Multiple people have recommended this modern Georgian restaurant to me, and turns out they were right. I had a great dinning experience here.

Among its comprehensive menu, Cafe Daphna is most famous for its khinkalis. The best part of having khinkali here is that there is no minimum order (except for the molded cheese flavour). This means you can try multiple flavours, which an excellent bonus as a solo diner. In my 1-week experience in Tbilisi so far, Cafe Daphna is the only restaurant without a minimum order for Khinkali. For that alone, I would already recommend this place. But wait until you try their cheese & potato khinkali, and you’ll know why people are so passionate about it. This northern variety comes in a different shape than the regular kind: without a handle and you eat the whole thing. The wrap is much softer and glutinous, and the cheese and potato filling is so warm and gentle that would comfort any lonely traveller’s heart. This mountain variety is hands down my favourite khinkali so far! Other khinkalis I tried here are the mushroom, and pork & beef with herb khinkalis. They are good, but paled by the cheese & potato kind, and I’ve had better ones elsewhere.

Another impressive dish is the Georgian salad with hazelnut sauce and cheese crisps. Again, easily the best Georgian salad I’ve had. The parsley and onion really brightened up the dish, and the hazelnut sauce is not as heavy as the traditional walnut sauce. But the star of the show is the light-green coloured, thin-skinned Georgian cucumbers. From my food tour, I know that there are two types of cucumbers sold regularly at grocery stores. The dark green ones with thick chewy skin and a bitter taste; and the springy green ones with translucent skin and a sweeter taste. The latter ones cost three times more, but much tastier and crunchier. The cucumber in this Georgian salad is the latter kind. Normally, restaurants would choose to save costs and peel the dark green cukes, but not at Cafe Daphna. They served the real deal, and it makes a big difference.

The last dish I had was the mushroom stew. It’s too salty and the tarragon flavour is too OP. Wouldn’t recommend. For drink, I tried the Lagidze's Waters of tarragon flavour. It’s a green syrupy fizzy drink you see around the streets of Tbilisi. A tourist’s must-try, but full of artificial colour & flavours.

The restaurant’s interior is right, modern, and western, with vibey English songs playing in the background. Service is friendly and fast.