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[adolfo]

Keep in mind! Chisinau is not Paris or Moscow. Chisinau has its share of bars, clubs, discos and good restaurants, but there are certainly not as many as you might expect in a capital city. However, you can have a decent meal at the places listed below. While everyone rates restaurants differently, most would agree that the restaurants on this list are above average. Each restaurant is rated on a five-star system, with five stars being excellent by Moldovan standards. Some restaurants accept credit cards but cash is preferred. Tips are generally not included in the bill, except for large parties. The standard tip is 10% (or less). Reservations are recommended at all of the restaurants below, with the except of fast-foods. Restaurants (mostly national and european cousine): During preparations for an international forum was made a list of Chisinau restaurants recommended for foreigners. The most interesting fact is that list was prepared by foreigners themselves. Thus, most popular restaurants among foreigners are (top of the list): Alaverdi; Cerbul de Aur (Golden Stag); El Paso; Orasul Vechi (Old City); Equator; Jolly Alon; Cactus; Codru; La Bunel; (Look for locations and details below) Alaverdi. 1/2, Moscova boulevard, Riscani District. Guideline points: McDonald's restaurant in Riscani (huge yellow letter 'M' on high post is easy visible). Tel.: (3732) 44-50-82, 50-83-02. Delicious Georgian dishes. Nice ambience and summer terrace. Western-style bar. Blue Eyes. 20, Armeneasca street, Centru District. Guideline points: basement of 2-floor building of US Open World House. Tel.: (3732) 26-00-40, 26-42-25. Has one of the better varietes of food. Serves primarily Moldovan cuisine. Open for brunch on weekends. Cerbul de Aur (Golden Stag). 113, Vasile Alecsandri street, Centru District. Guideline points: small detached building just a little bit above Stefan cel Mare boulevard before the ring intersection. Tel.: (3732) 22-20-16. A game restaurant featuring wild boar, venison, and rabbit. Many say it has the best hor d'oeuvres in the city and is one of the few places where you can get broccoli and cauliflower, and bean sprouts. Codru. 127, 31 August street, Centru District. Guideline points: that is hotel building, is behind the Stefan cel Mare Park, close to Jolly Alon Hotel. Tel.: (3732) 23-79-10. Nice atmosphere. Good Eastern-European cousine. Equator. 56, Bernardazzi street, Centru District, old city upper area. Guideline points: quite difficult to be found. That is a big detached building, but surrounded by dense blocks of old small houses and high trees. Don't miss it. Tel.: (3732) 22-62-74. Large Eastern European-style restaurant. Nice atmosphere, good food. Two bars, one in the basement wine cellar and another in the large sunny floor room. Green Hills Nistru Cafe. Stefan cel Mare boulevard, intersection with Eminescu street, Centru District. Guideline points: very easy to be found, the very center of the city, one block a walk from the City Hall. Cafe with good pizza, soups and traditional Moldovan foods. Summer seating on Stefan cel Mare sidewalk. Excellent home-made cakes and breads. Jolly Alon. 37, Maria Cebotari street, Centru District. Guideline points: located on the first floor of the Jolly Alon Hotel. Tel.: (3732) 23-28-98. Standard Moldovan cousine. Long-time guests may grow to like the 'smoked grease'. Orasul Vechi (Old City). 24, Armeneasca street, Centru District. Guideline points: a little bit above Bucuresti street, one block a walk from Cactus restaurant and triangular building of Moldindconbank. 2-floor detached building adjoining to Investprivatbank. Tel.: (3732) 22-50-63, 50-40-79. Also referred to by its Russian name, Stary Gorod. The restaurant with the best reputation for good food and generally good service in Chisinau. Eastern European cousine and style (high ceilings, velvet curtains, violin and piano). Good salads, soup, meat and fish dishes. Allow one to three hours for meal, depending upon the number of people in your party and the number of courses ordered. There is a smoking and a separate non-smoking dining areas. Separate dining rooms also available. Children-friendly. Live Eastern European music (usually piano and violin) every night. In warm weather, you can eat outside on the summer terrace. The summer terrace specialises in Georgian cousine. Delicious meats and home-made Georgian breads are made-to-order in outside brick ovens. The Old City's summer terrace is my favorite Chisinau restaurant place (actually 'summer' is a very relative name, as they are opened wintertime as well, when the terrace is getting dressed with the glass). Sanatate. 24, Renasterii street, Centru District. Guideline points: close to a glassed-in office of BTR-Moldova bank, with the Moldovan national cap-like entrance. Tel.: (3732) 24-41-16. The favorite restaurant of Moldovans for traditional Moldovan food. This is the best restaurant to go with a group and have a good time. Has a summer terrace overlooking a busy main street. Live band and dancing on weekends. Chinese: NEW! The Chinese Kitchen (former Prichindel cafe). Stefan cel Mare boulevard, the intersection with Bulgara street, near Moldova Cyber Community office, a local Internet provider. Chinese cuisine. Pleasant atmosphere and food. Real alligator inside, in a big aquarium. Indian: Indian Tandori. 6, Renasterii boulevard. Guideline points: across the National Bank of Moldova and Ministry of Finance, basement of college building. Tel.: (3732) 24-50-23. The best Indian food in town. Portions are small; order starters with mains. Jewish: La Bunel. 50, Eminescu street, Centru District. Guideline points: it is tricky to discover - walk 2 blocks up the Eminescu street from the Stefan cel Mare boulevard. Between bookstore and Agroindbank office you will see an archway with a castle inside. That is La Bunel restaurant, located in premises of former film studios. Tel.: (3732) 22-22-19. Jewish-Moldovan food. Open terraces. Mexican: Cactus. 41, Armeneasca street, Centru District. Guideline points: just across Moldindconbank triangular building. 2 blocks a walk from the Stefan cel Mare boulevard. Tel.: (3732) 50-40-94, 22-42-57. Mexican and Moldovan cuisine. Nice atmosphere, although it is smaller and smokier than El Paso. El Paso. 10, Armeneasca street, Centru district. Guideline points: almost top of the Armeneasca street, between Cogalniceanu street and Bernardazzi street. Small detached building, surrounded by living houses. Tel.: (3732) 50-41-00. Moldovan-flavored Mexican food. Nice atmosphere, decent food including Moldovan-style fajitas. Chicken are best. Mexican beers. Very nice decorated with sombreros and ponchos. Fast Food, Pizzerias, Pizza Delivery: McDonald's Restaurants. 1 - Stefan cel Mare boulevard (across the City Hall, between the Gemenii shop and Central Post Office); 2 - Riscani District (intersection of Moscova boulevard and Bogdan Voevod street): 3 - Botanica District (intersection of Dacia boulevard and Decebal street, across Green Hills supermarket). Actually McDonald's is easy to find because of red/yellow signs. Pizza di Italia. Pizza delivery service. Tel.: (3732) 24-11-11 (small delivery charge). NEW! Palermo. Botanica district. The first bus station on Decebal street upon climbing up Botanica hill. Place of Columna movie theater. My personal opinion: the best pizza in Chisinau. Terraces: These are small open-air cafes where you can take a glass of beer and Moldovan 'placinta' (patty with cheese or potato mash or cabbage inside). Everywhere, all over the city during warm season. (Addresses and phone numbers are shown as of November 20, 2000). Dial 909 (free of charge) or 999 for updated phone numbers.


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