Ivan The Kozak 東歐餐廳 — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

RUDE & condescending server.

Food was good, not “extraordinary” but it was nice. They only do a few options of set lunches and no a la carte menu during lunch service, which was disappointing… but fine.

The main thing that made them lose stars was a very RUDE and condescending server. This local middle aged server, who threw judgemental comments at my English speaking boyfriend and I (local) randomly throughout our meal.

As we sat down we were excited about the decorations. When the food arrived, we were trying to take some nice photos, and as he walked by us he said considerably loudly (enough for me, seated farther away from him than my boyfriend) looked at us and said, “Not even eating the food.”

Later came my set meal drink: he took our order wrong and instead of iced coffee it came hot. I was chatting with my boyfriend, and absent-mindedly took a few sips.

Then I realized they got me the wrong order so I asked another server to change it for me. The young server swiftly gave me another glass of iced coffee, but left the hot one on my table. I figured they’re probably gunna throw it into the sink any way, so I took one more sip (cus actually it tasted great). The middle aged guy stormed over to take the hot coffee away, glaring at me, saying, “So you asked for an iced one? You didn’t touch this one, did you??” And took it to the bar.

I mean… wow. If I hadn’t touch it would you serve it to another table!???!! Such amazing service. What a shame, it could’ve been a great special experience for...

If you're looking for a taste of Ukraine in the heart of the city, Ivan The Kozak is the place to be. The food is delicious, the wine is flowing, and the staff is as friendly as your grandma's neighbor who always brings over fresh-baked cookies.

Speaking of wine, if you're not sure what to order, just ask the staff for a recommendation. They know their stuff, and they won't steer you wrong. In fact, they recommended a Georgian red wine to me, and it was like a party in my mouth. It was so good, I wanted to bathe in it. And when paired with the Chicken Kiev, it was like a match made in culinary heaven.

And let's talk about the decor, shall we? It's like stepping into a cozy Ukrainian cottage, minus the snow and the cows (unless that's your thing, then I won't judge). The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the Ukrainian music adds a touch of authenticity to the experience.

But the real star of the show is the food. The borscht is like a warm hug from your Ukrainian grandma. And don't even get me started on the lamb shank - it's like a symphony of flavors in your mouth.

So, if you're in the mood for some delicious Ukrainian cuisine and a good time, make your way to Ivan The Kozak. You won't regret it, unless you regret not ordering seconds of everything. Five...

It's good to have a rare chance try out Eastern European food. I've never been there so I am not in a good position to judge whether this is tradional. Here are some fair comments: The pork dumplings: wraping is thick, stuffed with minced pork, fully. Meat were a bit dry. Cheese ox tougue pot, serve with crispy pastry : meat is tender. Delicious. Chicken Kiev: crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The sauce is good. Yet the potato chips were not on the same temperature. Some was cold and definitely not crispy at all while some warm and a bit crispy. (not sure if this is normal) The beer is great and they said it is the last batch as the producer cease operating. The soup is sour and not really my cup of tea.

The service is not really up to standard, but to be fair this is a family business and the staffs are generally young. The owner (I guess, the man) is having conversation with us which is nice.

The environment is a bit concerning, the air-con is not cold enough and there were one table having dripping problem.

In general, is good for an Eastern European experience, it is rare in Hong...