STUMARA (Chicago Northern Suburbs) — Restaurant in Wheeling Township

I ordered adjuruli khachapuri at the Kitchen House Cafe a few miles to the east on a whim for my first experience with Georgian food and enjoyed it enough that I resolved to try a full meal with someone. My son and I decided on Stumara because it's closer to our home and just opened last year. We walked in around 6:30 PM on a Saturday and there were people seated outside and inside. Though there were only two of us, it was recommended that we sit outside because a large number of reservations were going to hit around 7-7:30 PM (a good sign). From the moment we engaged the host he was very friendly and personable. We were seated right away, outside on the strip mall sidewalk. Though it is near a busy intersection, we were set back far enough, across the parking lot, that there were no issues with noise or exhaust. Maybe not ideal if you were on a date, but my son and I were happy to be seated in the evening sun. They were playing gentle Georgian music through an overhead speaker, so I didn't really even notice the sounds of cars in the distance. I didn't experience the indoor dining space, so that's why I have rated the atmosphere 3/5 stars. The food was a fantastic suprise! Starting off, we had some fresh baked Shoti bread and a unique butter/cheese spread that jolted us with a fine flavor and aroma that set the stage for the meal. The Georgian Salad had a refreshing crispness to it that really spoke to the quality of the tomatoes, cucumber and herbs/dressing. The tomatoes were quartered and held together when speared with a fork (tomatoes in lesser salads will be over-ripe and explode under pressure or be frozen and be mushy/mealy). There was a pleasant hint of mint, probably coming from the dressing, which was creamy but not overpowering. The Kharcho is a hearty soup--it reminded us of lentil soup--but it looks like it might have had rice in it and included beef chunks. It had a mild flavor, not salty and the beef was very tender. The Qatmis Misvaldi was really good and came with another salad variant. The chicken was so soft and smooth, it almost felt like chewing through butter, but it was 100% fully cooked and was my son's favorite. We have no idea how they achieve this, but we loved it. The side salad was a fresh mixture of shredded lettuce, carrots, beets, and onions and paired well with the chicken. The Kartofili Ojakhurad is potato wedges lightly treated with oil and salt, served with something like sour cream (not as sour as sour cream) and what appeared to be marinated pepper strips. These were cooked to a perfect consistency and were NOT dry or over-salted as is often the case with potato wedges from more typical restaurants. The service was friendly and attentive--they showed great patience when we struggled with the dish names! The owner even came outside to ask us how the meal went. Overall, this was a great experience for us. We love trying new cuisines in my family and we're glad we...

Wow!!! This hidden treasure shouldn’t be missed! It’s probably not hidden or a secret to the Georgian community, but for all those like me who have never had Georgian food, this place is an amazing discovery!

Hubs and I decided to try someplace new for dinner. Stumata popped up on several searches and based on the reviews, everyone was right! The food is beyond delicious and the service couldn’t be friendlier! Yugslavko(sp?) our server was so attentive and helpful at recommending things for us to try. We have never had Georgian food before, but the enticing aromas of other patrons’ meals made our stomachs growl the moment we stepped in through the door.

The inside of the restaurant was so cozy with plenty of seating for small parties like us 2 to a larger dining group of 12 already dining. The seating was comfortable and the decor was welcoming. We felt like we were eating at a friend’s house!

We were served complimentary bread (gamarjoba) with a yummy butter. The bread was warm and the butter cold - it was a good combination! When we told our server we’ve never had Georgian food, he told us we were in for a treat and boy was he right! At his recommendation we started with Rolled Eggplant (badrijani nigzvit). It was pretty good.

Our favorite of the meal - the bread canoe (adjaruli khachapuri) - OMG - butter, egg, and cheese all mixed up at the table for us by our server at our request so he could show us how it’s done. It was so creamy, cheesy and the bread was so crispy - it was all soooooo good!

We also had the mushroom khinkali which is this tasty dumpling that’s filled with a umami broth and mushrooms. Our server told us to pick up the dumpling by the stem, take a small bite and drink the soup that’ll spill from the bite before enjoying the rest of the dumpling. It was all such a delicious combination with the dough being the perfect thickness. We also had the shemcvari gochi (boneless piglet). The skin was crispy on top of juicy pork served with some tender baby bok-choy. It was all so good! We finished off our dinner by splitting a napoleon with the most flakiest puff pastry and sweet cream filling. It wasn’t heavy or overly sweet. Perfect end to our meal!

Another table ordered the lamb chops and it came in this cool looking box. When the lid was taken off the mouthwatering smell of the dish filled the room. We will definitely be back to try the lamb and the meat skewers!

Don’t miss out on an incredible dining experience. You...

Dear Tamta and Bidzino,

As a local guide and influencer, I would like to share my experience visiting your restaurant. I hope my feedback provides a client’s perspective and helps improve some aspects of your service.

I have visited your restaurant twice, and these two visits left completely opposite impressions.

The first visit was absolutely exceptional. We were served by Yaroslav, and everything — from the food to the wine — was outstanding. We were there for a business meeting with our CPA who were actually recommended this place for us for first time visiting and the food was so delicious that I didn’t even have time to take photos, which is unusual for me as a local guide. Your cuisine, ambiance, and interior design made a fantastic impression on me.

During my second visit, we came in for a quick lunch. While the quality of the dishes was once again delightful, the interaction with the staff left a negative impression. We ordered a lot of various dishes, cause we wanna try diffrent dishes, including soup, and politely requested to have one portion of soup split into two bowls. This seemingly simple request was met with surprise and an outright refusal, citing the policy of the manager and chef. This was quite puzzling, especially since this exact request was accommodated without any issues during our first visit. It gave the impression of double standards and a lack of respect for the customer.

Our server, Nikita, was very kind and polite, but the situation with the soup and the explanations from the other staff completely ruined the atmosphere of the lunch. Additionally, charging $5 for a small serving of adjika (when a 0.7-liter bottle costs $7 at a nearby venue) felt unreasonable.

Despite the delicious food and beautiful design, I no longer feel inclined to return. As someone who regularly recommends places to others, it is crucial for me that both the cuisine and service maintain high standards.

I hope you will take this feedback into consideration and reevaluate certain aspects of customer service. Your restaurant has great potential, and I truly wish you success.

Best regards, Maria Local Guide...