Taifas — Restaurant in Centru Sector

This is an authentic Moldovan restaurant. There are a few things that set this place apart compared to other traditional restaurants like Placinte for example.

FOOD: The food at Taifas is the best iteration of Moldovan food I’ve found so far in Chisinau. The food is unpretentious and authentic, BUT the flavors are robust and the quality of ingredients is higher. We had celery salad, plate of pickles, mittie sausage plate, chicken meatballs in crème with homemade noodles, and compote, a local fruit drink. Everything was delicious. The celery salad with apples was light and refreshing, the mittie sausage cooked well and came with a fiery homemade mustard that is STRONG but irresistible, the compote was light and refreshing we drank the whole liter, just ask for ice to keep it cold. The chicken meatballs in crème was a lighter dish in flavor but homey and comforting. The noodles are meant to be eaten with the leftover cream sauce after you finish the meatballs. We also ordered Placinte, which again, is the best Placinte we’ve had including the salty Brinza Cheese Placinte as well as the sour cherry Placinte which you MUST order. Before baking the crust is sprinkled with sugar, so after coming out of the over you have melted crystallized sugar on the outside that elevates the flavor of the sour cherries inside.

COST: This place, unfortunately is a little expensive. Not at fine dining levels, but definitely more expensive than other traditional Moldovan restaurants. Because the food was so good, I would feel comfortable coming back and paying These prices. The quality of the food is obvious, so they likely feel justified in having higher costs.

Environment: no frills, traditional, homey countryside vibe inside with big tables meant to serve big parties who no doubt order local spirits and wine to have a good time. They also have a hidden terrace in the back of the restaurant that makes for very nice dining during the summer. Vines cover the trellises providing shade for diners during the day, with some tables in direct sunlight if you prefer.

WINE: Definitely order the homemade wine here. It is not like traditional wine that is acidic, with high level of tannins. The wine here seems only lightly fermented, as you get a heavy flavor or grape juice. This makes the wine one-note, but extremely...

Extremely Disappointing Experience - Avoid If You Value Your Time and Service

My friends and I visited La Taifas yesterday, hoping for a pleasant evening at a traditional restaurant that supposedly represents our country. We had booked a table in advance, but that seemed to make little difference.

Upon arrival, we were left waiting for 10 minutes just to be seated, which was frustrating but something we were initially willing to overlook. However, what followed was simply unacceptable. For a full 40 minutes after being seated, not a single member of staff approached our table. We tried multiple times to get someone's attention, but we were consistently ignored. It felt as though we were invisible.

Having been completely neglected, we decided to leave. The most shocking part? As we walked out, the staff simply said "bye" without a single question as to why we were leaving or any hint of an apology for the abysmal service.

It's such a shame. I had high hopes for this establishment and was even planning to bring my foreign colleagues here to showcase our traditional hospitality. After yesterday's experience, I will never return, and I certainly cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. This was a deeply disappointing and frankly embarrassing display, especially for a place that aims to represent our national tradition. Save yourself the frustration and...

This is NOT the representation of Moldovan hospitality. The service in La Taifas restaurant is a disgrace to our whole culture.

We booked a table in advance and arrived in the restaurant on time. During our stay from 19:00 to 19:40 no one has approached our table to greet us, propose drinks, or even take appetizer orders. We have called multiple times for the waiters, and every time the staff has responded very rude, almost yelling “așteptați vă rog” like we are staying in line in some public institute and certainly not at the high end local cuisine restaurant. Other times when the waiter was called, we were given the palm gesture to wait.

Totally ignored, after 40mins wait we left the restaurant. Thankfully there are plenty good restaurants in a walking distance.

It is worth mentioning that one of the guests at our table is visibly pregnant, and the staff did not even think to prioritize serving her with at least a glass of water during the wait.

To all Moldova visitors - opt for La Plăcinte or Fuior restaurants next time you want to experience the local food. Guaranteed, the service will be...