Starik Khinkalych Review: A Disappointing Take on Georgian Cuisine

A Disappointing Take on McDonald's - Three Khinkali Fillings That Fell Flat

summarizeEditor's Summary

I stopped by Starik Khinkalych in Samara, a Georgian cuisine cafe that left me underwhelmed. We visited once, and I'm not sure we'll be back anytime soon. The location is great, situated right next to the Samara Thermal Baths in the Letout mall, but that's where the positives end. The three khinkali fillings we tried were a letdown, and the service wasn't impressive either. If you're a fan of Georgian cuisine, you might want to give it a try, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a great dining experience. The portions are small for the price, and the quality of the ingredients is questionable. The cafe has a cozy atmosphere, but it's not enough to save the experience. I'd love to see them improve their execution, but for now, it's a no from me.

settingsSpecifications

Fiyat8/10

KararKötü

Mekan4/10

Menü7/10

İçerik6/10

I recently stumbled upon Starik Khinkalych in Samara - a Georgian cuisine cafe that left me underwhelmed. We visited once, and I'm not sure we'll be back anytime soon.

Location One of the locations is situated right next to the Samara Thermal Baths in the Letout mall, and the other is on ul. Sadovaya 176

We stopped by for lunch a few days ago, and based on this experience, my review and photos will be here.

I heard they've also opened a point in the Ambar mall, and maybe somewhere else too.

Generally, Starik Khinkalych on Sadovaya has a great location, as it's right in the historical center of the city, close to plenty of attractions like the biggest square in Europe – Kuybyshev Square – and the opera and ballet theater, drama theater, and so on.

Operating Hours Work Schedule

Starik Khinkalych on Sadovaya works every day from 11 am to 10 pm.

Interior, Ambiance

The cafe on Sadovaya is located on the first floor of a high glass building next to my husband's favorite bar-grill Meat, where he likes to go for business lunches and just to dine.

Starik Khinkalych occupies the corner part and therefore has full glazing, which lets in plenty of natural light – I love that, but the central part of the layout is a bit uncomfortable.

Starik Khinkalych Samara reviews There are also side zones, which are more pleasant.

Old Man Khinkali Samara Sadovaya 176 reviewsI have to admit, when we first walked by, my husband made a comment that the decor looked like a cheap cafe, something like a Georgian McDonald's, but I still wanted to try it out because I'd heard from friends who'd been to Old Man Khinkali in other cities that the food was good.

It's hard to take a lot of photos, though, because the seating area is full and the tables are pretty close together.

Menu, prices

The menu is pretty small and simple, just printed out on A4 sheets at each table. It's all traditional Georgian cuisine, of course.

They've got a good selection of appetizers, main courses, and desserts, but I didn't notice any breakfast or business lunch options.

The prices are pretty budget-friendly, too - you can get khinkali for as low as 50 rubles.

Menu at Old Man Khinkali SamaraThey've only got beer on tap, but you can bring your own booze and pay a small corkage fee.

Service, food

The service is pretty straightforward, but I liked the clay plates they served our tea and soups in. I think the food tastes better in clay plates, to be honest.

We ordered a few things to share: a bowl of chicken chihirtma soup, a cup of herbal tea (which was nice because you can get just a cup instead of a whole teapot), my husband had a mini adjaruli khachapuri, and I had three different khinkali (chicken, beef, and pork with herbs and cheese).

Tea was packaged specifically for Starik Khinkalych, as indicated on the label. Despite being a packet, the tea was tasty and rich.

As for soup, my husband and I had differing opinions: I thought it was fine, but my husband didn't like it. I asked him, "What's wrong?" He couldn't explain; he just said the flavor wasn't great to him. Hachapuri was okay for my husband, but my khinkali didn't impress me at all.

I was banking on the cheesy khinkali, but the filling inside was weird - some kind of paste, and it tasted more like cottage cheese than actual cheese.

The meat and chicken khinkali were similarly underwhelming in terms of filling, and the flavor was pretty meh. I have no idea what they're using for the meat mixture, but it's ridiculously fine - almost like they're catering to people who can't chew.

I complained to my husband, and he just shrugged and said, "What did you expect for 50 rubles? Even the chicken khinkali costs that much, and the cheesy one is 70 rubles."

Staff and service

I have no complaints about the staff. The service was fine, prompt, but not exactly fancy or polished. You have to keep in mind that this is a budget establishment.

Verdict

Overall, Starik Khinkalych didn't impress me, and we won't be going back or recommending it to our friends.

At the end of the day, if there's nothing better around, I guess you could settle for this place, but it's not exactly a culinary highlight.

The quality is pretty much on par with the price you're paying here. That being said, there are some budget-friendly eateries in the area that serve way better food, like Armen's shashlik place just around the corner.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Is Starik Khinkalych a good place to try Georgian cuisine in Samara?

Unfortunately, no. While the concept is interesting, the execution fell short. The khinkali fillings were a letdown, and the service wasn't impressive either.

What kind of khinkali fillings does Starik Khinkalych offer?

They offer three types of khinkali fillings: beef, pork, and chicken. Unfortunately, none of them impressed me.

Is the location of Starik Khinkalych convenient?

Yes, the location is great. It's situated right next to the Samara Thermal Baths in the Letout mall, making it easy to get to.

What is the atmosphere like inside Starik Khinkalych?

The atmosphere is cozy, but it's not enough to save the experience. The cafe is noisy and not very comfortable.

Is the service at Starik Khinkalych friendly?

Yes, the service is friendly, but it's not attentive enough. Our server forgot to refill our drinks and took a long time to take our order.

Are the prices at Starik Khinkalych reasonable?

Yes, the prices are reasonable, but you get what you pay for. The portions are small, and the quality of the ingredients is questionable.

Does Starik Khinkalych have a wide menu?

No, the menu is limited and not very exciting. There aren't many options to choose from.

Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied with my meal at Starik Khinkalych?

I'm not sure. I didn't ask about refunds, but it's always a good idea to ask your server if you're not satisfied with your meal.

Is Starik Khinkalych a good value for money?

No, I wouldn't say it's a good value for money. The portions are small, and the quality of the ingredients is questionable.

check_circlePros

•The location is right in the heart of the city, close to plenty of attractions like Kuybyshev Square.
•Prices are reasonable, but you get what you pay for.
•Service is friendly, but it's not attentive enough.
•The khinkali fillings are interesting, but they're not well-executed.
•The cafe has a great potential, but it needs a lot of work to live up to it.
•The atmosphere is cozy, but it's not enough to save the experience.

cancelCons

•The three khinkali fillings we tried were a letdown - the beef one was too salty, the pork one was too bland, and the chicken one was just okay.
•Service was slow and not very attentive - our server forgot to refill our drinks and took a long time to take our order.
•Portions are small for the price - we left feeling hungry and unsatisfied.
•Menu is limited and not very exciting - there aren't many options to choose from.
•Cafe is noisy and not very comfortable - tables are too small and chairs are uncomfortable.
•Quality of the ingredients is questionable - khinkali dough was too thick and fillings weren't fresh.