Tsars'ke Selo — Restaurant in Kyiv

A word of caution to those who organize/coordinate working dinners for groups—stay away. In case of an international group, the restaurant staff will try to preferentially communicate with confused foreigners (incl. trying to sell them $350 bottles of wine), use their own discretion in what to bring to the table (after having been asked to bring some starters by dinner guests who arrived ahead of the main group (the inviting party)) while avoiding establishing contact with someone who can actually keep a rein on things, and continue to bring the more expensive starters on the menu instead of complying with a half-hearted request by (very tired) guests to order entrees (presumably because entrees require actual cooking work and not just cutting up some cold cuts and taking pickles and caviar out of cans). The very tired guests finally gave up (because the conversation was interesting, everyone had a week of A LOT of eating, and no one had the energy to scour the restaurant for waiters who were suddenly very absent when they were needed), but that was one very expensive dinner seeing as it consisted mostly of cold starters. This restaurant used to be better, and seems like it has reacted to the increased competition from the many fine eateries in the city by trying to fleece everyone they can get their paws on. So be forewarned and check out the competition. This is NOT a client-oriented place that has a concept of service, at least in the Western understanding of it. If you are a group of folksy paunchy locals with decreased sensitivity of both your taste buds and your wallet, just looking to carouse, this is probably a place for you if you must have the folksy setting. If you want good service and good food and want to be treated considerately as a client rather than as a cow to be milked,...

Have eaten here numerous times. Like the ambience of the restaurant. Excellent food. However, I was disappointed the last time I visited in August 2018. Reserved a large table for a post-baptism celebration for fifteen adults. Unfortunately, a tour group showed up at roughly the same time as my party, and occupied four tables of roughly sixteen people. The tour group took precedence over my party I suppose to the fact that the tour guide used the restaurant regularly for tour groups. As a result, we had one waitress who was very slow in taking orders, serving food, bringing water and wine, etc. Food was lukewarm by the time the kitchen started cooking for us. We sat for 45 minutes waiting for our orders. Really a super disappointment. The waitress ignored one end of our table - which was where I was sitting and since I was paying for the entire group, I did not appreciate it. Fortunately, everyone in my party was in a good mood and had a good time. Unfortunately, the complete lack of attention and poor service spoiled the dinner (until the tour group left). My advice is that if you walk in and see a tour group sitting in the restaurant (easily identifiable), turn around and walk out. You will be treated as an afterthought. Do not waste your...

By far the best restaurant I've ever been to in Kyiv. The environment is just amazing, everything decorated in traditional Ukrainian style, down to the last detail. The background music, not pop American as is so common, but a mix of different Ukrainian styles, was unobtrusive and mostly added to the atmosphere. Staff were smiling and pleasant.

But the main thing, of course, was the food. It was just perfect. I was there with my family, a big 10- people group, and every single one of us thought the food amazing. I had a Yaremche pancake, originally a Carpathian dish, and couldn't have asked for a better lunch. And their Kyivsky tort (Kyivan Cake, a typical dessert) was much better than the shop-bought ones, no matter how popular Roschen's are.

We sat on the veranda, and even though it was a hot day (30°C or so), we felt quite cool there and no need for air conditioning or fans -- that is probably due to the veranda's build: wooden and straw-based, as a traditional house of old might have been.

Now, it wasn't cheap, and the waiting time was slightly more than I'd have thought ideal, but that shouldn't detract an iota from their five-star rate. It's just part of a great restaurant experience.

Thank you, Tsars'ke Selo....