Keto and Kote is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. Nestled in a beautifully restored, century-old house above the Rustaveli metro station in Tbilisi, it offers a unique blend of Georgian cuisine, stunning interiors, and a captivating atmosphere. The name itself pays homage to a classic Georgian comic opera from 1919, setting the stage for a dining experience that's both traditional and modern.
Location and Ambiance
Finding Keto and Kote is an adventure in itself. Located in the Vera district, a charming neighborhood known for its hip restaurants, chic bars, and lush parks, the restaurant is strategically positioned amidst Tbilisi's vibrant scene. As mylifestylenews writes, Vera is a small district located below Vake and Saburtalo and kind of looks like a triangle of three large avenues: Kostava Avenue, Rustaveli Avenue and Zandukeli Avenue where the Rustaveli metro station makes the central point.To reach this hidden gem, one must navigate the slope on Mikheil Zandukeli street, turn down a typical Tbilisi alleyway, and just when you think you've reached a dead end, the captivating paradise of Keto and Kote appears.
The restaurant's design seamlessly blends old-world charm with modern aesthetics. The original "maison" design harks back to the country's Golden Age, thoughtfully redesigned with a cutting-edge approach. The spacious arrival room features a large table adorned with tasteful flower arrangements and homemade cakes and tarts, all under an old-style chandelier and hand-painted colored beams. Two large paintings brighten up the light sky blue walls, complemented by marbled-top consoles with gold brass table lamps. A couple of pot plants also juxtaposed the red day bed sofa adding a further contemporary cozy ambience and you are enveloped by the stunning interiors immediately.
The outdoor setting is equally enchanting, with an endearing garden, outdoor terrace seating, and a veranda with carved wooden balconies, all offering beautiful views of Vera. The beguiling mixture of orient-meet-west, old-meet-new modern contemporary design approach creates a mesmerizing atmosphere.
Culinary Experience
Keto and Kote prides itself on serving a modern reinvention of Georgian cuisine. Chef Ramaz Gemiashvili, well-known in the field of Georgian gastronomy, combines creative techniques with newer methods of preparation, using the finest produce sourced from local producers. This approach not only ensures the best quality but also reduces the carbon footprint.
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The menu offers a diverse range of dishes, from traditional Georgian staples to innovative creations. Some standout dishes include:
Assortment of Pkhali: This classic Georgian mezze platter features cooked vegetables pounded with walnuts, garlic, and spices. Keto and Kote's rendition is well-organized and neatly presented, accompanied by homemade corn bread, beetroot, herbs with walnuts, matsoni with mint, bell pepper, green beans, and eggplant with walnut paste.
Cucumber & Tomato Salad: Elevated with the freshest local produce, this simple salad is a colorful and flavorful delight. The ingredients are cut to the same size, garnished with green parsley, and dressed with homemade walnut paste and smoky Khaketian oil.
Imeretian Khachapuri: A true Georgian comfort food, this cheese-filled bread is made with sulguni and Imeretian cheese, baked to light and crusty perfection. Simplicity at its best!
While some reviewers have found certain dishes, like the Mini-Cheese Khinkali, disappointing, the overall culinary experience is generally positive.
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A Cultural Experience: The Opera "Keto and Kote"
The restaurant's name is directly inspired by the classic Georgian comic opera "Keto and Kote," which premiered in Tbilisi in 1919. The opera itself is a cultural touchstone, often described as a Georgian Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending. The play is a delightful story of love, family, and tradition that captures the spirit of Georgia. It tells the story of Keto, who has met Kote in a garden and fallen in love. When Keto’s father summons her to town, she tells her servants to thwart the older generation’s plans for marriage and arrange for her to elope to the little church downtown with Kote. Then, without a single misstep, the servants successfully execute a plan to individually eliminate each barrier to Keto and Kote’s marriage through a series of hilarious ruses.
One reviewer who attended a production of "Keto and Kote" at the Batumi Art House praised the show's visual spectacle, music, singing, dancing, staging, lighting, and costumes. The production was described as relevant, timely, updated, and spectacular, using theatrical conventions ranging over a period of thousands of years.
The themes of the play also resonate with modern Georgian society, particularly the generation gap between traditionalists and the younger generation who seek to forge their own path.
Additional Dining Options in Tbilisi
Tbilisi boasts a vibrant culinary scene with a wide array of restaurants and cafes. Some other notable options include:
Barbarestan: This restaurant revives the cuisine of Barbare Eristavi-Jorjadze, a 19th-century writer and feminist, offering a unique dining experience in a historical setting.
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Alubali: This artisan cafe offers a return to Georgian roots, conjuring a nostalgic atmosphere with traditional dishes and fresh ingredients.
Rooms Hotels Tbilisi: This establishment offers contemporary dishes with a classic twist, driven by a deep respect for the country's national bounty and worldwide gastronomic trends.
Lolita: A stylish industrial interior with a cozy garden, Lolita is a trendy bar known for its atmosphere, cocktails, and excellent food.
Shushabandi Restaurant: Located in the center of the city, Shushabandi offers a fine dining experience with modern Georgian cuisine.
Restaurant-Salon “Veriko”: Located on the territory of a historical wine factory, Veriko offers Georgian dishes with local fresh products in a hall decorated with works of famous Georgian artists.
Bia: This restaurant offers delicious bean dishes, showcasing forgotten and revived traditions in a simple and original interior.
Tiffany Bar & Terrace Tbilisi: The menu is made up of Georgian and mostly European dishes, created by Tiffany’s culinary team with delicious gastronomic initiatives and improvisations- we recommend the seafood!
Wine in Georgia
Georgia is renowned for its wine, with a history dating back thousands of years. Georgians claim to be the inventors of wine, and there is evidence to support this claim. Georgian wine making is unique, using qvevri, large egg-shaped clay vessels buried in the ground, and incorporating the grapes, skins, stems, and stalks in the fermentation process.
The main wine region of Georgia is Kahketi, located east of Tbilisi. Some notable wine bars and shops in Tbilisi include:
- Vino Underground: A mecca of natural Georgian wines.
- 8000 Vintages: Offers a wide selection of Georgian wines.
- Muse and Wine: A romantic spot for an after-dinner bottle of wine.
- Chateau Mukhrani: A wine shop located in a touristy area, offering a quiet reprieve and a selection of wines from their vineyard near Tbilisi.
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