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| - We paid a visit to this place yesterday and were glad we did. I first learned about Georgian cuisine when I was researching a trip to Russia. It seems we do not have other Georgian restaurants in Toronto (or do we?) but it's just as well as this place is a real gem. The food was delicious, service was warm, patient, and friendly, prices were very fair. The place is a little small (six tables which allow for a total of about 32 people) and gets cramped, but not so noticeable unless there are groups of families, which there were when we went--still it adds to the liveliness. Aragvi is located in a dinky strip alongside a few other businesses and maybe some apartments on top. It would be easy to drive right past the place without ever noticing it. When you go, you'll know what I mean.
We started off with the adjarian kachapuri, the traditional version with the egg on top. I don't like my eggs that runny and our server was kind enough to offer it without the yolk--brilliant. The dough was so soft and had a trace of sweetness to it, and went perfectly with a few swirls in the egg+cheese in the centre. We also ordered several kinkali (another trademark Georgian dish) and to my surprise, tasted EXACTLY like Korean steamed mandu! If you know what that's like, maybe avoid this dish just to enjoy something else, otherwise try it if only to see for yourself as they can be ordered individually.
Among the mains ordered were:
- chanakhi - chunks of eggplant and brisket meat in a flavourful sauce of spices (but not spicY), onions, and coriander. The combination of the spices and coriander gave this dish an unmistakeable SE Asian flavour. You should probably order it with their house bread ($2 for a generous portion) or rice as I can't imagine eating this dish on its own, though there's no law preventing one from doing so.
- Russian kebob *my least favourite dish - not sure what made these pork kebobs Russian, but consisted of chunks of meat, which are covered in slivered red onions and come with pickled cabbage; salad of tomato, cucumber, onion, dill; and Armenian potatoes which are fried (but not at all greasy) and flavoured with garlic and dill. I could have feasted on these potatoes alone, they were that good! They reminded me a lot of the garlic potatoes you get at the Lebanese places in Montreal, but different shape and less grease. Anyway they were DAMN GOOD. I think you have the option of these potatoes vs rice but why the hell would you do that?? What turned me off this dish was the strong porkiness (you know what I mean!) of the meat but that can happen sometimes with pork so don't go overlooking this dish altogether.
- chicken kebob - also served with the above; meat was very tender and juicy. Their kebob platters are single skewer (there was no indication that one can order another but I'm sure they will provide if you ask).
If you're more about the food, service, and like to try various cuisines and less about the decor, check out Aragvi, which I should also add is very reasonably priced. Our server, who seemed to be the owner, was super-nice and accommodating (not that we were being difficult) and said a couple of times that "anything is possible", as in, they can make changes if need be. (Please don't go in there being one of those annoying customers who wants every little thing changed, at least not when I'm there.) She reminded me of a Georgian (if she is) version of Tina Turner, though I did not check out her legs.
I'm no expert on Georgian cuisine but I know what I like and I liked this place a lot. The only thing I might change if I had to pick something that prevents Aragvi from being perfect or face having my eyeballs gouged out, it might be the interior (even though I am about the food and service, and enjoy trying different foods!). At present, there are banquet-style seat covers on the chairs which don't go over so well in such a small place; the room just needs a little updating, though if it were to stay the same, I'd still go. I don't mind that the place is small; it serves as a reminder that it is a family-run restaurant, one with warm service and good, comforting food.
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