Cafe Lviv — Restaurant in Port Hope

Cafe Lviv was the main event of our day trip to Port Hope. We made reservations for lunch AND dinner! Absolutely loved everything about this restaurant. We were warmly welcomed into this cozy space. Service is friendly and efficient; even though they were busy the pace was perfect, we were neither rushed nor waiting. And the food -- oh the food!! If you have perused the menu online and think it all looks good...it is! Well, I can vouch for the 7 dishes we shared over two meals. And I would certainly like to return to try the rest (and repeat my faves)! For lunch we had mushroom soup, beet salad, chicken stew and chicken and onion varenyky (perogies). Mushroom soup, although a cream soup, is not heavy, and has a great earthy undertone of mushrooms plus lots of vegetables. The beet salad, composed of chopped vegetables in a light vinaigrette dressing, is super healthy and refreshing, perfect textures and beautiful presentation. That is a theme here... every dish is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. The filling of the varenyky was so delicious, super fine texture and delicately seasoned. The sour cream that accompanies many of the dishes, I wonder if it is homemade, as it has a thinner texture and tangier taste than what you can get in the supermarket. {...pause 6 hours, to go walking around the town's nature trails and other sightseeing to work up appetite again...} Now back for round two! Borscht --- ah, this was amazing! I admit this is my first time trying any borscht and I am confident this is an incredible representation of it. I wanted to try it ever since watching the CBC Documentary "Borsch. The Secret Ingredient". Chicken Kiev is a rare and rich delight, accompanied by the most delicious seasoned roast potatoes and colourful vegetables. Cabbage rolls come in two varieties, meat (chicken and beef) with rice, and buckwheat mushroom. Both incredible (and distinct from other European types of cabbage rolls I have tried). I actually preferred the buckwheat and mushroom-- unexpectedly super flavourful for a vegetarian dish. They make excellent coffee here. Did not have room to try any dessert. Cafe Lviv is a gem in every way. Definitely worth travelling to Port Hope to go to...

Pleasantly elated by a variety of food choice we grazed from one delicacy to the next.

We started with a most fragrant and clear soup, completely different from a red beet burst. This version was created using yellow beats and carrots where the subtle flavour of the vegetables came through.

Two varenyky (similar to perogie) stuffed with buttery-smooth potato and dill proved delicious only to be followed by another Eastern European favourite — cabbage roll.

The cabbage roll presented was small compared to other cultures but it’s diminutive size went by the way as your fork cut through a tender cabbage leaf revealing a pork, chicken and rice stuffing rich in flavour — brought memories of my aunt and grandmothers recipe to the front of mind.

Now for the mains. A crispy Chicken Kyiv filled with butter and parsley did not disappoint. Tender is the name of the game and these morsels didn’t disappoint. But my favourite (yes, we were privileged to be invited to a tasting) had to be the beef goulash. Again, an East European staple but the version presented with incredibly tender pieces of beef and an abundance of sweet pepper essence.

The best part of the Café Lviv experience was meeting and commiserating with the chefs and serving staff. Considering their recent sacrifice, (war in Ukraine) the pride the ladies showed in their craft made eating there a beautiful...

I visited Lviv Ukrainian Restaurant in Port Hope today for breakfast, and I am so glad I did. The experience was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. I had a fresh, delicious poppyseed pastry, along with other bakery items, and a perfectly made cappuccino. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.

One of the best parts of my visit was the amazing service I received from Tania. She was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm. Tania went out of her way to make sure I felt welcome and comfortable, and her positive attitude created such a great atmosphere in the restaurant. It’s rare these days to meet someone who brings so much enthusiasm and kindness to their work, and I truly appreciated it.

After such a fantastic breakfast, I am already excited to come back and try their lunch and dinner options, as the rest of their menu looks outstanding. If their other meals are anything like breakfast, I know I’m in for a treat.

Lviv Ukrainian Restaurant is an absolute gem in Port Hope, with authentic and delicious Ukrainian food, and incredible staff who go the extra mile to make guests feel at home. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience — and don’t forget to say...