Plai Restaurant — Restaurant in Sibiu

I’m sorry to be that guy but someone has to burst this bubble. I came here blindly based on the solid 5 star rating, and it was the worst meal I’ve had in Romania. Overall service & price were fine, however:

1. I ordered an appetizer that was forgotten about. The restaurant was near empty so it’s not like they were too busy.

2. I ordered Gnocchi and was served a plate of 3 large, limp, soft dumplings that did not have the faintest resemblance to what I ordered, and just because you chose to call it Gnocchi does not make it so - also the pesto on it was completely overpowering rendering any other flavor on the plate mute.

3. Because the appetizer was forgotten about I ordered a dessert to give something else a try, and some ingredient in it was absolutely disgusting, astringent and honestly akin to poison. The tongue knows when it shouldn’t eat something and whatever that was should not be eaten.

Also worth noting a dearth of non-alcoholic drinks.

Edit: In response to the restaurant below, I was still paying for it so I ate it the dumplings being edible at least. I certainly did order a desert, the Communist Egg, which I was most excited to try and which was not delivered. With the dessert I made the most of the fresh strawberries and the foam on top, but whatever was in the bottom of that dish was downright disgusting. I didn’t say anything because I’d not want to upset the waiters or cooks on hand as it was likely not their fault the dishes were so strangely...

In summary: Plai is a must-visit — traditional food elevated with simplicity, purity, and unforgettable flavor.

Dining at Plai was a true game changer on my culinary journey. Plai is traditional food—elevated. Each dish felt simple yet deeply thoughtful, impressive in its humility and refinement. *When I say “simple,” I mean classic, unpretentious, pure, direct—an essence.

My biggest takeaway was the reminder of how extraordinary fresh, local ingredients can be when honored in their most natural form.

Though I usually chase bold, complex flavors and textures, I was amazed at how much joy I found in a single bite that celebrated the ingredient’s true character. To relish something not because it was transformed, but because it was exquisite from the start, is a rare and blissful experience. Eating food that shines in its own beauty, grown with care and served with respect, was profoundly moving.

Plai embodies simplicity as an art form—an homage to tradition and a reminder never to take our roots for granted. We grow beautifully because our roots are strong. Thank you, Plai, for reawakening my appreciation for where we’ve come from and how that shapes who we can be today :)

If you’re seeking food that is soulful, rooted in tradition, and elevated by purity and respect, Plai is an...

Later edit, in response to the restaurant comment. Hate to break it down to you, but all the restaurants in the world, including the Michelin star ones, have an acceptable 15’ delay policy. Judging by your response, you probably encourage the attitude of your welcoming staff. Yes, we were planning to come to enjoy the food, and no, we weren’t expecting to “own” the place. What an absolutely ridiculous attitude and response!Best of luck! Clearly you will need it!

Sadly, I cannot say anything about their food. We’ve tried booking a table through the ialoc app for 18:15 and there was no availability. Since we really wanted to try their food, we’ve made a phone reservation for 18:30 (as it was the only available slot). Yes. we were 14 minutes late because yes, the signal didn’t helped us a lot with directions. An extremely rude gentleman informed us at entrance that we don’t have a table anymore as we were late. 30 minutes late based on his notes and not 14 based on ours. Apparently he decided to give out table to someone else because he couldn’t know that we will come! By the way, there was only a table occupied and they didn’t seem to be there for only 10 minutes. A shame in the way you are treating your customers. No, this shouldn’t be the way you greed anyone and yes, you could...