Çıtır Usta — Restaurant in Dushanbe

This restaurant was a horrible experience, one of the worst I have ever been! It is definitely not recommended, especially for western tourists. I asked for a Rib-eye steak, grilled medium rare. The waiter understood it but the steak was not a Rib-eye and it was grilled very well-done instead of medium rare. Dishes were served with about 10 minutes in between. So one person was almost done eating when the steaks were served. Additionally ordered fries came much later. The payment procedure. When we received the bill, they put in Tomahawk steaks instead of Rib-eye (they cost 4$ more). We asked to change it and the waiter became a little annoyed and rude. The 2nd bill had the correct steaks but added the fries which we had agreed on before that they were for free due to the poorly prepared steaks. The waiter got angry and threw the phone with translator on the table. Furthermore, they don't accept credit card. I highly advise against this restaurant, it was one of the worst...

I ordered the grilled lamb kebab at Çıtır Usta, expecting it to match the server’s recommendation and the menu photo where each cube of lamb looked large and appetizing. Unfortunately, what I received was far from that—small pieces of lamb that were chewy, hard, dry, lacking juiciness, and had almost no flavor.

I trusted the server’s suggestion, but it seems he hadn’t even tried the dish himself. I can’t comment on other dishes, but this one was a complete disappointment. When I voiced my concern to the server and admin, I received no welcoming or accommodating response—just a shrug. The receptionist even said, “We receive everything with different meat. You probably weren’t lucky with yours.” That’s absurd—consistency is the most basic expectation for any dish. If you can’t make it the same quality every time, it shouldn’t be on the menu at all.

I paid and left feeling completely unsatisfied. Again, I can only speak for the lamb kebab, but based on my experience, I would not...

Chetir Usta is a Turkish restaurant conveniently located in the city center, offering a spacious dining area that’s great for accommodating larger groups. While the food quality is decent and covers the essential Turkish favorites, it lacks the remarkable flavors that would set it apart from similar places. Like many Turkish restaurants, there are plenty of staff, but the service could be better organized, as wait times and coordination can be inconsistent. The atmosphere is average—comfortable but not particularly inviting or unique. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol, which may be a downside for some guests. Overall, it’s a fair spot for Turkish food, but there are areas for improvement in both service...