhle Tarana Abasova is responsible for many types of dumplings ranging from tiny dushbara to ghurza and khinkali. Tkemali's wine list has carefully collected the best examples of wines from the region, some of which can be sampled in a special tasting wine set (five 50 ml glasses of wine accompanied by snacks). There is a similar set for lovers of strong drinks—six different kinds of chacha and Georgian vodka (each 25 ml), all served with accompanying snacks. Each Tkemali restaurant has separate banquet halls, many equipped with professional sound equipment and karaoke systems. The pre-order-only special menu includes company meals ranging from shashlik pyramids to roasted goose and crown rack of lamb. A hit among desserts at Tkemali is the musseled plum dessert—a delicate chocolate shell filled with aromatic spiced plum puree and fresh plum pieces. With the arrival of warm weather, each Tkemali opens its terraces. For example, there are two terraces on Pushchennaya Street: one outside the entrance, adorned with flowers along the wide sidewalk, and another quiet and intimate terrace within the inner courtyard under tree shade. The largest terrace belongs to the mansion in Maly Ivanovskiy Lane. In normal mode, this cozy courtyard on Kitay-Gorod accommodates up to 90 guests, while in banquet format it can seat up to 120 people. Here they organize shows and cooking classes featuring open-fire preparations, often live music plays on weekends, and time seems to pass effortlessly. For cooler evenings, blankets are available on all terraces, outdoor heaters are installed in the courtyards, and hookahs are provided in certain locations.