Mealtime: Nanuchka

I had never had tried Georgian cuisine before going to Nanuchka in Tel Aviv. Located at 30 Lillenblum, Nanuchka features the cuisine of Georgia. That is the country located in the Caucasus, not the state in the Southern United States. So if you are thinking that this restaurant will serve fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, with a side of cornbread you are mistaken. Georgian cuisine is a mixture of influences. It draws influences from Russia, Turkey, and the Mediterranean. I went to Nanuchka to celebrate a friend's birthday. We sampled many different dishes from the menu. There were steamed and fried dumplings filled with ground beef or cheese called khinkali. The fried beef dumplings were more like beef empanadas. The ground meat mixture was heavily spiced and the crust was more like a bread dough than a soft pasta dough. There were vegetarian dishes made from cracked wheat, beans, and other vegetables. Eggplant is heavily showcased as well on the menu. There was an eggplant appetizer that was served as thin sheets and then rolled with spices, tomato sauce, and cheese. There was another eggplant dish that was roasted and served with cheese, herbs, and tomato sauce. I had the chicken livers with mashed potatoes and red wine sauce.  It was extremely rich and luxurious. Everything on the dish complemented each other. Even thought the food was delicious, the service was lackluster. The food was not served together, and each dish came out sporadically. Besides the sub par service, the atmosphere at Nanuchka was fantastic. It is a great place for a night out, or for trying a new cuisine. If you are curious about Georgian cuisine, you should give Nanuchka a try. Enjoy!