Garage — Restaurant in Riga

LUNCH After a few beers at the Ezītis miglā cafe bar near the Swedish Gate we continued walking around the Old Town before ending up at the Bars Garaza next door, where we had some very tasty food & drinks. My wife had a very tasty plate of pasta carbonate (Bacon, onions, egg yolk, Parmesan, parsley) with lots of crispy bacon lardons and I had the huge Garaza Burger (Beef patty, bacon, peppered tiger prawns, Cheddar, onion, vegetables, mustard sauce, fried potatoes), which was really yummy especially the 4 large grilled tiger prawns😋😋😋 The inside of the bar was very funky with lots of motor related items (Garaza is the Latvian word for Garage) with large chunky aircraft style seats at the bar & tables and a door with reflective glass neon light panels leading to the toilets🤗😁 DINNER Following much research on a good restaurant in Riga Old Town to enjoy our last evening meal of the holiday, we decided to go back to the Garaza Bar & Restaurant near the Swedish Gate where we previously enjoyed a great meal last week. The restaurant was very busy when we arrived with all the outside tables occupied so we were shown to a cosy table inside the funky restaurant by a very friendly & helpful waitress. I had one of the best dishes on this holiday of grilled pork fillet medallions with grilled tomatoes, parsnip puree, gherkins, chared baby brocoli & a forest mushroom sauce🫨😋😋. My wife had a delicious BLT sandwich with sweet potato fries and we had some very tasty Latvian Aizputes beer with our food. I finished of my meal with a delicious Philadelphia cheesecake with a lemon topping, coconut biscuit base, fresh summer fruits & a cherry sauce together with a pot of tea - we had a fabulous meal and it was a fabulous way to end our wonderful stay...

Living nearby, we decided this summer to go back to Garage. From this dinner—and confirmed by more than a dozen follow-up visits over more than 4 months—Garage has become one of our favorite (if not our most favorite) restaurant in Riga. The menu is simple, a set of a dozen tapas that changes every few weeks and three-four main dishes that vary daily. First of all, the tapas are so much more sophisticated than the name implies: they are very creative, innovative small plates that are rather a fusion between cultures than of Spanish trend. The main dishes include normally a succulent Latvian-based cream soup, but with twists, so that the end result is far more complex than a simple cream soup. There is also a fish and a meat-based dish. Both are unique creations, again often a blend of ingredients from different cuisines that always surprise us; there has not been a dish we did not like! Finally, the desserts are always “Chef’s creation”, but they are worth the trip — always. The wine carte is varied, and carries excellent choices; of note is that one can buy the wines one drinks, as Garage is also a wine shop. I would like to finish with three important points: 1) the venue seems to be in an old garage, as the name implies. The ceilings are high, and the main kitchen is up a spiral staircase, with an adjunct open kitchenette on the first floor - the light is often dim, the music soft, and the noise level comfortable - a real pleasure; 2) the prices reflect an excellent value for the sophistication of the dishes, and 3), the waiting staff is smiling and friendly, and, of course, polyglot. To summarize: an innovative fusion cuisine at more than reasonable prices delivered with a smile. No wonder we like...

Our visit to Garage started on a high note. We ordered the herring, and it was absolutely spot-on! So good, in fact, that it deserves its own fan club. If you’re a herring lover, this place should be on your radar.

But then, we moved on to the mushroom pasta, and that’s where things got a bit... interesting. Somehow, all the mushrooms decided to have a party in one bowl, leaving the other bowl feeling a bit left out and lonely. It was like the mushrooms were hosting a secret meeting and forgot to invite their friends to the other side of the table. Luckily, we took matters into our own hands and performed a successful "Mushroom Integration" mission by mixing the pasta ourselves. But honestly, that’s the chef’s job, right?

And then, there were the blinds. These blinds were supposed to protect us from the sun, but they seemed to be taking a break, leaving gaps where the sunlight streamed through. I asked the waiter to adjust them, but unfortunately, the sun still managed to join us at the table, as if it wanted a taste of our food. Blinds might not be their strong suit, but the food—especially the herring—is definitely worth the visit!

In conclusion, I’m giving Garage 4 out of 5 bad. Hopefully, next time the mushrooms will play fair!

There is no tip this...