Where to eat in Kiev: interview with food blogger Masha Serdyuk
Who, if not a food blogger and culinary journalist, knows where to eat and drink well in the capital
To learn about as many places in Kyiv as possible, we caught up with and interviewed Masha Serdyuk, a woman who knows about food and, in particular, about cutlets (her blog is actually called "Kotletka").
- Masha, tell us, where can you find the tastiest cutlets? Besides your own kitchen, of course.
You won't believe it, but I'm not a big fan of eating cutlets. I love to cook them, enjoy making the meat mixture, and serving them to people. But to say that I specifically go somewhere to eat cutlets, I don't. In my opinion, a simple piece of meat is much better. At the start of my food blog, when I was writing only about cutlets, I purposely went to various places and ordered cutlets there. I was curious how they were prepared, what side dishes were served with them. Most of the time, there wasn't a "wow" effect, and I rarely like other people's cutlets. Nowadays, I don't often order cutlets at restaurants. The last time I had them, if I'm not mistaken, was at Dima Borisov's Chicken Kiev, and that was only because I was with a foreign friend.
- If you were to open a restaurant in Kyiv, what would it be like?
It probably wouldn't be a restaurant, more likely a cafe – small, cozy, with tasty drinks, simple and understandable food, and large portions.
- In your opinion, what do most establishments in the capital lack?
Well, it's precisely the larger portions that are missing. I like it when you come with a big group and order various dishes to share at the table, little by little – so that everyone can try everything. It's challenging to properly taste a dish when the serving size is 150-200 grams.
- What place does food hold in your life?
I'm like Joey from "Friends", just a girl. I love eating delicious food, and I love cooking. But I don't mean cooking on an industrial scale, I mean cooking for myself or my loved ones. Industrial-scale cooking is when I'm talking about being a chef. I'm genuinely fascinated by people who do it every day for 12 hours, but I wouldn't want to work like that myself.
- What dish do you always order in restaurants? Where is it prepared perfectly?
I recently realized that I eat in restaurants what I usually don't cook at home. For example, pho soup. To make a proper pho, you need to simmer the broth for a minimum of eight hours. Who is going to make that at home all the time? In my opinion, it's better to go somewhere and not bother with it. So, I have pho at Viet Bar on Lva Tolstoho. For ramen, I go to Furgoneta, for pizza – to Mimosa Brooklyn Pizza or to the Husovsky family's restaurants Napule and Grano. I also really love Georgian cuisine. I can just walk past any Georgian restaurant and go in for some khinkali and a bowl of chikhirtma, which is a light chicken soup.
- Top 3 places for someone visiting Kyiv for the first time, according to Masha Serdiuk.
Dima Borisov's restaurants – for those who want to try Ukrainian cuisine, "Chornomorka" – for fish lovers, and JZL – for those who want to have an atmospheric meal.
- How do you feel about street food in the city? Where can one eat safely and deliciously on the street?
The street food scene in Kyiv is not as developed as in Berlin, Istanbul, or Israel. I recommend getting hot dogs at Bistro Bistro, burgers and lokshyna at Furgoneta, and falafel at Hasan on Lysova Street.
- Which new restaurants in Kyiv would you recommend?
"Oselyedtseva" in Podil - a million different types of salted fish and dishes made from it. If you love fish, this is the place to go. "Italian Redaktsiya" on Velyka Vasylkivska Street from the founders of the restaurants "Lyubimy Dyadya" and "Zhizn zamechatelnykh lyudey" - Italian cuisine, a good selection of Italian wines, and just an excellent place for those who want to have a beautiful dinner. "Morphiy Bar" in the Olympic Stadium area - a small bar where alcohol is served in test tubes and droppers. Sam's Steak House Prime on Lvivska Square - steaks made from Ukrainian and American beef, a significant collection of whiskey (about 100 varieties, by the way), as well as around two thousand wine options.
- What cuisine is currently trending? And where can one try it in Kyiv?
Interestingly, Asian cuisine is currently trending in Kyiv. For ramen, go to Noodle vs Marketing, for pho and nem, head to Viet Bar. If you like to eat not only deliciously but also beautifully, visit NĂM. The owners of this establishment break the stereotype that Asian cuisine is limited to street food and inconspicuous bistros.
Finally, we offered Masha a quickfire round, after which we already planned trips to all the mentioned cafes and restaurants in Kyiv. We wish the same for you.
Best vegetarian/vegan place - Kh.L.A.M.
Best coffee shop - Come and Stay, Blur Coffee.
Best street food - Furgoneta, Bistro Bistro.
Best Ukrainian cuisine restaurant - Kanapa, Ostannia Barykada.
Best bar - BarmenDiktat, Parovoz.
Best breakfast - Lyubymy Dyadya, O'Cafe.
Best place for a family outing - Spezzo.
Best Instagram-worthy place - Madame Josy.
